One of the best ways to explore Europe’s legendary cities and countryside is with a cruise along a major river that crosses the continent. We sailed on the 7-day “Melodies of the Danube” cruise from Budapest to Passau on the AmaSerena, a luxury AmaWaterways ship. Come join us.

The Ship

Launched in 2015, the AmaSerena is a beautiful ship designed to navigate Europe’s undulating rivers, narrow canals, locks and low bridges. It is 443 ft long, 38 ft wide and has three floors and an upper sundeck.

The hub of the ship and epicenter of social life on board is the Lounge, a spacious glass-walled area with living room style furniture. Here you will spend many relaxing hours sipping coffee and drinks with your new friends, listening to port talks, enjoying shows or dancing the night away with your loved one.

The top deck is another popular area where you can swim in the pool, work on your tan, walk around the track, or just unwind. Nothing is more relaxing than watching picture-perfect little villages, rolling green hills and church steeples soaring into the blue sky.

Accommodations include 81 rooms and 4 suites ranging in size from 160 SF to 624 SF. Most guestrooms include the AmaWaterways signature “twin balconies” — a terrace where you can sit with a drink and take in the passing scenery, and another floor-to-ceiling French balcony.

All guestrooms are luxurious and beautifully designed and decorated, from soft color palettes to headboard spotlights and special ceiling illumination. The elegant marble bath has a spacious glass-enclosed jet shower stall and a large counter. A frosted glass panel between the bath and sleeping area becomes opaque or transparent with the flick of a switch, so you can have your privacy and still enjoy the outdoor scenery while using the vanity.

Although your guestroom is beautiful and comfortable, you should not spend too much time here. After all, you are on this cruise to see and explore.

The Itinerary

Our AmaSerena cruise started in Budapest (Hungary) and sailed up the Danube stopping in Bratislava (Slovakia) Vienna, Durnstein, Linz, (Austria) and ending in Passau (Germany).

In every port you can join complimentary shore excursions led by local guides or explore the destinations on your own. Each stop usually includes one or more itineraries, as well as optional fee-based tours. AmaWaterways excursions are designed for different fitness levels from gentle walks to vigorous hikes and guided bicycle tours.

During our cruise we explored old medieval cities, bustling pedestrian downtowns and legendary castles. We also learned about the area’s rich history from medieval times to today.

We stopped in Austria’s picturesque Wachaw Valley and sampled typical wines and apricot liqueur that the area is famous for.

We passed by the famed Swiss alpine village and church where the movie Sound of Music was filmed.

We explored Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg, ambled along the cobblestone alleys of Bratislava and Lintz and explored the regal city of Vienna.

The Cuisine

AmaWaterways is a member of La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, one of the world’s most prestigious culinary organizations. In addition, the cruiseline was recently inducted in La Connétable de Guyenne, the third oldest vinous brotherhood in Bordeaux. All these accolades and associations mean that you will enjoy the highest quality culinary experiences and carefully selected regional vintages throughout the cruise.

The AmaSerena features a main dining room serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, an intimate dining room offering a Chef’s Table tasting menu, and a Lounge for early and late continental breakfast, afternoon bites and late night snacks.

Breakfast is served buffet style with all the trimmings of a typical American and European spread, including croissants, smoked fish, cold cuts, cheeses, eggs, fruit and pastries. You can also enjoy freshly squeezed orange juice, unlimited sparkling wine and healthy smoothies.

Lunch consists of a generous salad bar with a chef’s station for daily specials and a la carte choices and desserts. The menu combines regional specialties such as Hungarian dishes or German bratwursts as well as more exotic offerings such as Vietnamese Pho soup and Indonesian Nasi Goreng (a delicious rice dish).

Dinner features an elaborate multi-choice menu with delicious and artistically presented dishes often inspired by the destinations. We enjoyed Viennese Schnitzel, Hungarian Goulash, grilled River Char, fresh local fish and vegetarian entrees. Delicious European cakes, pastries and ice cream selections completed every meal. If the menu on a particular night is not appealing to you, you can always order Caesar salad, grilled salmon, chicken or steak.

The dining highlight of the cruise was the special Chaîne des Rôtisseurs dinner starring a savory French onion soup, lemon pepper crusted lamb medallions and a sampling of desserts.

At lunch and dinner you can enjoy complimentary white and red wines as well as beer and soft drinks. The wines, mostly from the countries we traveled through, change at every meal and are expertly paired with the menu.

Every guest also has a chance to experience an elaborate tasting menu in the special restaurant, The Chef’s Table, a culinary highlight not to be missed.

Melodies of the Danube and special events

The theme of our cruise was “Melodies of the Danube” and throughout our seven days we sampled the music and folklore of the visited lands. In Budapest we enjoyed a potpourri of lively Gypsy melodies and typical Hungarian dances. In Austria, a trio played a concert of classical and popular tunes, and in Linz a group of singers performed familiar Austrian songs. During our visit to the Greinburg castle, a local troupe entertained us with popular dances, and in Vilshofen we all celebrated Octoberfest with Pilsner Beer, pretzels, Bavarian music and lederhosen-clad dancers. In Vienna, guests had a chance to see (for a fee) a Strauss and Mozart concert in an elegant palace.

In addition, Peter, the onboard pianist and one-man-band played for us in the afternoons and late into the night.

The little extras that count

The AmaSerena runs like a well-oiled machine, where even the smallest details were taken care of. Here are some examples:

On a chilly evening as we gathered on the upper deck to see Budapest’s magical illumination, crew members appeared with blankets and “palinka,” the local plum brandy to warm our bodies and lift our spirits.

On the first day, knowing that many people would sleep in, the ship offered an additional late start tour of Budapest so everyone could enjoy the beautiful city.

All tours are well organized with color-coded buses and audio devices, making it easy to follow and hear the guides.

A big plus for solo travelers is that AmaWaterways does not charge the “single supplement” fee like most other cruiselines. The single cabins are a little smaller, but everyone we met was happy.

Additional onboard amenities include free Wi-Fi, free bottled water in rooms, a push-button specialty coffee machine, gluten-free pastries, “energy” water and more.

We also have to mention the superior service and special attention from our cruise director, Veronika. For example, when we arrived in Vienna late in the evening she suggested a walk to the city’s famous Ferris Wheel. Then, she led a group to the amusement park and we had a chance to enjoy the city’s illuminated skyline. In Vienna, as we toured St. Stephen’s cathedral, Veronika appeared with a box of Mozartkugel, the famous chocolate and marzipan balls, and we all sampled this local delicacy.

So if you want to enjoy a leisurely and luxurious trip along the beautiful rivers of the world, book a cruise with AmaWaterways. They sail along the rivers of Europe, Asia and Africa. Bon Voyage!