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Ship comparison

AmaDante vs Zambezi Queen

The verdict

Which should you choose?

AmaDante is an intimate AmaWaterways ship carrying 148 passengers, in service since 2008. Zambezi Queen is an intimate AmaWaterways ship carrying 28 passengers, in service since 2009.

Choose AmaDante if you want a bigger ship, more space per passenger or a more romantic trip: it outscores Zambezi Queen for romantic (9.0 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, it carries 148 passengers (vs 28) and it has 22.6 gross tons per passenger (vs 17.9).

Choose Zambezi Queen if you want more crew per passenger, more adventure and nature or a smaller ship: it outscores AmaDante for adventure & nature (10.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, it has a crew member for every 0.9 passengers (vs 3.6) and it carries 28 passengers (vs 148).

Side by side

Specifications

marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.

AmaDanteZambezi Queen
Cruise line AmaWaterways AmaWaterways
Ship size Intimate Intimate
Maiden voyagenewer highlighted 2008 2009 (better)
Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted 2013
Gross tonnage 3,350 500
Passengers 148 28
Crew 41 30
Passengers per crew memberfewer is better 3.6 0.9 (better)
Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier 22.6 (better) 17.9
Cabins 14
Decks 4 3
Length 360 ft 150 ft
Beam 38 ft 37 ft
Cruiseable ratingout of 10 9 / 10 9 / 10
Cruises on sale 9 8
Upcoming sailings 86 380
Cruise lengths 7 nights 9–16 nights
Fares fromlower highlighted $2,239

Bliss scores

How they rate, out of 10

Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. AmaDante leads on 2 of the ten, Zambezi Queen on 1, with 7 level.

  • Active AmaDante: 8.9 Zambezi Queen: 8.0
  • Adventure & nature AmaDante: 5.0 Zambezi Queen: 10.0
  • Cultural AmaDante: 8.0 Zambezi Queen: 8.0
  • Dining AmaDante: 7.9 Zambezi Queen: 7.9
  • Entertainment AmaDante: 7.8 Zambezi Queen: 7.8
  • Family friendly AmaDante: 2.0 Zambezi Queen: 2.0
  • Party AmaDante: 5.0 Zambezi Queen: 5.0
  • Romantic AmaDante: 9.0 Zambezi Queen: 8.0
  • Spa & fitness AmaDante: 2.0 Zambezi Queen: 2.0
  • Staterooms AmaDante: 10.0 Zambezi Queen: 10.0

AmaWaterways

AmaDante

The 148-passenger AmaDante and her sister ships ply Europe's great inland waterways. A unique river cruise experience where attention to details and luxury touches are de rigeur, life aboard the AmaDante includes daily shore excursions as well as a more comfortable setting with fewer passengers.

Highlights

  • Spacious staterooms, most with French Balconies
  • Walking track along the Sun Deck
  • Guided bicycle tours at stops along the river.

Sailing now

9 cruises on sale, from $2,239.

AmaWaterways

Zambezi Queen

On a river cruise, you can expect to see the shoreline every day, get off the ship every day, and enjoy a more comfortable setting with fewer passengers. AmaWaterways, with its emphasis on wine and food amid comfortably stylish details, has carved out a special niche in the river cruise arena.

Highlights

  • The Zambezi Queen sails past Botswana's Chobe National Park known for its great concentration of African wildlife.
  • The Chobe National Park is widely known for its spectacular elephant population.
  • The Chobe River is a major watering spot, especially in the dry season (May through October) for large breeding herds of elephants, as well as families of giraffe, sable and cape buffalo.
  • Land-based excursions are available, as are water-based trips to view wildlife on smaller vessels.

Sailing now

8 cruises on sale.

Questions

AmaDante or Zambezi Queen?

Which is bigger, AmaDante or Zambezi Queen?

AmaDante is bigger at 3,350 gross tons, against 500 gross tons for Zambezi Queen. AmaDante carries 148 passengers and Zambezi Queen carries 28.

Which ship is newer, AmaDante or Zambezi Queen?

Zambezi Queen is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2009 against 2008 for AmaDante.

Which has more space per passenger?

AmaDante, with 22.6 gross tons per passenger against 17.9 on Zambezi Queen. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.

Which has more crew per passenger?

Zambezi Queen, with one crew member for every 0.9 passengers against one for every 3.6 on AmaDante.

Which is better for families?

They score the same for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 2.0 out of 10.

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