Fun for All Ages and Activity Levels Along the Danube River

Ocean cruiser Denisse M., along with her parents, husband and two teenaged daughters, continued her family’s annual tradition of travel by trying out a Danube River cruise aboard AmaMagna and was delighted to find a myriad of experiences that catered to everyone in her family.

Denisse’s Most Unforgettable Highlights

Budapest, Hungary: I was overjoyed that my parents could experience lovely cities, such as Budapest, with the entire family on the walking tour of the city. We captured such incredible photos that we will cherish forever. The city sights were even more captivating at night when the city was illuminated, giving us a whole new view. Right after dinner, we grabbed a glass of wine and went up to the Sun Deck to see the Chain Bridge lit up. The views while sailing from port to port were truly inspiring.

Vienna, Austria: The whole city was so romantic, but we especially enjoyed the optional excursion to the opera house in the evening. Even though my daughters aren’t fans of classical music, they felt so lucky to be there, and my parents appreciated having this experience with their grandchildren the most. Sharing their love for classical music in the city that has been on their bucket list for years made it well worth adding this excursion to our itinerary.

Danube Locks: One day, we stayed in and enjoyed lunch on the Sun Deck so we could experience going through the locks, which had always been a dream of mine. It was a fascinating experience for me, my mom and my daughters to witness this unique process of the ship rising with the water.

Best Experiences for the Entire Family

Excursion Activity Levels: I was really impressed with the range of excursions available on the Danube. It was so nice that my parents could enjoy gentle walking tours while we did a hike or bike ride. We enjoyed reconnecting later in the day at dinner to share the stories of our experiences.

Variety of Onboard Dining: We experienced all four restaurants on board, and the food was like nothing we’d had on any other cruise before. One of my daughters can be somewhat picky but the crew were so accommodating that she felt like a queen whether we dined in the Main Restaurant, at the Al Fresco Restaurant, The Chef’s Table or my family’s favorite, Jimmy’s. There was so much variety on the menu that she could always find something – and she enjoyed sampling the locally sourced cuisine and new menu items. But one night, they made a special pizza just for her and we really appreciated that.

Zen Wellness Studio: My husband and I, along with my brother and his wife, woke up every morning and worked out in the studio while my parents ate breakfast with their grandchildren. We loved the views from the spin bikes while we cruised through Austria’s Wachau Valley. I can’t believe we were able to experience something so unique.

Ice Cream Social: The ice cream party was our favorite. My parents really enjoyed this special time with the girls.

Onboard Cinema: We watched one of my favorite movies from childhood, The Sound of Music, together in the onboard cinema. My teenaged girls loved the plush seating and how extravagant this room was. They enjoyed visiting the cinema often during the cruise. It was an endearing touch for AmaWaterways to play the movie before we got to see Mirabell Gardens, the Old Market and even the wedding church from the movie!

Crew Recognition: The crew truly made all the difference for us. The level of service we received was like nothing I’ve seen on another cruise. By day two, they greeted me in the hallway by name. They were so attentive, and it felt like they were able to anticipate our needs before we even realized we had them. It was really something special. The river cruise ultimately felt custom-made for us!

Denisse’s Wrap-Up

Would you recommend this cruise to other families?

A thousand percent. In fact, I’ve already done it! I wouldn’t change a single thing about this vacation, as it was perfect from beginning to end. There was something every member of my family, including my daughters and my parents, could enjoy. We cannot wait to do it again.

Discover your perfect family vacation on our Melodies of the Danube, Magna on the Danube and Romantic Danube river cruises this summer or fall or spend the holidays with your loved ones on our Christmas Markets on the Danube and Iconic Christmas Markets river cruises.

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