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| day 14 Daily Cruiser page 1 |
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| day 14 Daily Cruiser page 2 |
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| day 14 Daily Cruiser page 3 |
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| day 14 Daily Cruiser page 4 |
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| gratuities guidance |
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| gratuity envelopes |
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| thank you from the cruise director |
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| laundry costs |
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Today was our last full day of the cruise, arriving in
Budapest, Hungary. After breakfast, we went on deck to watch AmaPrima's entrance into this grand capital.
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| approaching the city center |
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| Calvinist Church in foreground, Matthias Church in back |
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| Elizabeth Bridge and Gellert Monument |
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| many other river boats around |
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Once the ship docked, guests went on a Budapest city tour (no "active" offering). Our first stop was
Central Market Hall, a large building with vendors selling food and souvenirs, located not too far from our boat by foot. Not all merchants accept credit cards, but there were ATMs placed at both entrances of the hall to withdraw
Hungarian forints.
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| inside Central Market |
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| fresh produce |
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We all then hopped on a chartered bus and headed to
Heroes Square,
Matthias Church and
Fisherman's Bastion for sightseeing with a local guide.
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| Heroes Square |
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| Matthias Church |
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| Fisherman's Bastion |
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| climbing the stairs to the view |
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| view from Fisherman's Bastion |
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| inside Matthias Church |
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| beautiful stained glass windows |
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| one of many church exhibits |
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When we returned to the ship, cool towels and beverages were distributed, followed by lunch in the main dining room. I tried the "pho" and it wasn't bad. (perhaps I had been missing Asian food for a while...)
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| refreshing towels and drinks await |
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| day 14 lunch menu |
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| "pho" condiment selection |
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| the broth had flavor |
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| beef goulash |
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| Eszterhazy cake |
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There was a Hungarian Folklore Show in the lounge that evening, but we did not attend. A Hungarian-themed dinner was offered tonight.
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| day 14 dinner menu |
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| minced chicken stuffed pancake |
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| apple cocktail |
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| Balaton fish soup |
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| pork tenderloin |
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Later that night, guests were treated to an "Illuminations Cruise" and got to see all the grand buildings along the Danube lit up in splendor. We first sailed north of the city center around sunset, then came back in as it got dark.
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| Chain Bridge at sunset |
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| Margaret Bridge |
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| Margaret Bridge illuminated |
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| Parliament in all its splendor |
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| lots of people enjoying the view |
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| Chain Bridge at night |
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| Buda Castle |
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| our post-cruise hotel looks much better at night |
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| Liberty Bridge |
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| Gellert Thermal Bath |
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| Budapest University |
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It was the end of our 14-night Magnificent Europe cruise on AmaPrima...what a great trip! I would definitely go on another river cruise in the future, despite the average age of the passengers. Kaleb and I enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere, which seemed more fitting for this kind of itinerary than a mega-cruise ship, in order to appreciate the history and significance of what we saw. The small number of passengers (around 130-160) eliminated the crowding that one may experience on larger ships. This also makes the service very good.
Guests did not have to take the included tours; the ship would frequently be docked in the middle of town or complimentary shuttle service was available, so one could explore freely on their own, even borrow bicycles for the day. Having active/regular/gentle offerings were helpful as guests could choose their activity level. The bike excursions through the countryside were fantastic.
The food was relatively good, with beer and wine flowing freely during lunch and dinner. I specifically sailed on AmaWaterways due to the emphasis on how good their food was - it wasn't as gourmet as when I sailed on a Regent Seven Seas ocean cruise, but still fresh and tasty. No 24-hour buffet option or room service was available, but I never got hungry enough to wish for it.
As far as gratuities were concerned, we signed a form at the purser's desk indicating how much we wanted to give to the ship's crew and cruise director, and this amount was conveniently added to our shipboard account and settled by credit card. The envelopes provided in our rooms were for cash tips.
In summary, I would recommend river cruising to folks who:
- have already sailed on many styles of ocean liners, and are looking to experience something different
- haven't cruised much due to sea-sickness - sailing on the river is very calm
- want to explore the interiors of countries where the ocean cruises cannot reach
- desire a more intimate experience, away from mega-ships
And if you think it's only for "old people", fret not: if you are aged 21-45, a new brand called
U by Uniworld recently launched, for those who crave more excitement on board like on larger ocean liners.
Most river cruise itineraries are in Europe, though there are ones in Southeast Asia as well as Africa. We also mustn't forget the United States; for example, sailings on rivers such as the Mississippi or Columbia are available, with no need for a passport.
One more tidbit: this cruise fulfilled the last of many requirements needed to achieve the highest level
CLIA designation: Elite Cruise Counsellor! Take advantage of my expertise - contact me for all your cruising (or any other travel) needs.
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| woohoo! |
And now for the rest of the trip...
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| day 15 Daily Cruiser page 1 |
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| day 15 Daily Cruiser page 2 |
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| day 15 Daily Cruiser page 3 |
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| day 15 Daily Cruiser page 4 |
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As Kaleb and I were staying in Budapest for two more nights and independently traveling to our hotel, we didn't have to leave our bags out in the corridor the night before or vacate our cabin until 9am on disembarkation day. It was good to know that the ship was able to serve breakfast and coordinate transportation for those departing very early in the morning.
I made advance reservations to stay at the
Budapest Marriott, within walking distance of where AmaPrima was likely to dock. It wasn't the prettiest of hotels, especially after seeing so much striking architecture in the city, but it had a decent location and offered a fantastic Executive Lounge for Marriott elites (Gold and above), providing breakfast, substantial snacks, variety of beverages, plus evening appetizers and desserts. It was great that we were able to check into our room early.
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| view of the Marriott from the Danube |
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| caviar is not food? |
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| heading up to the hotel |
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| plush king bed |
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| view out the window |
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| other side of the room |
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| coffee/tea/bar service |
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| mini bar prices in forints |
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| inside the closet |
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| large shower |
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| lounge details |
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The Executive Lounge was still serving breakfast at this time, so we headed up to the 9th floor to check out the offerings. The outdoor seating provided a wonderful view.
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| pastries |
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| hot items |
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| cold items |
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| Buda Castle in the distance |
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We visited the
Hungarian National Museum in the afternoon...very interesting. Photos were permitted with the purchase of a permit but we didn't partake; the only pictures I have are of the front and our snack at the cafe.
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| Hungarian National Museum |
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| cutlet sandwich, poppyseed strudel, cherry soda |
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We went back to the hotel to enjoy a few appetizers before heading out to dinner. There was so much variety that one could have a proper meal here if desired.
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| cold and warm appetizers |
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| fresh bread |
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| wasn't expecting so many choices in a lounge |
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| view of Liberty Statue |
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I made dinner reservations in advance (via email) at
Comme Chez Soi, one of the most highly rated restaurants on TripAdvisor and well deserving of the honor. The staff was quick to respond to my message and was very courteous. The place was pretty small; we almost walked past it. It was hot inside; thankfully, we had a table next to an open window. We ended up ordering too much food since the menu looked so good. The portions were unexpectedly huge. I didn't know that the foie gras entree, prepared tableside, would consist of four pieces served over buttery decadent mashed potatoes. All this, along with the complimentaries, plus the appetizers we ate in the lounge, caused us to get painfully stuffed, but it was all worth it. The service was spot on. We had to take a very long walk around the city to digest. I ended up quite tipsy from all the sweet alcohol. :)
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| complimentary amuse-bouche |
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| beef tenderloin carpaccio |
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| goulash soup |
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| caprese |
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| spaghetti with "sea fruits" |
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| goose liver prepared tableside |
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| so good, with apples and mashed potatoes |
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| there are three more pieces in the pan! |
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| how's that for a birthday candle!? |
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| complimentary Tokaji dessert wine |
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| complimentary lemon sorbet and chocolates |
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| complimentary limoncello |
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Comme Chez Soi only took cash payment, which was stated on their website as well as inside the reservation email. Bring enough cash or your ATM card (there is a machine nearby) if you plan to dine at this establishment.
Despite being Thursday night, the city was abuzz with people. Live music emanated from open air restaurants. After our long walk around town, we returned to the hotel to get a nightcap from the lounge.
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| walking down "Fashion Street" |
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| even Budapest has an "Eye" |
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| view out of our room at night |
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| free-flowing wine also available |
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| spectacular view of the Danube from the lounge |
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Tomorrow, we explore more of old Budapest, then head home via London...stay tuned!
Missed any of the previous entries? Refer to the Trip Index at the top of this post to navigate.
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Another disclaimer: The intention of this blog was to remind Future Me in full detail about where I went and what I did. I could have made it private, but I frequently get questions from family, friends and internet folks about how I planned things, got deals, etc., so instead of repeating the story over and over, I direct them here. If you are offended by anything I say or do, save yourself the discomfort and kindly click away from my blog. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!
