One of the things you have told us is that paying for your river cruise 12 or 15 months ahead of time is an irritation to an otherwise great experience.

AMA Waterways has also heard this feedback, and they think that paying 12 WEEKS ahead of time is a bit more reasonable than 12 months (or more) in advance.  They’ve also partnered with us for a PRIVATE SALE that will save you hundreds of dollars – more on that below. 

You’ve probably heard of AMA Waterways, but you might be wondering how they are different from the other river cruise companies out there.

All the river cruise companies we deal with in Europe offer a luxury guest experience, so they are LESS differentiated than the ocean cruise lines.  This means you’ll have a fantastic experience regardless of who you travel with, but it does make it confusing if you’re trying to make a decision between river cruise lines.

AMA Waterways fares include transfers, a choice of several different included shore excursions in every port, beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship.

We’ve travelled with AMA Waterways several times (and loved it).  Here’s a few things that stood out for us:

• The Rooms – there are window rooms available for those looking for the best price, but most of the rooms on decks 2 and 3 are combination Veranda and French balcony (you get both!).  So the room feels much larger (and they are about 50% larger than other brands).
• The Wellness Coordinator – each sailing has a crew member on board leads more active shore excursions, as well as offering fitness, yoga and pilates classes on board the ship included in your fare.  There is also a small gym on board.
• Happy Hour – Beer and wine is included with your meals, and for the hour or so before dinner, it’s happy hour in the main lounge, with your drinks included.  It’s a small thing, but a nice touch.  It means you can have a complimentary cocktail while listening to the port briefing for the following day.
• Bicycles for Borrowing – it’s nice to be able to go for a bike ride right off the ship in your spare time.
• Choice of Shore Excursions – in most ports of call, you’ll have a choice of 2 – 4 different included activities, and you can do as many as time permits.  This works really well if you’re travelling with a group of people with a variety of interests.
• Itineraries – AMA Waterways is the only company operating on the Magdalena River in Columbia, and the Chobe River in Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa & Zimbabwe).  Imagine doing an African Safari from a River Boat!  

AMA operates on all the main European rivers, as well as Egypt, Vietnam/Cambodia, South Africa, and Colombia.

We have a number of videos on our YouTube Channel if you’d like to learn more about AMA:

• Rhine Itinerary: https://youtu.be/UHzzsujRcDY?si=UubHGgsw4ykTcIDN 
• Lower Danube Itinerary: https://youtu.be/-OhF7PSrj0c?si=TT6MxjmLcVtHD9Q3 
• Lyon & Provence: https://youtu.be/H2rBL8J7DIU?si=b5cWlfjOLGoHqAyM 
• AMA Dara ship tour: https://youtu.be/T6YIfrUbDwk?si=RTjgrID_LDdcJB0i 
• AMA Mora ship tour: https://youtu.be/BCfmq1g4CaU?si=I1mdN3Ta4OBTCLRH 
• Interview with Kristine Karst: https://youtu.be/3NAEB01hhAE?si=4n0F_agm2hDn7VId 
• Shore Excursions: https://youtu.be/YK30TUkkueY?si=XMdtG9VRe0sXNuAm 

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Today’s Travel Opportunities

AMA PRIVATE SALE

Due to our exclusive arrangement with AMA Waterways, we are able to offer 5% OFF published prices (and a $150 on board credit) for all itineraries except Portugal and Southern Africa.  In most cases, the savings will amount to $500 or more per stateroom.  

Our private sale IS combinable with AMA’s Free Land promotion (get free pre/post cruise extensions):  https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/freeland/2025 

Here are a few examples:

EGYPT for 11-nights (4 nights Cairo and 7-nights on the ship)

• See the Pyramids and Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum (with King Tut’s room), Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel, and a Nile Felucca ride. 
• Depart 2025 (Sep – Dec) from $6344 (less 5%)
• Depart 2026 (Jan – Jun, Sep – Dec) from $5779 (less 5%)

EASTERN EUROPE: Budapest to Bucharest departing for 7-nights

• Travel through Hungary, and then visit Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.
• Optional extension to Transylvania/Dracula’s Castle and Bucharest.
• Departures March – December from $2939 (less 5%)

PARIS & NORMANDY round-trip from Paris for 7-nights

• Start in Paris, then visit Les Andelys, Le Havre, Normandy Beaches, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Vernon (for Monet’s Gardens) before returning to Paris
• Departures March – November from $3839 (less 5%)

PROVENCE, FRANCE:  Lyon to Marseille for 7-nights

• Visit Lyon (overnight), Vienne, Tournon, Viviers, Avignon, Arles (overnight).  Experience farm to table food, wineries, Roman Ruins, and the French countryside.
• Departures March – December from $3139 (less 5%)

BORDEAUX WINE:  round-trip from Bordeaux for 7-nights

• Enjoy the famed wine region, historic architecture, and ancient castles
• Departures March – December from $3139 (less 5%)

MEKONG River: Vietnam & Cambodia from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap for 7-nights

• Visit local markets and temples, do a local school visit, get a tuk tuk tour of Phnom Penh, and experience the amazing people, culture and food of the unique part of the world on a fully escorted trip.
• Departures January to April OR September to December from $2639 (less 5%)

FRANCE, GERMANY & NETHERLANDS: Basel to Amsterdam for 7-nights

• Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwigshafen, Strasbourg, Basel
• Depart July 19 from $3989 (less 5%)

Windstar Casual Yachting

Our friends at Windstar have once again extended a 5% discount exclusively to Pampered Cruiser clients. Here’s a few examples of itineraries where you can enjoy Windstar’s  intimate yachting experience:

TAHITI round-trip from Papeete for 7-nights.  Departures every Thursday.

• Visit Papeete, Moorea, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora (overnight), Huahini.  Remember this tropical paradise is only 2 hours past Hawaii, and has a fraction as many tourists. 
• Depart August – October from $3999, OR November/December from $3199.
• Here’s our video blog from when we did this cruise: https://youtu.be/ctytpPPx1tM 

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN including the Corinth Canal for 8-days

• Visit Istanbul, Myrina, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Santorini, the Corinth Canal, Delphi, Athens
• Depart April 3 from $5591, or September 28 from $5691.

CARIBBEAN round-trip from San Juan for 7-days

• Visit St. Maarten, Charleston, Gustavia, Jost van Dyke, British Virgin Islands.
• Depart November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 from $3292.

*Prices include all taxes and fees, all drinks, specialty dining, gratuities, and wifi on the ship.

HX – Remote Destinations

You don’t have to be an elite athlete to enjoy these locations, but you do have to be curious about the more remote corners of the world.  

REMOTE ALASKA from Vancouver to Anchorage for 10-days

• Depart Vancouver, sail the Inside Passage, then to Misty Fjords, Klawock, Fjords of the Alaskan panhandle, Icy Strait Point, Glacier Bay, Valdez, Prince William Sound, and then to Seward (for Anchorage)
• Departures May through July 2026 from $4554

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS and Quito for 9-days

• 2-nights in Quito, then fly to Galapagos (included in fare) for 6 nights.  Visit Mosquera Inlet, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Research Station in Port Ayora, Espanola Island, Eden Islet.

• Depart May through August from $7839
• Depart September through December from $7643

NORTHERN LIGHTS in NORWAY round-trip from Tromso for 8-days

• Travel north of the Arctic Circle to remote villages in coastal Norway.  See the mountains, fjords, fishing villages, and the AURORA BOREALIS.
• Departures January through March from $4762

HX includes drinks with meals, wifi, gratuities, and outdoor gear.  

See our ship tour video of Roald Amundsen:  https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0 

Rocky Mountaineer

Check out these domestic (and Canada) luxury train trips for spectacular scenery and wildlife spotting, all while enjoying fantastic food and wine.

Denver to Las Vegas for 6-nights

• Denver (2), Glenwood Springs, Moab (2), Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas
• Prices range between $5215 and $6270 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October

Vancouver to Banff for 6-nights

• Vancouver (2), Kamloops, Banff (2), Calgary.
• Prices range between $2988 and $6004 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October. 

Circle Journey 12 -nights

• Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff (3), Lake Louise (2), Jasper (2), Quesnel, Whistler, Vancouver.
• Prices range between $8254 to $11,983 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October.

In Case You Missed It:

ALASKA:  People go to Alaska for different reasons.  Here’s a quick way to match your travel requirements with the right travel product.  

https://pamperedcruiser.com/alaska-different-ways-to-see-the-49th-state/

ON-LINE TRAVEL FORUMS sometimes have useful information, but most of it is junk.  How can you best use the wiki-sites like Trip Advisor and Cruise Critic?

https://pamperedcruiser.com/the-trouble-with-wiki-sites/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

LOWER DANUBE:  Perhaps you’ve already travelled the most common part of the Danube between Bavaria and Budapest.  Or maybe you want to see Eastern Europe (Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania) from the comfort of a riverboat.  Here’s our video blog from our trip there in October:  https://youtu.be/-OhF7PSrj0c 

Reminder: VISITING THE UK?

As of this week, you will need to complete an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) if you are visiting or connecting a flight anywhere in the UK.  England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland require US Passport Holders to complete this prior to arrival.  Here’s a video we did that contains all the details:  https://youtu.be/6NGfCqOsDKk

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley