Patricia Mickus
Patricia Mickus
Day in the Life of a River Cruiser
Want a sneak peak of what a typical day looks like on a river cruise? Here is what one of our days looked like on a recent cruise. Now each day may look a bit different depending on the itinerary but this is a good sample of what to expect.
Morning
Most mornings we were already docked when we woke up. But some days we started the day with stunning landscapes drifting by our stateroom windows. Each morning the Wellness Coach led classes in stretching and yoga before breakfast. We could decide on a quick breakfast of pastries and fresh fruits in the lounge or head to the dining room for more options. Several times I took my coffee and pastries and sat on the sun deck to enjoy the crisp morning air.
Late Mornings and Afternoons
Each day we could take advantage of the included shore excursions which included guided tours of the village, wine tasting at a local winery or bike ride through the countryside. So many great ones to choose from. Lunch is typically back on the ship unless we were docked for the day or the excursion was a full day off the ship. During those occasions it was nice to try a local restaurant.
Evening
Happy Hour was a great time to socialize with other passengers and share stories about our day. With AmaWaterways this time is called Sip and Sail and we were able to enjoy some light appetizers and complementary cocktails during this hour. This was also when the cruise director previewed the next day’s excursions. Dinner consisted of multi course meals that the chef prepared using fresh local ingredients. Each meal was paired with wines that complemented that night’s dining selections. The dining rooms is open seating which enable us to meet so many people while we sailed.
Night
After dinner the Lounge was the place to be. We were treated to live music, dancing and late night snacks. But after a long day we typically retreated to our stateroom and relaxed on our balcony as we enjoyed the gentle lull of the river beneath us.