AMA Waterways Oktoberfest in Vilshofen: What to Expect
One of the most unique parts of our AMA Waterways Romantic Danube cruise actually took place before the ship ever left port.
On embarkation day, AMA Waterways hosted its signature Oktoberfest celebration in Vilshofen, Germany. The event gave us an introduction to Bavarian music, beer, and culture before setting sail on our Danube adventure.
The celebration began at 6:30 p.m., about an hour before dinner, making it a fun way to start the evening before returning to the ship for the first night’s meal.
It ended up being a fun way to kick off the cruise and an experience we were glad we didn’t miss.
If you’re considering an AMA Waterways cruise that begins or ends in Vilshofen, here’s what you can expect from the Oktoberfest celebration.
One thing to keep in mind is that the timing of the Oktoberfest celebration depends on your itinerary.
For guests sailing from Vilshofen to Budapest, like we did, Oktoberfest takes place on embarkation day before the cruise begins.
However, if you’re sailing the itinerary in the opposite direction from Budapest to Vilshofen, Oktoberfest is typically held on the final evening of the cruise instead.
What Is AMA Waterways’ Oktoberfest?
Shortly after boarding the ship, guests are invited to attend a special Oktoberfest celebration held in Vilshofen.
Rather than taking place onboard, the event is hosted in a tent located right infront of the ship.
The atmosphere is festive from the moment you arrive, with communal tables, live music, traditional Bavarian traditions, and plenty of beer.
Beer and Pretzels
As you might expect, beer and pretzels play a major role in the celebration.
Guests can enjoy traditional German beer, and one thing we especially appreciated was that AMA also had gluten-free beer available.
Since Julia has celiac disease, having a gluten-free option meant she could fully participate in the festivities instead of feeling left out.
We talk more about Julia’s experience traveling with celiac disease throughout the cruise in our Gluten-Free on AMA Waterways review.
The food offering consisted of traditional Bavarian pretzels, which paired perfectly with the beer. Since the event took place about an hour before dinner, the pretzels were enough to enjoy while taking in the entertainment before returning to the ship for the evening meal.
One thing we would have liked to see, however, was a gluten-free pretzel option. While Julia was able to enjoy the gluten-free beer, having a gluten-free version of the traditional Oktoberfest snack would have made the experience feel even more inclusive.
That said, we still appreciated that AMA made gluten-free beer available, something we don’t always encounter while traveling.
Live Music and Dancing
One of the highlights of the event was the local band performing inside the tent.
The music added a lot of energy to the celebration and helped create an atmosphere that felt distinctly Bavarian.
The band didn’t just perform either. They encouraged audience participation and even taught everyone a traditional dance.
Watching a tent full of newly arrived cruise passengers trying to learn the steps quickly became part of the fun.
Some guests jumped right in, while others preferred to enjoy the show from their seats with a pretzel and a beer in hand.
The Beer Boot Competition
One of the more memorable moments of the evening was a competition involving a traditional German beer boot.
Several volunteers were invited to the front of the tent and challenged to hold a full beer boot out in front of them for as long as possible.
What looked relatively easy at first quickly became much harder once the weight of the beer started taking its toll.
The crowd seemed to enjoy watching the contestants battle it out, and it added a fun, lighthearted element to the evening.
Is It Worth Attending?
Absolutely.
Since the event is included with the cruise, there’s really no reason to skip it.
Even if you’re not a big beer drinker, the live music, dancing, entertainment, and festive atmosphere make it worth attending.
For us, it was a fun introduction to the region and a memorable way to begin our Romantic Danube cruise.
Final Thoughts
AMA Waterways’ Oktoberfest celebration in Vilshofen ended up being one of our favorite embarkation-day experiences.
Between the live music, traditional dancing, pretzels, German beer, gluten-free beer for Julia, and the entertaining beer boot competition, it was a fun and memorable start to the trip.
Most cruises begin with a safety briefing and a welcome dinner.
Starting with Oktoberfest feels like a much more enjoyable way to kick off a Danube River cruise.
If you’re sailing in the opposite direction and experience it on your final night instead, it’s also a pretty fun way to celebrate the end of the journey.
