Amanda PhillipsThe quaint town of Lahnstein, in the Rhine Gorge, was the setting for the christening of the latest AmaWaterways vessel in July. The imposing Stolzenfels Castle provided a suitably atmospheric backdrop for this dockside ceremony. In attendance was the Mayor of Lahnstein as well as the co-founders of the company – Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst. After the Godmother sent a magnum of Veuve Clicquot Champagne smashing on the side of the vessel, guests were entertained to a celebratory dinner.
The 156-passenger AmaMora is the latest vessel in the AmaWaterways fleet of 23 ships that operate on European rivers as well as the Mekong and Chobe Rivers. The ship will sail on the Rhine between Amsterdam and Basle, a journey of 464 miles. This new ship is distinguished by having a slightly larger Chef’s Table at the stern of the vessel seating 32; also novel is the retractable balcony outside the Chef’s Table where guests can choose to dine when the ship isn’t sailing.
Spanning three decks, there are nine categories of accommodation ranging from eight 160 sq ft cabins with fixed windows on Piano Deck to four 350 sq ft suites on Violin Deck. Most grades have AmaWaterways’ signature twin balcony – where a French balcony sits alongside an outside balcony. The marble-clad bathrooms are a masterstroke in design with multi-jets in the glass-enclosed showers.
In the Restaurant a large buffet offers superbly-fresh produce at breakfast and lunch, there’s also a menu offering local specialities. Dinner surpasses expectations, especially when the La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs menu is showcased. Complimentary Austrian, German, French and Californian wines are served at lunch and dinner. Once per cruise, all guests can dine at the Chef’s Table where a dégustation menu is full of culinary treats.
The Lounge, with comfy sofas and occasional chairs, in a spectrum of coral, cherry and pink, is where afternoon tea is served; as well as the ‘Sip & Sail’ hour of complimentary drinks prior to dinner. Nightly entertainment ranges from piano melodies to guest entertainers singing Country and Soul music; a music quiz; and disco night!
On the Sun Deck there’s a heated swimming pool and walking track, while for those who want to burn off even more calories, the Wellness Coach offers a range of classes on deck as well as in the Lounge.
On the ‘Captivating Rhine’ and Enchanting Rhine’ itineraries, there are four choices of excursions in almost every port including Amsterdam, Cologne; Rüdesheim; Ludwigshafen (for Heidelberg and Speyer); Strasbourg; Breisach (for Freiburg); and Basle. An undoubted highlight of this cruise is the 40 mile-long Rhine Gorge where no fewer than 29 castles stand sentinel above either bank; AmaMora also sails past the legendary Lorelei Rock.
