My husband and I choose this cruise because of its availabilty early in the river cruising season. In April we would rather deal with the weather (which was surprisingly spectacular for this cruise) then crowds later in the season. We had been on a AMA cruise in Portugal last year and loved it. One of the issues that arises when you take a cruise early in the season is a staff that has not worked together or is inexperienced. The cruise director on this cruise falls into thist catagory and thus impacted our experience. Often there seemed to be confusion as shore excursions were organized. Our bus left 4 people at a church and did not realize it for many miles later. Our paid excusion had more people on it then they had accounted for. Many times the cruise director was on our bus, and interacted rarely with the people around her. One shore excursion which had groups going to the same places we were on a bus with 10 people and the other bus had 25, which made no sense.

On the last day of the cruise, all of the afternoon shore excursions were to return at 5:30PM, while a special music presentation in the lounge was to begin at 5:00PM. This made no sense.

One pleasant surprise was that during Happy Hour there was a special cocktail each day that was complimentary in additon to wine, beer and other mixed drinks. The staff was friendly and went out of their way to please. We have cruised many times before, but never have I seen the Captain present and as this one. Read more