Rhine River Cruise: Amsterdam
This post was written in 2016, but I recently updated it with new photos and more information. Now that many of us are planning vacations, I thought you would enjoy my Rhine River Cruise! I had forgotten to do the entire river cruise in 2016. Therefore I am going to finish it!
What is a River Cruise
For those of you who have never been on a river cruise, this is very popular for people over 50. The river cruises range from 7 days to 21 days, and the destinations are not limited to Europe but expand to Russia, Asia, and Egypt.
River Cruises vs. Ocean Cruises
- You see land every day, not vast amounts of water.
- Rarely see children on board, not unless you book a Disney Adventure.
- You are docked in a city and walk off the boat vs. taking a little boat to a town.
- River boats are not floating cities; the small number of passengers means you can meet and know 50% of the passengers. Which I did, but that’s an option.
- You do not experience sea sickness. Instead, you can hardly tell the boat is moving.
The First 2 Days in Amsterdam
September 9: Arrival in Amsterdam
I dined alone in the hotel restaurant on my first night and enjoyed having duck prepared Dutch style. Delicious!
September 10: Sightseeing in Amsterdam
I purchased these Naot casual walking shoes from Foot Solutions in Atlanta, but I highly recommend everyone invest in a good quality shoe, not just wearing your sneakers. I also packed my golf skorts because they do not wrinkle, and I prefer skorts to shorts when I travel.
Amsterdam is a city of canals, decorative gabled roofs, bicycles, museums, the Anne Frank House, and the famous Red Light District.
There’s so much to see and explore in Amsterdam. This city is a 2-day trip.
The wooden shoes worn in Holland by the Dutch filled the souvenir shops in Amsterdam.
I highly recommend taking a canal boat tour and seeing Amsterdam from another perspective.
September 11: All aboard the Avalon River Boat!
We boarded the boat at 5:00 pm and were greeted in the lounge by the captain and crew of our Avalon excursion. This was also an opportunity to meet your fellow passengers. As you can see, we are all over 50.
Dad stayed on the top floor, and I was on the second floor. There is a lower floor on all river boats, but you don’t get a good view outside your room.
The lower level is also the cheapest, so if you don’t need the view, go with the lower level pricing of your river cruise boat*.
*River cruise lines tend to penalize single passengers and expect to pay double if traveling alone. My father did, and I had to pay an upcharge when my husband had to cancel at the last minute. I spent more to be a single passenger if I still wanted to go on the trip without my husband. There were a few single passengers on this trip with dad and me.
All rooms have twin beds that can be pushed together to make a queen size bed. Plenty of storage, and my luggage went under the bed. They limit the size to 30″x21″x11″, which is a nice size suitcase. (Not the carry-on size. Checked baggage size.)
The tiny European Marriott bathroom prepared me for the small cabin bathroom. This bathroom had L’Occitane products which I love! 
All set for dinner and ready to meet my fellow passengers on this Rhine River cruise.
Oh, I forgot to tell you that you learn safety and evacuation procedures on the first night of your river cruise. But not until after the cocktail party!
First Day on the Rhine River Cruise-Amsterdam by Canal
We spent the first day of our Romantic Rhine River Cruise in Amsterdam taking a canal tour.
Amsterdam is a city of canals and this canal tour is something I highly recommend!
Now we’re finally departing Amsterdam. I hope you get a chance to see Amsterdam!
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