All Things Travel Podcast

Exploring the Danube River with AmaWaterways (Part 2)

• Ryan Hedstrom & Julie Shaffer • Season 1 • Episode 263

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In this episode of All Things Travel, hosts Ryan and Julie continue their discussion of Ryan's recent river cruise experience with AmaWaterways on the Romantic Danube itinerary. After covering the pre-cruise stay and initial impressions in the previous episode, they dive deeper into the dining experience, daily excursions, and how the cruise line handles unexpected situations.


Dining Experience on AmaWaterways

  • Breakfast: Combination of menu items (omelets, eggs benedict, pancakes) and buffet options including English breakfast and pastries
  • Lunch: Menu-based with regionally-inspired options, including sandwiches, soups, and hot main dishes
  • Dinner: Full menu service with regionally-based cuisine reflecting the sailing locations
  • Chef's Table: Complimentary specialty dining experience in a separate venue with a chef preparing meals in front of guests
  • Unlimited beer and wine included with lunch and dinner
  • Late night snacks available in the lounge around 10 PM
  • Flexible dining options for various preferences, with "always available" menu items like steak, chicken, and salmon

Itinerary and Port Highlights

  • Technical issues required modifications to the schedule, with AmaWaterways providing bus transportation to destinations
  • Wachau Valley: Though initially missed due to ship issues, the cruise was rerouted to allow passengers to sail through this beautiful Austrian valley
  • Dürnstein, Austria: Known for apricots, offering tastings of various apricot products
  • Melk Abbey: A gorgeous architectural complex with monks still in residence
  • Vienna, Austria: Ryan toured the vibrant city on Palm Sunday
  • Bratislava, Slovakia: Surprisingly Ryan's favorite stop, offering the perfect blend of small village charm and modern city amenities 
    • Walking tour through the old town
    • Beer garden with Slovakian beer tastings
    • Local pastries and ice cream (including fig flavor)
    • Shopping opportunities at both traditional shops and modern malls
  • Budapest, Hungary: Sailing into Budapest and seeing the Parliament building along the Danube 
    • Tours of both Buda (old town, castle area) and Pest sides
    • Visit to the Jewish memorial shoes along the Danube
    • Easter market with food, music, decorations, and gifts

Key Takeaways

  • Exceptional level of service throughout the cruise
  • Variety of experiences available even with similar excursion types
  • River cruising allows

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ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Hello and welcome to All Things Travel. Last episode we started to discuss my recent river cruise on the DNU with Amma waterways. There was so much included in this amazing trip. I wanted to continue the journey today.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Listen destination experts, Ryan and Julie. He is your travel professor teaching you everything you need to know to have a magical vacation. And I am a Disney loving Maryland mom of three and a specialist in family travel. Whether we're discussing incredible destinations, top vacation tips, or sharing personal stories, it's always all things travel. It's a Sunday night. We're back to our routine here a little bit. Um, I had a fun day. I was out expo all day talking travel. You had a busy weekend. Oh my gosh.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Oh So, so I'm moving in a couple weeks, in with my fiance, and this was the prototypical week of we're stopping at Lowe's. We're stopping at this store, we're going to Costco. we're stopping over her parents to pick

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Oh my gosh.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

fun. to do all that It's

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

It's fun to do all that stuff. It's expensive to do all that stuff, but good for you. Good I'm glad one of us worked this weekend.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Well, hey. We both worked. We just worked at

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

We did. Okay. So We are gonna talk more about Ryan's river cruise that he just went on with Amma water rays. And last week we talked a lot about like kind of getting to the cruise, your presay in Munich, first impressions, your first couple days on the trip. So before we get back into the rest of the itinerary, tell us about food because I know that that's, that's on your mind.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

It is a big part of the cruise, right? What am I gonna be eating? How am I gonna be eating? And I think Amma really does it well. the meals are kind of laid out in a certain way. First of all, there's not room service. breakfast is kind of a combination of menu and buffet. you can order off of a small menu, get like every day I tended to get an omelet or there was eggs benedict or pancakes then they also had Kind of a buffet So there's anything from English breakfast to an egg station to pastries. So you didn't go hungry. at breakfast, there was usually like a fruit juice of the day kind of thing. So that was how breakfast was. you would have breakfast somewhat early, because your, your first excursion would leave, you know, nine or 10 in the morning. So you get up, you have breakfast. Now if you don't want to have that full breakfast up in the lounge for both breakfast and lunch, they have a lighter,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Kind

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

more of a continental

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

a,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

of

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

so you just

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Lunch is straight off the menu. oftentimes there would be

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Uh.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

based around, uh, where you are. So for instance, when we were in Bavaria, there were, The pretzels and the meats and the cheeses and all that. and what was interesting, and you're gonna appreciate this'cause you and I have had a similar experience, in the bread basket that day, there were several, Bavarian pretzels. so our table kind of ate those. And, and one of the women said, you mind if we have some more pretzels with our bread? And he said, absolutely. And he came back and the basket was covered. And what do you think was in it?

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Just all pretzels. All pretzels.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

cause you and I had the same experience with shrimp when we were on Royal Caribbean. Right. So I even said that beforehand, I said, I bet there's all pretzels in here. And sure enough there were, lunch is sandwiches, There's soups, there's always a hot. Main dish. then wine and, and beer is served with lunch if you want.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

And dinner

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

dinner is a full, off the menu. it's always regionally based based on where you're sailing.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

chef.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

a chef's, um, suggestion for the full menu.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

I would get that and maybe swap out an

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

swap out an or swap out a Maine based

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

app if you

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

If you weren't feeling as adventurous. I wouldn't say the food was super fancy or

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

adventurous, but

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

but, there were certainly different things throughout the cruise. There was always steak, there was always chicken, there was always salmon as an option.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

you

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

and you would have appetizer, salad soup. Maine dessert. I mean, if you wanted it, there were always different options in each of those

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Okay, wait, I have I have questions. first. ocean cruises it's kind of like an all you can eat sort of deal if you wanna order three plates. Is it the same with the river cruising? Absolutely. Okay. So there would be nights maybe you,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

would be nights maybe you, wanted to try both appetizers,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

the

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

maybe the. table would want to sample several different things. So you could certainly do that. one of the women in our group, tended to want a salad with some sort of protein. she would order the Caesar salad, which was always, on the always available menu, and get it with chicken or steak or salmon based on

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Yeah. And,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that night. So they really do accommodate you.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

and then lunch. So you talked about lunch. on board, but are you also eating lunch off the shipper lot or how does that work? Okay.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

the day.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Yep. It depends on the day. Um, if

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

if you're doing both a morning and afternoon excursion, Then

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

to the ship and have lunch, okay.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

and then depart in the afternoon, is really nice. It

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

kind of thing.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

to Kind of take

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Maybe the weather's changed, You need to go drop off. A coat

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

off. a coat, pick up A coat

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that off.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that, or drop off souvenirs that

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Um, if you're

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

if you're at an all day excursion,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

on, okay.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

your own. There was one situation, I'll talk about this in a second because our plans changed. Amma actually paid for our lunch. and then there are some excursions where a meal is

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Wow.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

just depending on

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Lots of options.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

there were certainly times that, that, I bought my lunch and I was happy to,'cause it was experiencing

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Yeah. Okay, so tell us about the Chef's Table.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Okay, so this is a really cool experience. and what's cool about it with Amma is it's

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Wow.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So every guest has the option to dine at the chef's table at least

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

And there

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

And if there are.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

are faces.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

you can dine more than once, and it is a special prefix chef menu. And you're actually in a different dining room, a smaller dining room, and the chef is preparing your meal in front of you. They have kind of like a kitchen station, so there's a completely different weight staff. There's different wines to have. different food options. It's just an

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Wow, that's,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

would say that's,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

definitely a

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that's definitely a. more elevated meal than the other options, but compared to any cruise line I've been on, I would say most meals were as good, if not better than any other cruise line I've been on. even in the main dining room and definitely in the

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

And I appreciate that a lot of those you mentioned were like regionally Oh,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Oh, a hundred percent. The wines

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

you know,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

you're in Germany. and you're having Bavarian You're in Hungary and you're having,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Hungry food

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

and, and a

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

hung.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Hungarian food and, and one of the appetizers that night was. the street food I had at the Easter market that afternoon, they really try to do that. But if you're not that adventurous, there's always a burger, there's always a steak, there's always chicken. You know, you're good to go. And the potato wedges on Amma waterways are amazing.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

remember you talking about those before, so they must be really memorable

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So, know, you get the potato wedges and the steak and the peppercorn sauce, and you're having a good meal regardless of what's

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

as you roll off the ship at the end.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

the last. Exactly. And the last option, to be honest on this cruise, I never did this one'cause I wasn't up that late, but about 10 o'clock. Then in the lounge they always have kind of a late night snack. And this can be burgers, it can be kind of appetizers,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Wow.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

thing. So you're not going hungry on an alma waterways cruise when it comes to drinks, lunch and dinner, you've got your beer and wine as much as you care to

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Wow. That's amazing. That sounds so great.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

what I like about it is, yes, there's a lot of food, but you can really do what you want. if it's a soup and salad day, so be it. if you're on the ship in the morning and not doing an excursion and you want a longer breakfast, you can certainly do that. it's really flexible around what you

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Okay, so dining sounds amazing. Let's get back to your itinerary. I know that you mentioned that there was a little bit of a hiccup, so tell us what happened and, what was the result of that. Okay, so when we were

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

when we were. in Lynn, Austria and we got back from our walking tour. it was time for the sip and sale. about the hour before dinner.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

manager Ella would

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

would always come out and kind of

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

the day

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

the day talk if there's anything for tomorrow.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

was

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that was kind of the,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

the team.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

for the cruise. You know, everybody's there, um, enjoying a drink and hearing any announcements and she said, well. ship is having an issue. We're having a power issue with the ship. It does not impact any of us on the ship,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

we

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

we don't feel comfortable sailing the ship tomorrow. So here's what we're going to do. there were two excursions scheduled for tomorrow. one was to Stein. Austria and one

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

happy

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Abbey in milk,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

and you were

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

And you were to choose one of

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

one. both were in the app.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

were in the afternoon,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

here's what.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

said, here's what we're gonna do instead. If you want to go on these excursions, we are combining the two excursions and we're busing you. So it's an all day

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

excursion. You'll go

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Stein in the morning, you'll go, to the Milk Abbey in the afternoon, we will

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Hey everybody

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

25 euros for lunch That's gonna be our day

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

you want to stay

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

stay on the ship, meals and everything will be here if you just wanna hang out and Lynch have at it. So

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

so

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

next day

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

next day, that's what we did.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

took a bus to Dine Stein's a small little town. and it's all about apricots and that was actually, the excursion was an apricot tasting I had signed up for. So a little different. it was more of a walking tour, but we definitely had time to sample apricots, apricot products. I brought back some apricot rum. I brought back some preserves, some candies, all

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that sounds cool.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

then as you registered for your excursion, waterways gave you 25 euros that you could then use for your lunch. thought that was a good way to handle it, Probably the biggest disappointment was we did not get to sail through the Wachau Valley that day, which is this beautiful fertile valley in Austria. But they made up for that a little later, and I'll tell you how they did that, in the afternoon. Then we went to the Milk Abbey, which is just a. Gorgeous, complex. there are monks that still live there. Mostly it's a tourist attraction. There's a school that is housed there in the Abbey and is this gorgeous architecture. And it was so cool to, uh, to see it and learn about, uh, the

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Wow.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that live there and and

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So I have a question. I have a I have a question. What, I'm curious, why did they have to combine them? Because the ship was having issues. what would've been the, if the ship wasn't having issues, what would the, those excursions, how would they have been different? Okay, so if the ship was not having.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

um, issues that

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

we would've sailed through the walk

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Valley

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

and they would have dropped those

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

off that wanted to go to Ernstein, and they would in the afternoon, and then they would've sailed to milk and dropped those people off.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Got it. Okay. Okay. That I to go Okay.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

to do was,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

to do was

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

to do was was

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Got it. You know?

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

you know, again, with Alma waterways, you've got small groups. they were able to deal with it. And that's really where someone like Ianella, the crew manager, just shines

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Able to

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

to

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

everything.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

everything, get the logistics taken care

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Nice. That's amazing. And then that night we.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Then that night we had the chef table. that was just a wonderful meal. with all the travel advisors that were there with Alma waterways plus their guests. it was really kind of sweet because, our friend Summer, I. Who had kind of joined our, our band of, of Mary, sailors, if you will. I was able to take her as my plus one, so most of our group were able to go together, she didn't have to go by herself. that was just a really nice evening. the, the chefs table is a, highlight

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Amazing.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

crews.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Wow.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So the next, day part of our problem with Julie was it was the weekend. And so they were having trouble getting parts. They were actually flying in technicians from other countries.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

from,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

were folks from AWA Waterways

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

gosh,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that was there.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

they were

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

they

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

bus.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

care

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

was just unfortunate that was happening. Mm-hmm.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

happening.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

so

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

so.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

they said was

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

said was, this is your

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

We can bus,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

We can bust you to Vienna for the

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

or able

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

not

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

to jet.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

to Chesky Kof in Czech Republic. If you want to do that, we will bus you

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

have that excursion.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

or if you want

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

if you

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

the day on the ship,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

the day on the ship.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

my friends,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

my friends, I. Wanted to

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

day on the ship and they love

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

ship they loved that. Several of them went to Chesky Kof

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

do that the other day.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

the

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So they have the

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

to go to

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

to both Salzburg and Chesky Kof. And I

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Vienna.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

'cause I'm like, you know, I want to go to Vienna. I want to have that experience. And that was really cool because most of the excursions

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that point,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

point, were smaller

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

and so.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

so. it was neat to go to a big city. It was Palm Sunday, so the city was busy. There was a lot of energy. Had a really nice walking tour through Vienna. I. had some time to do some shopping. I think I texted you and said, well, of course I'm having Greek food in Vienna'cause that's what you do. so I was able to have a nice

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

And again,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

again, I'm a waterways credited us lunch money on our online account,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So I,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

other than having a bus ride when we didn't,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

when we didn't feel like, or when we weren't planning

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

they took care of us.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

took care of us. here's the best part too. When we got back to the ship, the ship intentionally met us at a port so then we could sail through the Wachau Valley

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Actually see it

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

as as the

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

as going. And

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

the, and then the crews

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

then, so

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

bit of a hiccup,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

hiccup for a couple

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

I do

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

do know that Ian

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

this.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

said that folks, two folks,'cause

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

people that

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

people that were, you know.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

met

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

primarily because some people had paid extra for a

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

primarily

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

in Vienna. Um, and that did not happen. that was probably, as I look back at everything,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that was the one

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

one

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that was lost throughout all this.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

people obvious,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

obviously got their money back

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

she did say that no waterways would be reaching.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

out to everybody on the sailing.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

sure

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

sure because I was there specifically as a travel advisor, if

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

me, but it definitely sounds like,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

like, you know, Amma Waterways is gonna take care of their people. I heard

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

time again.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

and time again from folks who had sailed on Amma waterways in the past that

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Customer service.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

service of not just even on the ship, but the company, as they're making reservations, as they're dealing with covid, reservations, all that kind of stuff, they took care of them. Entire time. And so I have no doubt that Alma's gonna

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So had you been able to sail to those ports that they bust? Like how long was that bus ride to, you know, the milk Abbey or to Vienna? Like how much of an inconvenience was that bus ride? Was it like a couple of hours was bus, the first

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

was

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

day was about an hour, and the second day was about two

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

day

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Okay.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

about two hours.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

second day

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

second day, people really kind of, do I want to be on a

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

That was,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Um, that was really kind of

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

but again, I had

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

I

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

dinner.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

been to Vienna. I hadn't had that

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

I

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

so I was, wanting to do that. And actually, um, I ha I sent out postcards to some of my

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

not even,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

and I'm not even sure if they'll get them by this point'cause I know it

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that's what I did on the bus,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

I did on the, bus, on the on the way there I just filled out postcards for everybody. at the end of the day, I saw what I wanted to see. Amma treated me well. I felt well taken care of. I've been on tons of buses in Europe. That doesn't worry me. I'm okay. It's

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

And you got to see, Additional towns that you would not have seen,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

and just not gonna let that

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Yeah.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

day. and it didn't seem like most

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Okay.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

did. I mean, there was certainly some, some direct conversations with the cruise manager, especially with that second day. but at the end of the day, it all worked. it was all fine.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

All right, so now we're gonna come up to What you've said was probably your favorite. Stop. If you would have told me before this cruise barada, sva Slovakia is gonna be your favorite stop. I would've been like, what now? it was beautiful. was absolutely beautiful. it was the perfect blend of a small village and a modern city. Wow

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So in the morning, you know, I am taking a walking tour through this beautiful old town of Bratislava. In the afternoon, I'm shopping for my son at this brand new

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Art.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

shopping mall. I just. thought it was a

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Wow.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

I really did not expect that. So we got into Bratislava at

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Had the my travel.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

one of my travel agent meetings that morning and then, we got into Bratislava and we had a taste of Slovakia. Excursion. So we did a walking tour, where the, the guy kind of took us through Barada, Sava obviously talking, you know, like a lot of these places, the, the impact of communism and the resurgence of the culture, and brought ALA as a capital and then took us to a beer garden and we sampled some Slovakian beers. We had a charcuterie board, which was wonderful. The only thing I didn't have was the tongue. apparently it was good, but not what I was interested in. we had some local music and. Then we were given time to explore what I liked about this guide. Was, she did exactly what I think you should do when you're with people for not very long. Okay, here's what I wanna show you, but when we're free, you could do this and this is the way you should go. You could go here and this is, you know, so she kind of prepped where we needed to go. my group that I was with, we sampled a few of kind

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Pastries.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

pastries that she

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Ice cream.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

ice cream. because she talked about how good the Slovakian ice cream was. I had, fig

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Ice cream.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

ice cream. and it was just absolutely wonderful. we did some shopping, did some walking around. Just enjoyed the day. And then, like I said, I needed to do some shopping specifically for my son. So I went to, there was a shopping mall. Down from the port and just really had a nice day. It is absolutely gorgeous. And, and I actually looked at Eslava. I said, you know, if I wanted to travel here again, what would that be like? As I researched it's a really good starting point for a vacation because in a couple days you can see the highlights of Bratislava, and then it's a train ride to everywhere. You can go to Prague, you can go to Budapest, you can go to Vienna. It's a very easy

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

That's amazing. I, I'm so surprised that was your favorite too.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

A hundred percent. It really, really was. and then our last full day, we went to Budapest, and this was probably our worst weather. We lucked out on weather all week long. We had some DRE that day, and the weather was cooler, but it was by no means bad. But let me tell you, Julie, if you've seen anything about River Cruising the Danube, you've seen the Parliament in Budapest and sailing into that bridge and seeing that Parliament building is just

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Well

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

I just, I ha

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

the,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

was was on the. Deck I got some great photos, some great video, and I I'm like, I'm here. I'm doing This

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

That's awesome. Wow. So

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

obviously when you're in Budapest, you're gonna go to

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

obviously different, separated by

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

separated by the Danube. So Buddha

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

was much more.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

much more of the old town castle, kind of regal and royal, area. had a really nice walking tour there. saw some really neat sights. There

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

an over of

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

of Budapest that

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

a

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

by

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

church was

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

church that was just

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

gorgeous,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

gorgeous. Came

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

had, um,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

um,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

really nice Hungarian l awesome, um, blue wash

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

goulash then went and saw

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

and on this second we went to, um.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

um.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

memorial.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

memorial, and this is along the Danube. There are metal shoes in Memoria of the Jews that were lined up along the Danube and shot, into the river. as Budapest was taken over by the Nazis. it was interesting. The, guide in the

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

say.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

said, you know, we're really bad at picking sides. We haven't picked a winning side of a war in 500 years. throughout this entire cruise talking about the Nazis, talking about World War ii, talking about communism just came up over and over and it was interesting to hear, Everybody's take on a similar

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Mm.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

That

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Yeah.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

as a history buff that was interesting to me. so we went to the memorial, very moving, very interesting. and then we did a walk around the parliament so you could see that building closer up. and appreciate it. and understand it. and then we took our bus to the Easter market. I had heard of Christmas markets. Budapest actually has an Easter market, which has food and music and decorations and gifts and everything. It was so cool. I was

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

I bet you were super excited. That is, that is right up your alley.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

I was geeking out, I was having, some really interesting street food. I was checking out the Easter scene.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Easter

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

it was

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

scene.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

way to kind

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

The Easter scene.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Easter scene. Yeah. Um, that was a fun way to end the cruise. you really feel like I'm in a European setting and this is a

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So is that where the ship stopped? Was that the last Okay.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

That correct? that was the last. day. And what was interesting was that day, and then the next day there were actually people getting on to

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Oh wow, return.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

crews back. So at dinner that night, you had kind of new people and you're like, who are these people? These people aren't part of our crews. but they're actually getting on and starting the

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

That's so interesting.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

to Germany. So the last night on board was very nice. Had a nice meal with my crew. they brought on some Hungarian dancers and musicians, so that was neat. Up in the, lounge. Oh, and I didn't say when we were in lys, had some opera singers come on, and do that. So they had some regional entertainment throughout the crews there. That was a lot of fun. And then really just kind of say goodbye to everybody. Finish packing, figured out how I was gonna fit everything into my suitcase, what I needed to leave in my state room, to make that happen.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

I don't need these clothes. I'm just gonna leave these here.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

and then

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

what I would say

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

say is over the last day and a half, our cruise manager really stressed, I need to know your plans. Even if you're on your own, we need to take care of you or at least know what's going on. I had purchased my air through Amma, my transfer back to the airport was included. So basically they look at your flight and they say, okay. This is what time we need your luggage out. and this is when your transfer is.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So my

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

So my transfer. they said my lunch needed to be out by nine in the morning. My transfer was at 10 30, so I hung out in the lounge, did some work on my laptop, talked to my friends a little bit. At 10 30, the cruise manager came in and said, it's time for. Our red group to, head out and we got on the transfer. There was an Amma waterways person on the bus with us. from the ship to the airport, it took about 30 minutes. When we got there, she said, this is so and so, he's gonna take care of you. he was an Amma waterways person.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Airport.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

the Airport. Made sure we reached, checked in, put our tag on our luggage. I mean, I felt very taken

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Yeah.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

right? Got our luggage off, said goodbye. And

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Wow.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

very smooth. very smooth. felt well taken care of. Very professional. totally would recommend the transfers just for the

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Yeah.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

of that experience. One of my, friends I met on the cruise. We were on the flight to Munich together, and then I, flew to, Washington, DC from Munich. Had some time there, flew to Indianapolis. It was a very, very long day, but very

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Amazing. I mean, this cruise, like I feel like the way that you describe, you do this. You do this with a lot of destinations, but I can always feel like I'm there and I'm like, man, I wanna take a river cruise. And then I'm like, wait, gimme like 30 years.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

It. You know what I love about river cruising and I was definitely not the youngest person on the river cruise. I was one of the youngest persons as mid forties, but I did not feel young. I mean, there were definitely the stereotypical river cruisers, but, it's definitely

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Yeah.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

down

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

telling me in like 10 years, not 30, maybe 10 years,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

What I love about river cruising, Julie is. It allows you to take the vacation as you want. wanted to see the sites, so I was willing to go, go, go. Some of my friends,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Mm-hmm.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

relax, so spending time on the ship they enjoyed that. We each had different vacations, but at the same time we were able to come together and enjoy that time. I love the fact that you can really do whatever you want and if you just want to get out and do your own thing, you

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Yeah.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

to do these excursions at all. I could just check out, as long as I'm back on the boat, by the time you know that it leaves, I can do whatever.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Yeah,

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

walk. could take a bike from the ship and bike

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

that sounds so great.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

whatever I wanted.

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Okay. Any big takeaways, Ryan?

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

I think none of these were shocking to me, but definitely the level of service I was blown away again at a company like Alma Waterways. the level of detail, the level of service, anything from how my state room was taken care of to my dining, to the logistics of the tours, I. Was just really smooth and really thought out. I was really happy with that. I really enjoyed the variety of experiences even though, it sounded like I did a lot of walking tours, which I did. Each one was different. Each one kind of had their own flavor. I was able to choose different things and

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Right.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

I could do the tasting in Slovakia or the apricot tasting or the what have you, and it. was all part of it. and really it allowed me to have the vacation that I wanted. And then lastly. I wasn't worried about traveling solo. I was actually kind of interested and

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Yeah.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

it. but it really showed me that river cruising was a good way

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

That's amazing.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Yeah, so highly recommend. Again, this was Amma Waterways. I was on the AM Sonata. This was the romantic Danube from Vil, Chauvin, Germany, all the way to Budapest,

j_1_04-27-2025_201752:

Sounds like such an amazing cruise. All right, so you wanna plan a trip to an amazing destination like an alma waterways cruise, but don't know how to get started. As your travel advisors, we work with you to create a customized itinerary for your vacation and take the stress of planning away so you can focus on the fun and creating memories. You can reach us at all things travel podcasts.com and click contact us.

ryan_1_04-27-2025_201752:

We look forward to talking to you next week on all Things Travel, when we share some really exciting, big, super special, awesome news.

People on this episode

Head Shot

Julie Shaffer

Co-host
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Ryan Hedstrom

Co-host