Clia River Cruise Convention Amsterdam 16/17 Nov 2014

I booked into Gatwick NCP Parking North Terminal which is not the cheapest but the nearest car park to North Terminal.  There is also another called summer special parking but not to be confused with the official Parking or you could pay twice. Take ticket at the barrier and head towards available parking marked. It is important to make a note on the ticket of Zone, lane and bus stop for the return.
My flight was at 0800 hours and the journey time to Amsterdam was just 50 minutes.  The flight was delayed by approximately half an hour by air trafffic control due to the fog although Easyjet was ready to leave early.  I chose Easyjet as they have the most generous hand baggage limit being by size not weight.  You just need to remember that liquids are only up to 100ml in separate see through bag and electrical equipment with new rules have to be charged if asked to be tested.
On arrival I took the train to Amsterdam Central which took approximately 10 minutes and cost 5 euros.  The tickets are purchased at machines and you need either coins or credit card (notes are not accepted)
On arrival at Central station, I walked to Movenpick Hotel for our convention which took 10 minutes.  However, the station is also only 5 minutes to the main shoppings streets and approximately 15 minutes to Dam Square.
Lunch was taken on the  Emeral Waterways, Emerald Sky which was a stylish ship and the food was a buffet style with a good selection of tasty food. We also had a tour of the ship, then visited the Ama Certa owned by AMA Waterways

Bright welcoming corridors

 

Stylish cabins

Second dining area

Lounge area

We returned to Movenpick Hotel for an afternoon trade fair and chance to meet with the representatives of the river cruise companies both with ships in Amsterdam and those without.  We were then checked into our ship for the evening and overnight stay and mine was the A-Rosa Brava
- all women were given a red rose as we board which was a nice touch.  In the evening, we had an open bar as drinks on their cruises are all included.  Evening meal was buffet style with a good selection of hot and cold food and I even enjoyed oysters as a special treat.  Beds were comfortable though the pillows a little thin (more pillows on request)  Breakfast was equally enjoyable and varied and I even enjoyed a bucks fizz on offer - it would be rude not to!!
In the morning we had a ships visit of the facilities of this ship.  This included a jacuzzi, gym, sauna, spa, open deck space upstairs.  It is good to know that there are no single supplements on A-Rosa on any sailings.

There were three areas like this with a good choice of food



This was the main dining area with a choice of different size tables to chose from and there was free seating

Our groups Next Visit was to the Emerald Sky.  This ship is only a few years old. The use of greys and whites throughout give it a modern feel.

This was a unique pool which converts to a cinema as the floor raises and water  disappears beneath it.

Suites have a relaxing extra space with part opening windows for interior balcony feel

All cabins were decorated in the same colours - some with internal balconies with top opening windows

Next we visited Uniworld Antoinette - the company which remains my favourite and is exceptional in every way - I could not fault anything about this ship, as I did also last year in Cologne when we visited a sister ship - River Duchess (see last years blog).

One of the dining areas

Looking down to reception with the remarkable chandelier

Lounge area

Extensive Use of marble in several bathrooms



There were several types of rooms and colour schemes all tastefully decorated

Corridors were also nicely decorated

We viewed the Shearings Rotterdam last year too.  The ship is aimed at the over 65s with stair lifts to 2 floors but not to the lower floor where the stairs are quite steep.  Some of the cabins can be made up as day or night cabins with foldaway beds.  It does have a traditional british hotel feel to it.

Pleasant Dining area

Deck area

There are a couple of bikes on deck area for those who wish to exercise

This is the cabin made up as a day cabin

Next Visit Amadeus Silver good size cabins - in their words Refined elegance good size rooms

Nice dining area

Good sized room with top half of windows retracting

CroisiEurope modern contemporary style  La Fayette latest ship. Face the view in most cabins which is the only ship which does this.  Better than the ship we viewed last year Gerard Smitter (which I stayed on for 3 days - see last blog)and typically french entertainment and service/food.

Extensive use of purple throughout with one of the views on the top floor - all cabins above waterline

Single Dining area

AMA Waterways Barge Le Panache - sleeps up to 12 people and is very stylish.

Stylish lounge and dining area

Good size cabins which lie quite low in the water

Lovely open deck area with Jacuzzi

Outside view of the barge which is able to travel down a lot of narrower canals in France

It is worth noting that several ships have a floor where you have port holes and the water is a few inches below which would be at chest level and therefore you would sleep below water level.  This is a strange feeling and I personally think it is worth paying extra to be on the level above.

 

I allowed myself a few extra hours to look around Amsterdam but after all the walking and sore feet, I did not explore as much as I would have.  I did enjoy the old part of Amsterdam and sat in Dam Square taking in the old buildings.

Dam Square

One of the old streets

Shopping streets with several coffee shops serving cannabis legally

I stopped for a nice cafe latte for 6 euros on Dam Square and enjoyed a large wine and chips in a local bar for 12 euros.  Weather was drizzley on the first day and an umbrella was needed but the second day was partly sunny and pleasant with temperatures in the region of 12c.  The dutch people are very friendly and for a capital city it felt fairly safe in general. Trains run regularly from the airport to central Amsterdam for 5 euros each way

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