Learn why you might want to add a Pre or Post cruise extension to your river cruise vacation!
Adding a pre/post river cruise extension has the possiblilty of making your amazing river cruise vacation out-of-this-world. By adding this through your cruise line your vacation becomes truly stress-free as even more of the details are taken care of for you. What a wonderful way to make your vacation even more luxurious!
Adding an extension is a fantastic way to add a little more time to your vacation and a chance to explore a little more without a longer cruise. Plus, you are not strictly on your own. You get to see what you want and go where you want but there is also someone very knowledgeable there to help you make a plan.
Just a side note: These exact benefits are true of AmaWaterways River Cruise land packages. Viking River Cruise packages are very similar but may have slightly different benefits. Other River Cruise lines may not have specific packages but will gladly help arrange hotel accommodations before or after your cruise. Talk with your Travel Advisor for details.
Definition
A pre/post-cruise land extension is a hotel stay coordinated by your river cruise line prior to or after your river cruise. Your extension might further explore the city where your cruise begins/ends or it might be in another city to explore. **An extension costs extra.
This blog will explore why and extension might be just right for you and your vacation. Read on for 5 reasons to add a pre or post-cruise extension to your river cruise!
1) More time to explore the city
Instead of hustling right from the airport to the cruise dock, you can go to a beautiful hotel instead. Then you will have a couple of days to explore the location and really get a chance to get to know the city. If your stay is post-cruise you can return to places you were introduced to on one of the included cruise tours. If your stay is pre-cruise then you also will have a day or two for your body to adjust to the time change before your cruise begins.
2) Special excursions
Each land extension will include a special excurison for you. Often these are tours of the city to help you get acquaited to the area and give you a springboard for further exploration later that day and the next.
3) A Cruise Manager accompanies you
Your English speaking cruise manager is with you every step of the way from the pre-cruise extension, through the cruise and on to the post-cruise extension. Throughout the whole vacation, you build a relationship and they are able to give you great suggestions and advice to make your vacation even more special.
During the pre/post extension they will have set times they are available to answer all your questions about the location you are in. Your cruise manager will save you so much time! They will be able to point you to the not-to-be-missed sites and the local favorites. He or she will have great suggestions about where to find delicious food or relax with a drink. They are an invaluable resource with all their knowledge of the area!
4) Beautiful acommodations and breakfast
Each hotel is specially chosen with many criteria in mind–reputation, service, cleanliness, and location. You will love being nearby to many of the major sites in the city. And, to start your day off right, you will be served a delicious breakfast each morning before you are off for your adventure.
5) Transfers
If you book a pre/post cruise extension, the transfers to/from the ship are all taken care of for you. It will be so nice not to have to worry about finding a cab or public transportation to your hotel. All those details are taken care of for you!
As a bonus, if you also book your airfare, all your transfers to and from the airport are scheduled for you. Imagine, landing in a foreign airport in a foreign country knowing that once you find the pick up location everything from that point onward is taken care of for you. All you have to do is enjoy the ride! This is truly a stress-free vacation!
Land Extension Possibilities
Land extension options depend on the cruise you book. Specific land extension destinations are scheduled with each itinerary. Some itineraries have the option of having both a pre and post-stay. Some will only have one option. Your travel advisor can help you find the itinerary that fits where you want to explore.
Cities you might want to visit
- Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Budapest, Hungary
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Munich, Germany
- Vienna, Austria
- Giurgiu, Brasov, and Bucharest, Romania
- Paris, France
- Loire Valley, France
- Zurich and Lucerne, Switzerland
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Lake Como, Italy
- Bilbao and San Sebastian, Spain
- Barcelona, Spain
- Madrid, Spain
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, Vietnam and Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Rwanda
Current promotions from AmaWaterways
Must book by September 30, 2020
- 5% Early Booking Savings for 2022 European, Asian and Egypt River Cruises
- Free round trip airfare on selected itineraries from select US and Canadian Cities
- Free companion airfare on other itineraries from select US and Canadian Cities
- Triple savings on 2021 (or 2020) Holiday River Cruises–$2000 savings/stateroom, complimentary category upgrade, $100 shipboard credit/stateroom (must book BB and above)
Any travel questions? I would love to help answer them for you! Contact me at tamara@alaskatomickey.com or (907) 952-7055.
Happy travels to you…until we meet again!
Other links that might be of interest:
- Getting to Know the AmaMagna
- AmaWaterways vs. Viking River Cruises
- Viking, The Thinking Person’s River Cruise
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