Cruise Features Included:    

• Luxurious River Cruise Experience - There is really nothing that compares to the luxury of a river cruise.  Experience the personalized VIP treatment on a small ship (only 152 passengers) pampered by the entire crew from the cabin stewards all the way up to the Captain.  Enjoy smooth sailing along the Rhone River in the South of France docking in the heart of each town we visit for easy exploration.  Once you've tried river cruising with AmaWaterways, no other cruise vacation compares.

• Bus transportation - from Salisbury to Nearby International Airport (likely either Newark or Washington-Dulles) depending upon our group flight arrangements.

• Round trip flights - from nearby International Airport to Barcelona, Spain and returning from Lyon, France

• Three-Nights Deluxe 5-Star Centrally-Located Hotel in Downtown Barcelona - including daily breakfast and daily tours.

• Transfers to and from the Hotel and Ship in Barcelona, Arles, and Lyon, France - Our guide will meet us at the airport and escort us to the hotel in Barcelona and then to the ship after our stay.  Our motor coach will return us to the airport in Lyon, France after our cruise.

• 7-Day Luxurious Cruise on AmaWaterways AmaKristina - including gourmet meals, local entertainment and activities onboard the ship.

• Free-flowing complimentary local wine and beer - served at lunch and dinner, plus champagne with breakfast, a complimentary happy hour before dinner each night, and specialty coffees available around the clock.

• Tours Included at No Extra Cost - in each port, there will be a variety of tours available to join.  Tours are further divided into groups based on fitness level, ranging from gentle walkers, regular walkers, or active walkers.  All participants receive complimentary bottled water and a headset so you can hear the guide at all times.

• Bicycles Available - for organized guided bike tours in most ports or to check out and explore the area on your own. 

• Dedicated Fitness Instructor - onboard the ship who will lead daily exercise classes and other activities to help you burn off those calories and make room for your next delicious meal.

• Tour Hosts (Kelly and Tracy Shannahan, Sal and Colleen Chavez) with you from start to finish.

• Several free gifts and mementos of your cruise from the Salisbury Cruise Club

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Travel Itinerary:        
 

Sunday, April 27, 2025 - Travel Day

• Bus from Salisbury to Nearby International Airport (perhaps Newark or Washington-Dulles) with a brief stop for dinner at WaWa before our overnight flight to Barcelona, Spain.  Flight details will be announced in July 2024 once our group flights are booked. 

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• Monday, April 28 - Barcelona, Spain - Arrive BARCELONA, Spain - ground transportation to our 5-star hotel downtown - perhaps Renaissance Barcelona (or similar) - where we will enjoy a Welcome Reception followed by free time to explore on our own.            

• Tuesday, April 29 - BARCELONA - After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a Best of Barcelona tour.  Barcelona, the bustling capital of Catalonia, is an artist’s, architect’s, foodie’s, historian’s and culturist’s dream. Tour the cobblestoned lanes of the Gothic Quarter in the medieval city center and Las Ramblas. See some imaginative architectural creations, highlights of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Works of Antoni Gaudi,” including La Sagrada Familia.  The afternoon and evening is yours to further explore Barcelona on your own.

• Wednesday, April 30 - BARCELONA - After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy The Mountains and Abbey of Montserrat excursion.  Join an excursion to the mountain Montserrat, which is home to the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat, located about 30 miles from Barcelona. Once there, you’ll ride a scenic funicular to the top of the mountain and experience an indescribable view of the Catalonia landscape. The monastery, officially founded in 1025, soon began to receive pilgrims and visitors who contributed to the spread of stories of miracles and wonders performed by the Virgin Mary. The whole of Montserrat is built around facilitating the worship of the Black Madonna in the Basilica. While here, you’ll see the famous Black Madonna sculpture, which sits at the back of the church, above the altar area. The stairway leading to the statue, plus the room and altar in which the statue sits are ornate, golden and pay tribute to the wonder that is the Virgin herself.  The afternoon and evening is yours to further explore Barcelona on your own.

• Thursday, May 1 - BARCELONA, Spain to ARLES, France - After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and transfer to the train station where we will take the TGV high-speed train to Nimes, France and then transfer to Arles, France to board the ship.  Welcome Aboard the luxurious AmaWaterways AmaKristina - with time to freshen up before our Welcome Cocktail Party and Gala Welcome Dinner followed by some free time overnight in Arles

• Friday, May 2, 2025 - ARLES and AVIGNON, France - Today enjoy one of 3 tour options, including: Arles Walking Tour, Bike Tour, or Van Gogh Walking Tour prior to our departure from Arles at 6:00 pm and arrival in Avignon at 10:00 pm for overnight docking.  Considered one of the most beautiful cities in France, Arles enchants all with its tantalizing history, formerly a Roman center of trade. Join a guided walking tour where you’ll visit the Roman ruins of Arles such as its Roman Amphitheater and the Church of Saint Trophime, famous for its Romanesque architecture.  Alternatively, you can enjoy a bike ride along the Rhône, through town to the Langlois Bridge, a famous subject from several Vincent Van Gogh paintings. And for those who wish to delve further into Van Gogh’s Arles, join a special walking tour along with a visit to the Vincent van Gogh Foundation, showcasing his legacy. During the afternoon, venture to Les Baux de Provence, a hilltop village and ruined castle. Enjoy time in the “old village,” its shops, art galleries, and cafes interspersed among the historic ruins. You will also have a unique experience at the Carrières de Lumières, where you will be treated to a spectacular presentation of art, sound, and history projected on the walls of a former limestone quarry set to music. Next, visit an olive farm to learn about this age old Provençal tradition and enjoy a tasting. Finally, experience the beauty of Saint Rémy de Provence, the location where Van Gogh painted some of his most famous paintings, including Starry Night.

•  Saturday, May 3 - AVIGNON, France - This morning enjoy one of 3 tour options including: Morning Walking Tour and Papal Palace, Avignon Bike Tour, or Tastes of Avignon.  After lunch on the ship, we will spend the afternoon touring Pont du Gard before our ship sails at midnight for Viviers arriving at 8:30 am Sunday morning.  Avignon, aptly named the “City of Popes,” was the center of the Catholic Church in the 14th century when its “Palais des Papes” was the equivalent of today’s Vatican. Depending on your interests, you have three choices of excursions in the morning. Discover the history of Avignon on a guided walking tour that includes the Papal Palace and the well-preserved medieval walls surrounding the historic center of town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Or, you can visit three venues around Avignon to taste regional specialties including macarons, cheese and wine, and tapenades. Alternately, you can enjoy a bike tour through the city. During the afternoon, you can go to another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the impressive Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct and masterpiece of ancient engineering.

• Sunday, May 4 - VIVIERS and TOURNON, France - After our arrival in Viviers at 8:30 am, choose between 4 tour options, including: Grignan Truffle Farm, Viviers Walking Tour, Viviers Hike, or Viviers Bike Tour with a little free time afterwards before our departure at 1:30 pm for scenic afternoon cruising on our journey to Tournon arriving at 9:00 pm.  Take in the quaint surroundings of Viviers, a charming commune that sidles up to the right bank of the Rhone. From Viviers, travel to the magnificent hilltop village, Grignan, and go in search of the highly prized “Black Diamond” truffles with a farmer and his trustworthy canine companion. You can also explore Viviers on a guided walking tour, where you’ll see iconic sights such as Saint Vincent Cathedral. Or stretch your muscles on a hike to Viviers’ St. Vincent Cathedral, taking in beautiful views of the Châteauneuf du Pape dam, the Donzère Gorge and the town of Montelimar with its magnificent château. You can also set off on a guided bike tour, exploring the beauty of Southern France as you ride along the Rhône River.

• Monday, May 5, 2025 - TOURNON and VIENNE, France - This morning in Tournon you will have your choice of 3 tour options including: a Steam Train Ride, Red Wine & Chocolate, or Hermitage Hike & Wine Tasting before our departure at 2:30 pm for scenic afternoon cruising to Vienne Sainte-Colombe, France where we arrive at 11:30 pm for overnight docking.  Take a steam train ride past magnificent landscape carved along the Gorge du Doux, stopping at the charming little station of Colombier le Vieux Saint Barthélemy le Plain, where the train maneuvers in preparation for its return journey. Alternatively, lovers of wine and chocolate will want to visit Le Château de Tournon for a presentation and tasting on the pairing of red wine and chocolate. For a more active adventure, take a hike through the vineyards of Tain l’Hermitage, followed by a visit to a local winery where you’ll sample some of the wines.

• Tuesday, May 6 - VIENNE and LYON, France - This morning enjoy one of 3 tour options in Vienne including: Roman Ruins Walking Tour, Mount Pipet Hike, or Via Rhôna Bike Tour before our departure at 1:00 pm for cruising to our final destination in Lyon, arriving at 4:00 pm with free time to explore Lyon on your own after dinner as we spend 2 nights in Lyon.  Situated between the wine regions of Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône lies Vienne with a Roman past that can be seen in its marvelously preserved ruins. Follow the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a walking tour to see the amazingly well preserved Augustus and Livia Temple, the Saint Maurice Cathedral, a Gothic church that took more than 500 years to build, and St. Pierre Abbey—one of the oldest surviving churches in France, and now an Archaeological Museum. For those wishing to be more active, you can either take a guided hike from the ship to the Monastery at Mount Pipet or a guided bike tour along a portion of the Via Rhôna bike route

• Wednesday, May 7 - LYON, France - This morning you’ll have your choice of 3 tours in Lyon including: Lyon City Tour, Les Halles Market Tour, or Lyon Bike Tour before returning to the ship for lunch.  In the afternoon, we will be treated to a Beaujolais Excursion and Tasting, again with free time after dinner to further explore Lyon on our own.  Take a walking tour that starts in Fourvière Hill, part of the city’s historic region that is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the 19th century basilica Notre Dame de Fourvière. Continue on to the old town of Lyon, followed by a guided walk through the St. Jean district, where you will be introduced to the city’s unique covered walkways, known as “traboules.” You can also visit the famous indoor market hall Les Halles de Lyon – Paul Bocuse, named after the late chef renowned for his Michelin starred l’Auberge du Pont de Collonges restaurant. There you’ll have a chance to sample of the delicacies offered by butchers, bakers, chocolatiers and cheese mongers while taking in the colorful sights and enticing aromas around you. Alternately, join a guided bike tour through the city designed with cyclists in mind. Later in the day, visit a traditional Beaujolais winery and learn the history and techniques of their vineyard. Plus, enjoy a tasting of their specialty.

• Thursday, May 8 - DISEMBARK the AmaKristina and board our motorcoach to the airport for our flight home; then board our motorcoach to Salisbury.

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Cabins and Other Features of AmaKristina:

The award-winning AmaKristina has 76 staterooms for no more than 152 passengers served by 51 crew members.  Sister ship to the AmaMora on which we sailed the Rhine River in 2023, the AmaKristina is an incredible twin-balcony ship with generous personal space, multiple dining choices and exceptional stateroom comfort. On board, you’ll find an all-day tapas menu and afternoon tea, as well as a 24-hour coffee station, in addition to AmaWaterways’ signature exquisite, locally-sourced cuisine in the Main Restaurant and at The Chef’s Table. Active leisure amenities include a sun-deck walking track, pool with swim-up bar, fitness room and bicycles for in-port exploration.

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Staterooms are equipped with everything you need for a relaxing vacation.  Each stateroom features: All outside accommodations, most with revolutionary twin balconies; Marble bathrooms, multi-jet showers, soothing bath products, cotton bathrobes, slippers and hair dryer; Generous closet and storage space with in-room safe; Entertainment-On-Demand with high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi, movies, music and English-language TV; Individually controlled air-conditioning; and Bottled water replenished daily. 

 

A brief description of each cabin type is as follows:

• The Category E and D River View cabins are each 160 square feet in area and are located on Deck 1 (Piano Deck).  Category D cabins are located closer to the mid-ship stairs which is why they are slightly more expensive.  They have two relatively large fixed windows to allow plenty of light into the room, but they are located about 5 feet above the floor and above the water line so they don't offer much of a view.  These cabins also do not have elevator access so they are not suitable for all guests.

• The Category CB French Balcony cabins are each 155 square feet in area and are located at the end of the hallway on Deck 3 (Violin Deck).  They have a sliding glass door that allows you to stand inside your cabin and enjoy the fresh air and scenery, but they do not have a step out balcony.  Although smaller and not as conveniently located as the other cabins, please note that the ship is not very large (only 443 feet from bow to stern) so these are still nice cabins and lower priced than the Twin Balcony cabins.

• The Category CA French Balcony cabins are a little larger at 170 square feet in area and are located at the end of the hallway on Deck 2 (Cello Deck) and near the end of the hallway on Deck 3 (Violin Deck).  They are identical to the Category CB French Balcony cabins regarding the sliding glass door (not a step out balcony), but they have a little more room with a couple of chairs and a table for sitting.

• The Category BB  and BA Twin Balcony cabins are each 210 square feet in area and are located about halfway down the hallway on Deck 2 (BB cabins) and the higher Deck 3 (BA cabins).  These cabins have both a sliding glass door section as well as a small outside balcony with a table and a couple of chairs where you can sit to enjoy the fresh air and scenery.  The bathroom and shower stall is also more roomy and a little more comfortable than the Category CB, CA, D and E cabins.

• The Category AB  and AA Twin Balcony cabins are a bit larger and wider (with 2 chairs in the interior sitting area), at 235 square feet each, and are located closer to mid-ship offering a shorter walk to the reception desk and access stairs to the Sun Deck, as well as the forward activity areas (the main lounge and restaurant).  The only difference between the AB and AA cabins is the deck location with the AB cabins located on Deck 2 and the AA cabins located higher on Deck 3.  These cabins have both a sliding glass door section as well as an outside balcony with a couple of seats where you can sit to enjoy the fresh air and scenery.  The bathroom and shower stall is very similar to the Category BA and BB cabins and perhaps slightly larger with more room to spread out.

• The Category SS Suite cabins are significantly larger at 350 square feet and also features a larger bathroom with a double sink, shower and bathtub.  Suites also come with Butler Service.  They are ideally situated on Deck 3 very close to the reception desk, access to the Sun Deck, lounge and restaurant.  The suites also have both a sliding glass door section as well as an outside balcony with a couple of seats where you can sit to enjoy the fresh air and scenery.

 

The MS AmaKristina features: a Panoramic Lounge with bar, piano and dance floor; Walking track, heated pool, fitness room and bicycles for in-port exploration; Complimentary Wi-Fi; Hair salon and massage services (additional cost); The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant with glass-enclosed kitchen and tasting menu;  Made-to-order breakfast and lunch in the restaurant featuring regional cuisine, and also a selection of Grab and Go items available for those who prefer to eat in their cabins, in the lounge or on the Sun Deck; Multi-course dinners made with fresh local ingredients; Hand-selected wine, beer and soft drinks with meals, plus a Sip & Sail cocktail hour each night which is included at no extra charge; All-day tapas menu and afternoon tea; 24-hour specialty coffee station; Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Dinner, Captain’s Cocktail and Gala Dinner.

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Check out more details and view the Deck plan by clicking the fact sheet here - 

AmaKristina Ship Fact Sheet

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Cost and Payment Schedule:

 

The Total Cruise Package Prices below include: round trip bus transportation from Salisbury to our nearby International Airport, round trip air fare to Barcelona returning from Lyon, France, transfers between the airport, hotel and ship; 3-nights in a 5-star hotel downtown Barcelona with daily breakfast and daily tours; 7-day cruise aboard AMA Waterways AmaKristina - accommodations, gourmet meals, unlimited wine, beer, sodas with lunch and dinner, free happy hour before dinner, entertainment, fitness program, guided tours with audio headset, bicycles available for tours or exploring on your own; all taxes and port charges, and the services of your  Cruise Hosts Kelly and Tracy Shannahan, as well as several free gifts and mementos of your cruise from the Salisbury Cruise Club.  Not included in the prices below is optional (but recommended) travel protection plan, gratuities, meals on travel days, and lunches and dinners in Barcelona.

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Total Cruise Package Prices - (see explanation above for included and excluded costs)

• Category E - River View Cabins (Sold Out) - $6,400 per person double - $7,800 single

• Category D - River View Cabins (3) - $6,700 per person - $8,000 single

• Category CB - French Balcony Cabins (1) - $7,200 per person - $9,300 single

• Category CA - French Balcony Cabins (2) - $7,500 per person - $9,700 single

• Category BB - Twin Balcony Cabins (6) - $7,900 per person - $10,300 single

• Category BA - Twin Balcony Cabins (3) - $8,000 per person - $10,500 single

• Category AB - Twin Balcony Cabins (Sold Out) - $8,100 per person - $10,700 single

• Category AA - Twin Balcony Cabins (Sold Out) - $8,200 per person - $10,900 single

• Category SS - Deluxe Suite Cabins (3) - $8,900 per person - $14,100 single

Total cruise package price is based on double occupancy (2 people in the cabin)

We can also accommodate a few singles in their own cabin with very reasonable single-supplement charges, for example $8,000 for a single in a Category D River View Cabin (see single-occupancy pricing above - very limited availability)

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Payment Schedule

• $1,000 per person Deposit Due Upon Registration

  • Please also purchase your Travel Protection Plan upon registration - link provided​

• Half of Remaining Balance - Due on September 15, 2024

• Final Balance - Due on January 15, 2025

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Travel Protection Plan (Optional) - Please note that while Travel Insured International (TII) is no longer offering adult group policies which we have managed in the past, your individual policies purchased through the link we will provide will still be managed by our travel agency - Salisbury Cruise & Travel.  I receive notice from TII when you purchase your plans and I add a copy of your Confirmation of Benefits to your file in case you need to submit a claim.  As before, I will be available to assist you with any claims that you may need to file associated with your Rhone River Cruise.  So that part is all the same.  But it does require a little more work on your part to purchase your policy since you now need to purchase your policy online using the link we will provide and following our step-by-step instructions to purchase either a Worldwide Trip Protector policy or a Worldwide Trip Protector Edge policy.  These recommended Group Travel Protection plans will protect your trip in case of cancellation, interruption, trip delay, missed connection, baggage loss or delay, accident/ sickness medical protection, and emergency evacuation.  To protect against unforeseen problems, we strongly recommend that you purchase the Travel Protection Plan.  If interested, please purchase the Plan at time of registration in order to secure coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.  If you decline the Plan, please sign the designated place on the registration form to confirm that you waive the protection and understand that you are assuming all potential costs and losses which may occur before or during the trip.

Download the Schedule of Cancellation Penalties here.

Download the Worldwide Trip Protector and Edge Plan Comparison here.

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Please Email Us for More Information

or

Download the Registration Form.

or

Download the Detailed Itinerary.

or

See More Details About the Ports and the Ship for our Barcelona and Rhone River Cruise - April 27 - May 8, 2025 by viewing our PowerPoint presentation at: 

Download the Rhone PowerPoint.

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