My sister and I just got back from our Tulip Time cruise on the AMAPrima. We started and ended in Amsterdam, with stops in Middelburg and Rotterdam, and in Ghent and Antwerp in Belgium. Each port had several included excursions available. All walking tours offered groups for active, normal, or “gentle” walkers so people could take part regardless of their physical ability. One of our favorite excursions was the Belgian Chocolate, Beer and Waffle Tasting in Antwerp. Of course, the highlight of the trip was the morning spent at the Keukenhof Gardens to view the magnificent tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils in full bloom.
This was our third river cruise, and our second on AMAWaterways. The ship was in beautiful condition and spotlessly clean. Our cabin (Cat.C, 228) was quite a bit smaller than on our first cruise (AMALegro) but since we didn’t spend a lot of time there, it was quite sufficient. The service is impeccable...I don’t think the crew knows the word “no”! The food was excellent and plentiful...as my clothes can attest to! I liked the fact that in addition to complementary beverages at lunch and dinner, they offered a complementary “happy hour” for one hour prior to dinner. They also had a special reception for returning cruisers.
We opted for the pre-cruise hotel, arriving in Amsterdam 2 days prior to embarkation. The hotel, the NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, was modern and spotless. It was perfectly located right on Dam Square in center—city Amsterdam. As part of the pre-cruise stay, we had an excursion to Haarlem on Friday, and a canal cruise on our way to the ship on Saturday.
A little tight, but we didn’t spend much time there so it was sufficient. There was enough storage for 2 women. Our cabin attendant, Marcelina, was excellent and remembered our names from the very first day.