i called ama 3x to book a back to back cruise w/ Normandy and Bordeau. at no time was i told this was a wine themed cruise nor that it was also a cooking cruise. Joann who has a show on PBS invited 40 0f her customers so instead of enrichment lectures we had cooking demos. boring. i was on the wrong cruise.
i usually cruise w/ uniworld, therefore, i am used to exceptional service, but since i had just come from Amalyra (see my review) where i was pleasantly surprised w/ outstanding service and 5 star dining. i had clear expectations of amawaterways.
The ship's public rooms and my cabin were identical. the coffee machine set up in the bar served great coffee on both ships. postcards were provided, stamped and mailed, free. if u buy your own postcard they charge for a stamp, but still mail. my grandchildren luv getting postcards. even better they arrived. Uniworld and Viking mail postcards, but they do not always arrive. i was warmed by the 2 postcards i received when i got home (one from ea. ship) thanking me for cruising w/ them.
solo cabin had a single bed, a chair and a table. worked for me. i flung open the french balcony in the morning, drank my coffee and watched the sunrise and the river flow. i would choose an even number cabin, however, in Bordeau i faced a wall and 2x i returned to my cabin to stare at a strange face in the ship in front of me. w/ the curtains closed the cabin is claustrophobic.