Rhine

The following post is written by Irene from the Boscov’s Travel Group Department. Irene and her husband Nabil just returned from an AmaWaterways European river cruise.

I just got back from a trip of a lifetime. My husband and I traveled to the Netherlands for our first ever river cruise. We enjoyed 7-days onboard AmaWaterways’ AmaStella sailing from Amsterdam down the Rhine to Basel, Switzerland. Every inch of this trip was truly perfect.

Day 1

The first day of our trip was in Amsterdam. Since AmaWaterways offers a variety of included excursions to choose from at each destination, we were able to take a guided canal cruise with commentary about the history of Amsterdam passing locks, churches, house boats, the Jewish quarter, a ton of bikes and the Anne Frank house!

Day 2

Today we arrived into Cologne, Germany. It rained all morning along the way, but as soon as we arrived, the skies turned blue and beautiful for us! We enjoyed an included walking tour through the heart of the city underneath the famous Love Bridge with all of the locks, to St. Martin church and to the Cologne Cathedral… followed by a visit to Gaffel am Dom where we enjoyed tasting the typical Kolsch beer and reibekuken (potato cakes) with apple sauce.

Day 3

The third day is Castle Day! Our morning was an unforgettable experience sailing to Rudesheim. We started off with a scenic cruise through the most famous stretch of the Rhine river. We saw about 30 castles or castle ruins in this short stretch of the river valley—more than anywhere else in the world! The AmaStella crew came up to the top deck where we were bundled up with blankets to serve us Rudesheimer coffee! We concluded the day with an AmaWaterways included winery and wine tasting tour!

Day 4

We’ve arrived into Rudesheim! The prettiest storybook/fairytale city we’ve ever seen. Our captain greeted us as we exited our ship wishing us a great day! We enjoyed an included winery tour at the Adolf Storzel Vineyard and Wine Cellar for a wine tasting….a family owned winery since 1647! Then, time for exploring and shopping. Mode of transportation today was unique and by train… another fun day!

Day 5

The AmaStella crew celebrated Frühschoppen in the lounge. What fun! This is the breakfast of Champions in Germany 🇩🇪. In the afternoon, we chose an included tour to Speyer while some others went to Heidelberg to visit the castle. Speyer is one of Germany’s oldest towns, founded by the Romans. We visited the Speyer Cathedral – consecrated in 1061 and is the largest Romanesque church to this day. We then strolled through the quaint streets preparing for the Christmas Markets! They really transform the city streets into a winter wonderland!

Day 6

We woke up this morning in the beautiful town of Strasbourg, one of Europe’s most attractive cities. Thanks to the richness and sheer density of its heritage sites, the entire town center has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Strasbourg is definitely well worth a visit to discover its history, cuisine and unique Alsatian atmosphere! And to make it EXTRA special, Zohdi, my brother in law and Dolly, his wife came to see us and we spent a wonderful day together in the most beautiful and fairytale place!

Day 7

Our last day of river cruising brought us to Breisach, Germany, a city located only a few minutes drive to the French border! Our included tour today was to the charming village of Riquewihr in France. This village escaped damage during WWII so many houses we saw date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. This beautiful French village inspired Belle’s hometown in Beauty and the Beast! You can imagine I was singing the soundtrack as I was walking through the streets. 😜Even on a cloudy day, Riquewihr was truly magical!!

I loved the entire trip – from the ship and staff to the people of the picturesque villages we visited, everything exceeded our expectations. Thanks for letting me share my experiences aboard AmaStella and we’d love to hear from you! Let me or any of our Travel Specialists know if you’re ready to see Europe from a whole new perspective.

Visit Boscov’s Travel located within select Boscov’s including Pennsylvania (Camp Hill, Colonial Park/Harrisburg, Easton, Lancaster, Lebanon, Neshaminy/Bensalem, Wyomissing, Reading, Pottstown, Pottsville, Scranton, Selinsgrove, Wilkes-Barre), New York (Binghamton), New Jersey (Atlantic City and Moorestown), Delaware (Wilmington), and Maryland (Salisbury). View our locations here. If you live a little further away, book over the phone by calling us at 800-755-8020. Learn more at boscovstravel.com

From bus trips, to guided tours, city excursions or DIY travel, there are many options for touring Europe. One of the most scenic options for European touring is the river cruise. For a few days to more than three weeks, river cruises give cruisers a unique experience along the European countryside while sailing from town to town along the most famous rivers in Europe.

One of the most awarded river cruise lines is Avalon Waterways, part of the Globus family of brands. Founded in 2003, Avalon Waterways prides themselves on giving their guests a unique point of view. Avalon rooms feature beds that face the window and their Panoramic Suites offer the Open-Air Balcony, a first of its kind wall-to-wall 11 foot panoramic window that’s 50% wider than the industry standard. This gives cruisers a more spacious, open-feeling cabin with wider views of Europe. 80% of staterooms on Avalon suite ships feature this panoramic view. View the video below to experience the difference this makes.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R80GgIJi8fg]

In addition to the differences in room suites, Avalon Waterways attention to detail set them apart. When clients receive their cruise documents, they receive the cruise director’s (senior management on board the ship) personal cell phone number for any issues that may arise before departure or during the journey allowing for peace of mind throughout travel.

Avalon Waterways’s fleet consists of 16 ships with the oldest being only 7 years in age. Built on a tradition of the Swiss mentality, precision and functionality is forefront when it comes to building the ships. Avalon Waterways does not refurbish ships, and builds each ship 37 feet in width to navigate through the 37.5 foot locks throughout Europe. Each ship is built to accommodate up to 166 guests.

The fare on the ship accommodates to almost any type of dietary need imaginable (with the exception of kosher) with new vegetarian menus coming soon. There is no assigned seating at meals, and beer and 4 varieties of European wine are served with dinner, and will be served with lunch in 2017. Meals change daily as chefs shop at the local markets to get the freshest regional fare available to guests.

During the day, the ship docks at destinations along the river and local guides give inside access to the historical significance and everyday modern life within the town. Stops range from well-known tourist cities to small villages to give cruisers a one-of-a-kind experience. Bikes are available for guests to journey throughout the towns.

European tour options include a varying lengths of time along the great rivers of Europe, and Avalon Waterways offers special interest cruises catering to a variety of passions and interests. Select cruises focus on wine appreciation, beer tasting, culinary adventures, jazz, art, WWII History, and Jewish Heritage to name a few.

Going on now through June 21, 2016, receive free or reduced air from select cities when sailing on 2017 Europe River Cruises. Or save up to $3,000 per couple on select 2016 Europe River Cruises for a limited time. With the strong US dollar, there’s no better time to book your European adventure. If you’re ready to book your Avalon Waterways experience, email [email protected], call 800-755-8020 or direct message us.

A Stellar River Cruise Experience Aboard the AMAWaterways Stella