AmaVerde

Cabins range from water-level cabins with a high window to deluxe cabins on higher decks with extra space and twin balconies. In each, there’s plenty of space, although there are no easily accessible outlets bedside, and storage space is a bit limited for two passengers for a week. There are also no in-room coffee and tea facilities, but coffee and tea are available 24 hours in the lounge. Bottled still water is replenished daily, and sparkling is available upon request. AmaWaterways also keeps a quite well-equipped app, and delivers information through it in lieu of a printed daily program, so be sure to download that prior to departure.

There’s just one suite category, and they offer more space than a balcony stateroom. The biggest difference with suites is bigger bathrooms that also have separate tubs and showers.

The ship is generally not accessible for wheelchair users. Access ramps are often steep (depending on the water level) and ports do not consistently have ramp alternatives to stairs—particularly in countries outside the European Union.

There are no dedicated accessible cabins onboard the ship. There is an elevator serving three levels but not the lowest passenger deck or the sun deck. For guests who are unable to walk long distances or stand for long periods of time, there is a limited number of foldable cane/stools available at reception.

The ship can accommodate most dietary restrictions with advance notice (vegetarian and gluten-free options are already readily available and denoted on the ship’s standard menu but with limited prep space cannot completely eliminate risk of cross-contamination. The ship is unable to accommodate strict kosher or halal requirements.

There are three options for dining onboard. The main dining room is where most guests take breakfast, lunch, and dinner. During breakfast and lunch there are lighter “express” options available in the lounge for guests who prefer not to have the full sit-down experience. For breakfast, the lounge also opens a bit earlier for early-risers.

For dinner, guests can dine in the main dining room or in the gastronomic Chef’s Table if they book in advance. Dinners follow the cuisine of the region the ship is sailing through, so expect peppery goulash in Hungary, banitsa phyllo dough and egg pastry in Bulgaria, and sarmale cabbage rolls in Romania, alongside the list of classics that are available on every menu, like cheeseburgers, pizza, and grilled steaks. There’s also a fine selection of continental dishes on each lunch and dinner menu in addition to local favorites, to give the kitchen a chance to strut its stuff.

Breakfasts are a mix of buffet and table service where diners can select from pastries, yogurts, eggs and breakfast meats, and order other items like eggs benedict and french toast à la minute from a set menu.

Cookies are available throughout the day in the lounge, alongside coffee and tea. The lounge also serves afternoon tea with a selection of cakes and pastries, and a late-night snack around 10:30 each evening. In fine Eastern European tradition, staff always seem concerned whether diners have had enough to eat—it wasn’t uncommon to be offered cakes from the afternoon tea service late into the afternoon after everything had been put away.

Meals include soft drinks, beer, and wine (there’s even sparkling wine available at breakfast), and there’s a charge for these outside of mealtimes. Water, sparkling water, coffee, and tea are always free and available 24 hours.

There’s one bar in the lounge, which is open through most of the day and evening. There’s a selection of beer and wine, with a focus on European selections local to the region the ship is sailing through. There’s also an international selection of spirits and cordials to enjoy as aperitifs or digestifs. Bar prices are roughly consistent with what passengers might find shoreside, and sometimes even more reasonable than some particularly touristy establishments.

Shore excursions, included in the fare, are a highlight of an AmaWaterways voyage. There are several to choose from of varying difficulties. You might explore an old fort or hike a nearby trail, go to a local home for a cooking demonstration, or receive a walking tour of a historic town center. There are also bicycle tours available in many cities. Within individual tours, there are also several different paces available. Fast-paced tours can cover more ground and see more sights, while there are also regular-paced tours (a good medium) and slow-paced tours (good for those with mobility difficulties) available.

The ship has a pianist, and there are often dance parties scheduled in the lounge in the late evening. There are also entertainers, lecturers, and dancers who board the ship while it’s in port to provide entertainment. In Bulgaria, a small dance troupe of school-aged children in traditional costume boarded after lunch for a well-received dance performance.

The cruise manager will also give port talks in the lounge before each port, particularly if there are logistical issues or schedule amendments, but you won’t find any glitzy shows like you might find on larger ocean ships.

There’s a small fitness room at the back of the ship with modern equipment that was well-patronized but never quite seemed crowded. There’s a single fitness staffer onboard who is typically on-hand in the fitness studio to offer tips when they’re not busy hosting stretching, pilates, or yoga classes on the sun deck. The sun deck is also where runners and walkers can make their way around a marked track (guests are asked not to run too early in the morning or too late at night as they’re directly above cabins). There’s a pool on the sun deck, which isn’t big enough for swimming.

Guests also spend a good amount of time walking ashore, but they can also check out free bikes available at reception.

The ship offers salon and massage services, but there isn’t a full-service spa.