Out There: AmaWaterways Rhine River Cruise

We know because we’ve been: “Out There” is a series of inspiring travel spotlights from AAA travel advisors and employees.

Meg Halbach, strategic partnership manager for AAA Northeast, specializes in cruise and tour vacations. She recently spent seven nights on a Rhine River cruise with AmaWaterways, sailing through Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Here, she describes her experience on the journey.

Rhine River Cruise Experience

Each country on the Enchanting Rhine itinerary had its own vibe, tied together by historic European charm. If you like castles, cathedrals, cheese, wine and beer, you can’t go wrong! Truthfully, the half-timbered architecture was my favorite part of being in that area, it’s like something straight out of a fairytale.

Highlights

• Wandering the magical streets of Colmar and Strasbourg in France, the storybook charm of Heidelberg and Dusseldorf in Germany and the picturesque canals of Utrecht and Zaandam in the Netherlands.
• Seeing the Schwendi Fountain in Colmar, said to have inspired the one in Walt Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”
• Exploring Heidelberg Castle.
• Sailing along Rhine Gorge and seeing about 30 different castles.
• Utrecht, Netherlands, took me by surprise — the perfect blend of old and new, it had Amsterdam vibes without the crowds.
• Discovering my new favorite treat in Zaandam, Netherlands: Poffertjes (traditional Dutch mini pancakes).

Insider Tips

We traveled in the off-season and really lucked out with the weather. So, if that’s a chance you’re willing to take to save money, it’s worth it. We traveled north along the Rhine, and the sights along the river were more picturesque as we went. Anyone who likes history, culture and food would be very happy with this cruise. Each tour had an easy pace option so everyone could enjoy the tour and participate.

I would highly recommend a pre- and post-cruise stay, just to give yourself more time to explore and adjust to the time change and jetlag. You arrive a day before the cruise starts, stay at a hotel and explore the departure city. Then when the ship docks at the end of the trip, spend the night at a hotel and tour that city.

Also, do as many excursions as possible, even if you’re on the fence.

Quick Picks

• Don’t miss: Rhine Gorge.
• Worth the splurge: Pre- and post-cruise stays.
• Hidden gem: Utrecht, Netherlands.

Looking for more river cruises? Click here to discover top destinations, trending vacations and more.

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Featured image: Meg and the AAA Travel team in Zaandam, Netherlands.

Ellen R. Delisio

Ellen is a content producer for AAA Northeast, covering automotive, finance, public affairs and electric vehicle news. She is a former newspaper reporter with experience writing for print and online publications about everything from higher education to sustainability. She recently returned to her native Long Island after living in Connecticut for 20-plus years, and has never met a beach she didn’t like.