Skip-Generation River Cruise: A Grand Adventure with AmaWaterways

A river cruise with grandma? Yes, please. For Arlene B., a longtime guest of AmaWaterways, taking her six grandchildren—ages 16 to 27—on a skip-generation river cruise was a dream she refused to compromise on.

“Their parents tried to bribe me to let them come,” she laughed. “But I wanted this to be just us. Me and my grandkids.”

And so it began: a seven-night cruise down the Rhine River on the AmaLucia, complete with castle spotting, regional cuisine, and once-in-a-lifetime moments that bonded three generations.

Planning a Multi-State Meet-Up

With her grandkids spread across the U.S., organizing the logistics wasn’t easy. But through group calls and plenty of excitement, the crew coordinated everything—from flights to excursions—so they could all arrive in Amsterdam and begin their journey together.

“The goal was for them to connect,” Arlene says. “And watching it happen in real-time was magical.”

“I always had one or two grandkids by my side, looking out for me,” Arlene says. “I really didn’t expect to be with them as much as I was. It was wonderful.”

Life On Board: AmaLucia Delivers

For grandson Drew, used to big-ship cruising, the intimacy of AmaWaterways was a game-changer.

“The scenery was constant. It wasn’t just open ocean—it was towns, castles, mountains. And our stateroom had both a French and full balcony, so I could kick back and watch it all go by.”

Their shared dinners in the Main Restaurant became a nightly tradition full of laughter, stories, and—most importantly—basket after basket of fresh-baked bread.

Journey Highlights

A never-forget afternoon was spending time on the Sun Deck while AmaLucia passed through Germany’s Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for 40-plus historic castles. “Two of my grandsons are history buffs and when the cruise manager told the tales of all the castles, they thought they died and went to heaven,” says Arlene.

Dinner in the Main Restaurant was a nightly invitation for everyone to reflect on each day’s excursions. The cousins all indulged in regional cuisine, but one menu item in particular stood out. “My youngest granddaughter, Brooke, couldn’t get over the fresh-baked rolls,” recalls Arlene. “The servers figured out that we couldn’t deal with just two or three baskets of bread each night—we needed six or seven!”

Along the Banks of the Rhine

During their seven-night cruise, the family visited many destinations, from Strasbourg, where they united with distant relatives, to Cologne, with its impressive Gothic cathedral. Arlene favored the old houses dotted throughout Riquewihr, France, while Drew will always remember their visit to Rüdesheim, Germany. There, he was surprised by the local townspeople making their traditional coffee, during which brandy is set aflame in specially designed coffee cups.

“I cannot think of anything even remotely similar that you can experience in the States,” Drew says. “It was like they were pouring liquid fire!”

Freedom for All Ages

Drew also notes that river cruising was a friendly way for teens and 20-somethings to have some added time to explore on their own—whether in port after guided excursions or in the evenings, when bigger ocean ships are typically already sailing to their next destination.

Where Next?

As they sailed toward Basel, Switzerland on the last night of the journey, the grandkids told Arlene they wanted to take another cruise together in two years. Both the Danube River and Portugal’s Douro River have been floated around amongst the family. Still, they all realize that the destination doesn’t matter as much as the company.

“Having the six of us together all in one room is something that hadn’t happened in five or 10 years,” Drew says. “I wouldn’t have traded this experience for the world. I will cherish it for the rest of my life.” Ready to Plan Your Own Skip-Generation River Cruise?

If this story made you smile, imagine how it would feel to live it. Whether you’re a grandparent, parent, or savvy group planner, we can help you curate a river cruise experience that’s unforgettable for every generation.

Let’s start planning your own multigenerational adventure—without the stress, spreadsheets, or guesswork.

We specialize in luxury travel planning that feels effortless, personal, and absolutely unforgettable.

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