I felt like a kid opening a Christmas present last week when my AmaWaterways cruise documents arrived. The docs are for an upcoming cruise on AmaMagna and a christening ceremony on July 11. Three things that excite me about this trip:
- AmaMagna itself, which is nearly double the width of traditional river cruisers. That extra width gives the new ship more in amenities, public rooms and space, resulting in a lot for us to explore and write about.
- I’m traveling with my daughter, Britton Frost, who is, of course, the host of Avid Travel with Britton Frost. Have you heard her latest, An Interview With Samantha Brown?
- And TV host Samantha Brown, who, as godmother of AmaMagna, will send a bottle of bubbly smashing against the hull of the new ship on christening day.
Our cruise itinerary is called “Melodies of the Danube.” We’re sailing from Budapest to Vilshofen (Germany), extending our cruise by two nights with a stay in Prague. Initially we had planned to visit Munich, but I ended up saving a bundle for my business class ticket by returning from Prague instead. If you’re interested to learn more about how I cut my fare from nearly $5,000 to $2,876, check out this post, Airfare Hacks: Using Google Flights For Cheap(er) Business Class.
Britton and I will be taking a look at the features of AmaMagna. In fact, she suggests that we skip excursions on at least one day so that we can explore the ship for our readers. We’ll be posting here on the site, of course, but also on Instagram via @avidcruiser. Instagram offers a fun way to follow our travels, from leaving home through airports to getting on the ship to returning home. If you want to feel as though you are on the journey with us, then follow us on Instagram. Like many of you, we’ve only seen photos of AmaMagna. See AmaMagna: First Photos Of A Stunning New River Cruiser
One photo that caught my eye was of our stateroom. First off, it’s beautiful, tastefully decorated and with some great features, such as the balcony. Secondly, it’s huge. Our category SA stateroom measures 355 square feet. It’s not the largest stateroom, by far. Category GS measures 474 square feet, and Category OS measures 710 square feet. Here are a couple of photos of our home for a week on AmaMagna.
One of the things that we love about River Cruise Advisor is the engagement with our readers. We’re delighted when we can help you by answering questions, making recommendations or snapping a photo to show you something you’d like to see. Don’t be shy. Reach out to us if there is anything you’d like to know about the new AmaMagna. Of course, we’ll also assess water levels and report back on those.
And by the way, if you have recommendations for anything that you feel we must experience in Prague during our two-night stay, please let us know. We’re also excited about exploring the city that so many of you write to us about and ask how to add it on to your Danube river cruises.
Until next time…
An avid traveler and an award-winning journalist, Ralph Grizzle produces articles, video and photos that are inspiring and informative, personal and passionate. A journalism graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ralph has specialized in travel writing for more than two decades. To read more cruise and port reviews by Ralph Grizzle, visit his website at www.avidcruiser.com.
