Day 3 onboard the AmaLea began with a delicious breakfast served by our amazing waitstaff, featuring eggs benedict, avocado toast, and even freshly baked waffles – all prepared gluten-free! We then enjoyed some scenic views of the Danube River as we continued sailing from Vilshofen to Passau – including our first daytime passage through one of the 12 locks we would encounter on this journey. Then, somehow, it was time to eat again so we reluctantly (who am I kidding? the food is fantastic, we ran!) made our way back to the dining room.
After lunch we made our way to the lounge to meet for our tours. All tours here onboard the AmaLea are included, and today there were three to choose from – a walking tour of the city, a biking tour, or a hike up to the castle – all fantastic ways to take in the beauty and charm of Passau, also referred to as the “Venice of Germany”. For those that weren’t interested in a formal tour, bikes and city maps are always available for self-exploration and Connie had a lovely day exploring the city by bike at her own pace. The rest of the gang decided to take on the Passau Castle Hike, which featured 250+ steps (and a couple of steep inclines) to reach the lookout point of the castle, but it was worth every drop of sweat it took to get up there! The views were magnificent, breathtaking, picturesque, and our tour guide provided some excellent commentary along the way during this two hour tour.
Following our hike, we made our way slowly back to the ship, taking in some more of the sights and sounds of beautiful Passau along the way, just in time to get ready for dinner. We grabbed a cocktail at the evening Sip and Sail happy hour, where complimentary cocktails, beer, and wine are served nightly and then went back to our cabins to shower and change for our Chef’s Table dinner!
The Chef’s Table restaurant is the specialty restaurant onboard the AmaLea, however unlike other cruise lines you won’t find an extra charge to visit this restaurant, simply make a reservation at the reception desk for one night during your cruise and enjoy the experience! The tasting menu began with an amuse bouche, followed by a cold appetizer, soup, hot appetizer, sorbet palate cleanser, main course, and finally dessert. Each course is expertly paired with a local wine selection and your maitre’d and butlers provide commentary on the food and wine as the courses are presented. This is a culinary experience beyond measure, and one that cannot be missed!
After dinner we enjoyed a lovely local singer and guitar player in the lounge before heading to bed to get ready for our big day in Linz, Austria!
