After one of her friends returned from a river cruise with AmaWaterways and shared her incredible experience, octogenarian Ann H. could not contain her excitement about the possibility of enjoying a cruise for herself. Without a beat, she called upon her grandchildren, 28-year-old Jordan and 25-year-old Jon, to join her. “Our grandma always wanted to take a trip with just us grandkids,” explained Jon.  

With Ann living in Pittsburgh, Jordan’s home located in Massachusetts and Jon residing in Texas, the trio were certain their first river cruise would be a wonderful way to spend time together, just the three of them. 

Drawing upon Jon’s interest in European castles, they embarked on our 7-night Captivating Rhine cruise through the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland on board our beautiful AmaLucia in spring 2024.  

First Impressions of River Cruising 

Having only before experienced ocean voyages, Jon was impressed with AmaWaterways from the start as Cruise Manager Weiler described the multitude of included excursions available every day during the river cruise. “When you’re on an ocean cruise, sometimes you are literally sailing for three days and then finally you have something to do,” he said. “During this cruise, every single morning we were in a new location. It kept us busy!” 

Jordan deeply appreciated the intimacy of the ship. “Ocean cruise ships are so huge, and you never really interact with people,” she said.  

Jon agreed. “If you sit with someone one night at dinner on an ocean cruise, there’s a good chance you will never see them again. By the end of this river cruise, there were times when I would be walking around by myself, and other passengers would give me updates on where my grandma and sister were and what they had been doing. It was a very tight-knit group.” 

For Ann, the whole onboard experience was a delight. “I liked just being on the ship where everyone knew each other,” she said. “They were so friendly and so pleasant – the crew would bend over backwards for you. And the meals were amazing.” 

Exceptional Experiences along the Rhine River 

As someone with a love for European fortresses, Jon enjoyed his time in Heidelberg, Germany, where he explored the remains of the historic red sandstone castle there. When recalling the 40 castles that line the riverbanks along the Rhine Gorge during a special afternoon of scenic cruising, he remarked that it was “Amazing.... breathtaking views I am never going to forget.” 

Jon was also enamored with Amsterdam, Netherlands and Düsseldorf, Germany, a destination added to our Captivating Rhine itinerary in early 2024. “It’s such a cool city with shops right on the water, very modern and there was a lot going on while we were there.” 

At every stop along the way, there were intriguing excursions to explore or onboard activities to enjoy. Jordan was pleased to walk the track on the Sun Deck amidst scenic views and utilized both the treadmill and exercise bike in the fitness room. Ann also enjoyed her time with Jordan in the heated sun-deck pool. Thinking back on all the activities in which they engaged, Jon remarked, “There were always things to do!” 

The evenings were particularly amusing for Ann, who was impressed by the local string trio that performed on board, and by the resident onboard pianist. “My granddaughter asked him if we could do karaoke and he did it all. She even got me up to sing once or twice – I probably wouldn’t have done that without her!” 

Special Memories: A Never-ending Birthday Night 

Jordan turned 28 during the European journey – the perfect excuse for the family to dine together at The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant. “The Chef’s Table was the definition of fine dining,” Jon professed. “Each dish that came out was completely different and so unique. It was amazing to watch the chef prepare the meal right in front of us through the glass window.”  

“I felt very fancy,” said Jordan. “And I liked that they paired a different wine with each plate.” 

Although Jordan described her grandmother as a “meat and potatoes” person, the siblings were able to encourage Ann to try each of the seven courses as part of the complimentary tasting menu. “She liked all of them!” added Jordan. 

Following their elevated dining experience, Ann retired to her stateroom while her grandchildren ventured into town for our included Rüdesheimer coffee tasting excursion. With many guests opting for an early evening on board, Jordan was delighted to interact with an even more intimate group at the coffee house. “The people that worked there were awesome – they gave us each two coffees,” she raved. “We had such a fun time.” 

Not yet ready to return to the ship, Jon and Jordan wandered Rüdesheim’s narrow alleyways, spotting a local bar with an open patio playing live music – where they remained until it closed at midnight. As they walked back towards AmaLucia, the siblings were surprised to come across an Irish pub that was still open. With the energy of the night sustaining them, the two popped in, met fellow travelers from around the world and made memories to last a lifetime. 

“We were the youngest people on the ship, so I didn’t expect to be raging at night on board,” said Jordan. “But on my birthday night, the ship didn’t depart for the next port until 2 am…and we got back to the ship right at 2 am!” 

Personalized Care 

The siblings relied on Cruise Manager Weiler’s expertise for ideas on how to spend their leisure time in ports following excursions. “She was really friendly, so accommodating and so thoughtful,” recalled Jordan. “She always let us know she’d keep an eye on our grandma when the two of us chose the active walking tours to ensure we all had a good time.” 

Ann was also pleased with the three activity levels offered on AmaWaterways’ included tours. “I liked being able to do the gentle walkers’ tours at my own pace and not feel like I had to keep up with them,” she explained. “The kids walked me ragged in Amsterdam!” 

The morning after Jordan’s birthday, the siblings slept in very late and nearly missed the special Bavarian brunch that was planned for guests up on the Sun Deck. Jon remembered fondly how Weiler sprang into action, dashing up to the Sun Deck for him: “The brunch was almost over and Weiler made me a plate – she took care of me!” 

Jordan was so impressed with Weiler, she commented, “We would look into seeing which cruise she is doing next.” 

Looking Ahead to 2025 

Now that Jordan, Jon and Ann have embarked on a cruise with us, they are excited for their next journey along the rivers. After sharing photos and stories about their experience, Jordan said, “All of my friends want to river cruise with AmaWaterways now!” Aside from their friends, the siblings’ father is also vying for a spot on the next river cruise. “My dad 1000% really wants to come – he had FOMO for sure,” said Jordan. 

Ann would be more than happy to oblige. “I don’t see that much of my grandkids because we are so scattered. I had so much fun with them.” The cherry on top to spending time with her family? “Everything was included and there was no bill at the end of the trip – amazing!” 

To plan your own Rhine River cruise with us, contact your preferred travel advisor!