Other Options...

[tgeorge]

I’ve now done two Amawaterways cruises: one with Disney (Danube) and one without (Rhine). More than one person expressed (I remember @sayhello and @tink1970 were some) they’d be interested in hearing the differences so here are my thoughts. I want to stress that we LOVED our ABD river cruise. The reason we chose Ama-only for the second cruise was because of the single supplement. We didn't have an even-number of people going. It was absolutely brutal for one person to get their own room and with the Ama cruise it was only a couple of hundred bucks more for a single person to get a two-person room with the deal we got (that we booked WAY in advance). I’m not going to compare “good and bad” because I think it’s more “same and different”. We enjoyed both experiences but both cruises were very different.


Same

• Staff and food - The Amawaterways staff is top notch and eating is a huge part of the fun.
  
  
• Boats - I love the layouts of Amawaterways ships with the French balconies.
  
  
• Welcome package before cruise - Was actually kind of shocked the Ama one was the same considering the Disney cruise was way more expensive. Got a booklet, luggage tags, and a little pouch. I feel Disney is really dropping the ball here based on reading what the welcome packages used to be like (backpacks, etc).

Different

• Welcome package during cruise - It was nice getting a duffel bag from Disney.
  
  
• Type of Excursions - The Ama cruise hit enough of the “fun” spots that Disney goes to (such as the gondola and Mechanical Museum) that I didn’t feel like we were missing out on too many of them but there were no crazy activities like horse wagon rides or Baumkronenweg.
  
  
• Number of Excursions - After coming from a Disney cruise where we did EVERY excursion we could possibly do it was a shock to see that some days only had a 3 hour tour and that was it! You figured out the rest yourself. I thought this was good and bad. The Disney days were jam packed and we were exhausted when we came back after a long day. We experienced so much and didn’t have to spend any extra money. On the flip side we didn’t get to do much shopping or lounging.
  
  
• Sailing days - I only remember one sailing afternoon on the Disney cruise. With the Ama one there were several sailing afternoons or mornings. I found it incredibly relaxing to sit in a lounge chair and watch Europe go by.
  
  
• Fellow cruisers - The Ama cruise skewed MUCH older than the Disney one.
  
  
• Pins - I was like a kid on Christmas morning running back to my room every night to see the new collectible pin on my pillow. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss that.
  
  
• Adventure guides - It was a great luxury having two adventure guides and a local guide. During the tours one of them would stay in the back and make sure people didn’t get left behind. When we came back to the bus they would hand out snacks and water. On excursions we would laugh with them and be silly. On the Ama excursions it was usually just a local guide. There were no snacks and no one to watch for stragglers. The cruise manager on the Ama cruise played a much bigger role in excursions and went with us. We really got to know the adventure guides during the cruise and there wasn’t anything like that with Ama counterparts.
  
  
• Kids - Zero children on the Ama cruise.
  
  
• Cost - Ama cruise was cheaper.
• Photos - It was a huge luxury having the adventure guides constantly taking photos and assisting with photos with our devices.
• Tips - Not included with Ama cruise.

Thank you so much for this! I’ve gone back and forth with this trying to decide which way to go when we do a river cruise.

 

[OhanaCuz]

Great summary @OhanaCuz! Thanks for taking the time to report after your trip

I agree! Thanks @OhanaCuz!

Thank you so much for this! I’ve gone back and forth with this trying to decide which way to go when we do a river cruise.

Thanks! It was a really hard decision for us. While we had a great time we really missed certain Disney touches and are looking forward to another ABD someday.

 

[tgeorge]

Thanks! It was a really hard decision for us. While we had a great time we really missed certain Disney touches and are looking forward to another ABD someday.

The part that sealed the deal for me for ABD was when you mentioned the excursions. That is exactly what I needed to hear to push me towards the ABD. It is so nice to hear from someone who has done both and can make a true comparison.

 

[OhanaCuz]

The part that sealed the deal for me for ABD was when you mentioned the excursions. That is exactly what I needed to hear to push me towards the ABD. It is so nice to hear from someone who has done both and can make a true comparison.

Glad I could help. You'll have a great time!

 

[Calfan]

We received our final pre-departure package today for or Nat Geo family trip to Peru. A few months ago, we had received some preliminary information with a Peru guide book and country map. This package contained luggage tags and engraved name tags that attach magnetically, along with a neoprene Nat Geo pouch (that I can add to my collection of three previous pouches from prior trips, lol). But we also got a list of participants on our trip. There are 13 total, so I'm super excited about the small group size. Looks like two families, our family of four and another family of five, plus two pairs traveling together. From the names, they look to be all women, so I'm guessing either friends, mother/daughter or sisters. Guess we'll find out in just under a month! We have both an expedition leader and a young explorer leader for our group of 13. The package included letters from each. Our expedition leader was born and raised in Cuzco and spent 18 years as a trekking guide in Peru. Can't wait for this trip to start!!

 

[acndis]

We just got our pre-departure pack from Austin Adventures. They previously sent luggage tags and a spiral bound itinerary. Yesterday, we got 3 dri-fit shirts and a back pack filled with fun items (hacky sack, blank notebook, pen, etc.) It really got us excited! About 30 days until Belize!

 

[BluesTraveler]

We received our final pre-departure package today for or Nat Geo family trip to Peru. A few months ago, we had received some preliminary information with a Peru guide book and country map. This package contained luggage tags and engraved name tags that attach magnetically, along with a neoprene Nat Geo pouch (that I can add to my collection of three previous pouches from prior trips, lol). But we also got a list of participants on our trip. There are 13 total, so I'm super excited about the small group size. Looks like two families, our family of four and another family of five, plus two pairs traveling together. From the names, they look to be all women, so I'm guessing either friends, mother/daughter or sisters. Guess we'll find out in just under a month! We have both an expedition leader and a young explorer leader for our group of 13. The package included letters from each. Our expedition leader was born and raised in Cuzco and spent 18 years as a trekking guide in Peru. Can't wait for this trip to start!!

Please post a mini-review of this when you get back!! I have a ridiculously long list of possibilities for summer 2019, but Family Peru with Nat Geo is on the list. (I also just got an e-mail that Nat Geo's dates for 2019 are up now, if anyone else has been waiting for those).

Our summer 2019 current list, in case anyone has experience/input:
A&K China (dates not out yet)
A&K Switzerland (dates not out yet)
A&K Spain (dates not out yet)
Nat Geo Ireland (new trip - they just released details)
Nat Geo Peru
Tauck Peru
Tauck Seine riverboat (although already getting so booked up might not be an option)
ABD Greece
ABD Vietnam
London/Paris on our own (unlikely since these are easy to do over spring break when family group travel isn't available but still on our list)

The ABD ones are unlikely since we've missed opening day prices and I'd have a hard time paying more, BUT they are on the list just in case we come back from Iceland feeling like we just have to do another ABD.

 

[Calfan]

Please post a mini-review of this when you get back!! I have a ridiculously long list of possibilities for summer 2019, but Family Peru with Nat Geo is on the list.

I definitely will! This will be our first family trip with Nat Geo. My previous three Nat Geo trips have all been hiking trips.

ETA: I should also have mentioned that we are doing the Amazon extension with this trip.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

We just got our pre-departure pack from Austin Adventures. They previously sent luggage tags and a spiral bound itinerary. Yesterday, we got 3 dri-fit shirts and a back pack filled with fun items (hacky sack, blank notebook, pen, etc.) It really got us excited! About 30 days until Belize!

So exciting! We're just over 3 weeks until Yellowstone with AA, but haven't received anything other than the initial luggage tags and itinerary. I wonder if we'll get anything before arriving in Yellowstone. I understand we'll get some things (shirts, water bottles) after we arrive.

 

[Calfan]

So exciting! We're just over 3 weeks until Yellowstone with AA, but haven't received anything other than the initial luggage tags and itinerary. I wonder if we'll get anything before arriving in Yellowstone. I understand we'll get some things (shirts, water bottles) after we arrive.

Our experience was similar to yours with the AA Winter Yellowstone Family trip we did in Dec./Jan. Prior to the trip, we received trip info and luggage tags. We received water bottles at our first group trip gathering, and we received t-shirts at our farewell slide show presentation. We also received a bunch of goodies in our room at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

 

[acndis]

Our experience was similar to yours with the AA Winter Yellowstone Family trip we did in Dec./Jan. Prior to the trip, we received trip info and luggage tags. We received water bottles at our first group trip gathering, and we received t-shirts at our farewell slide show presentation. We also received a bunch of goodies in our room at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

Maybe we got it now because it is an international departure (Belize) and it is a custom instead of group! Have a great time in Yellowstone and please report back!

 

[DCPhotoGal]

Please post a mini-review of this when you get back!! I have a ridiculously long list of possibilities for summer 2019, but Family Peru with Nat Geo is on the list. (I also just got an e-mail that Nat Geo's dates for 2019 are up now, if anyone else has been waiting for those).

Our summer 2019 current list, in case anyone has experience/input:
A&K China (dates not out yet)
A&K Switzerland (dates not out yet)
A&K Spain (dates not out yet)
Nat Geo Ireland (new trip - they just released details)
Nat Geo Peru
Tauck Peru
Tauck Seine riverboat (although already getting so booked up might not be an option)
ABD Greece
ABD Vietnam
London/Paris on our own (unlikely since these are easy to do over spring break when family group travel isn't available but still on our list)

The ABD ones are unlikely since we've missed opening day prices and I'd have a hard time paying more, BUT they are on the list just in case we come back from Iceland feeling like we just have to do another ABD.

We are doing the August 2019 ABD Vietnam... come join us

 

[AquamarineSteph]

We did G Adventures/National Geographic in Morocco earlier this year. (12 people + a guide) We're taking the same company to Ecuador. I love the very small groups which they have!

 

[CaliKris]

We did G Adventures/National Geographic in Morocco earlier this year. (12 people + a guide) We're taking the same company to Ecuador. I love the very small groups which they have!

How was the National Geo trip? I have looked at their Morocco trip and have been considering it. How are the accommodations and transportation?

 

[EllinK]

So exciting! We're just over 3 weeks until Yellowstone with AA, but haven't received anything other than the initial luggage tags and itinerary. I wonder if we'll get anything before arriving in Yellowstone. I understand we'll get some things (shirts, water bottles) after we arrive.

If you are up for it, I would love to read a mini review of this trip.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

If you are up for it, I would love to read a mini review of this trip.

I will report back, for sure!

 

[AquamarineSteph]

How was the National Geo trip? I have looked at their Morocco trip and have been considering it. How are the accommodations and transportation?

Transportation was excellent. We had the same bus driver, Mohammed, for the entire tour. He was an excellent driver. The bus was comfy and had room for our luggage in the space below our seats (as opposed to our Costa Rica trip where we had a smaller bus and the luggage was tied on top of the bus.) And the camel ride was incredible, although you'll want to wear sunglasses and maybe a scarf if you do the camel ride due to the blowing sand.

The accommodations varied a bit. The initial hotel was fine. The hotel on the edge of the Sahara (we did the 9 day, not the 15 day tour) was very basic. As in, take some shampoo from the hotel before that one because this hotel does not provide it. Because of their location - and you literally are in the desert - the hot water is only available for certain hours. To me this made the hotel more exotic because we were truly in the middle of nowhere in that respect.

The best hotel was the one right after that in Ouarzazate. Not to say that the previous hotels were lacking in any respect, but this was one was simply gorgeous.

Our tour guide was wonderful. The local guides were fabulous as in some of the best local guides we've ever had on a tour.

There aren't a lot of optional activities on this tour. The camel ride was extra. There were a couple of optional walking tours (free), but otherwise almost all of the activities were the ones included in the tour itinerary.

If you do this trip, be aware that many places in Morocco are cash only.

 

[CaliKris]

Thanks so much for the information @AquamarineSteph! We really want to go to Morocco and ABD does not go there. We looked at Tauck but are worried it might skew older (my daughter is 24). She really wants to see the blue city up near Tangier. It doesn't look like they go there, but maybe we could fit it in before or after the trip.

The transportation sounds great! We looked at the photos on the Nat. Geo. site and there is one of a van with luggage on top. It worried me that this might be the transportation for the entire trip! There is also a 12 day National Geo Morocco trip that is rated premium level service. My heart likes the "premium" but my pocketbook prefers the "casual" level

 

[AquamarineSteph]

Thanks so much for the information @AquamarineSteph! We really want to go to Morocco and ABD does not go there. We looked at Tauck but are worried it might skew older (my daughter is 24). She really wants to see the blue city up near Tangier. It doesn't look like they go there, but maybe we could fit it in before or after the trip.

The transportation sounds great! We looked at the photos on the Nat. Geo. site and there is one of a van with luggage on top. It worried me that this might be the transportation for the entire trip! There is also a 12 day National Geo Morocco trip that is rated premium level service. My heart likes the "premium" but my pocketbook prefers the "casual" level

I've done ABD, Tauck, Rick Steves & G Adventures/National Geographic. Other than the fact you have to carry your own luggage around, I found the attention to detail plus the guides with G Adv/National Geo to be equal to all but one ABD which we took. They were far superior (in my experience) to the Tauck tour we did. (And in our experience, there were a lot of older people on the Tauck tour. One family did bring their adult grandson. He was the only truly young person on the tour.)

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!


ETA: I was having problems getting my reply to post. Four ladies in our group did the blue city after the tour. I can't remember if they were flying or driving, but I heard from one of them afterwards that they had an amazing time!

 

[tracyz]

We are doing the August 2019 ABD Vietnam... come join us

DCPHotoGal, are you on the 8/4/19 departure? We're on that trip!