Where innovation meets elegance on the world’s most beautiful waterways
In the world of luxury river cruising, one name consistently rises above the rest: AmaWaterways. Voted Best River Cruise Line in 2024, this family-owned company has spent over two decades perfecting the art of intimate, luxurious river travel. What began as a passion project in 2002 has evolved into an award-winning fleet that now defines the gold standard for discerning travelers seeking authentic cultural immersion without compromising on comfort.
Current Fleet: A Perfect Balance of Intimacy and Luxury
AmaWaterways operates a carefully curated fleet of 28 ships across four continents, with each vessel designed to provide an intimate atmosphere while delivering five-star amenities. The company provides an intimate boutique-style atmosphere with limited passengers, ensuring a tranquil and personalized cruise experience, typically hosting an average of 150 guests or fewer aboard each ship.
The Revolutionary AmaMagna
Standing as the crown jewel of innovation, the AmaMagna continues to redefine what’s possible in river cruising. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation with ships such as the AmaMagna, which at twice the width of traditional river ships, offers a new dimension in luxury river cruising. This engineering marvel features four restaurants, two lounges, a Zen Wellness Studio, and spacious accommodations that rival the finest hotels.
2025 Fleet Expansion: New Horizons Realized
The year 2025 has marked significant expansion for AmaWaterways. Earlier this year, AmaSintra entered service on the Douro River in Portugal, adding another elegant vessel to their European collection.
Most exciting, AmaWaterways launched the AmaMagdalena on Colombia’s Magdalena River on April 12, 2025, making AmaWaterways the first major river cruise line to navigate Colombia’s magnificent waterway. The ship now offers two seven-night itineraries, exploring destinations like Cartagena, Barranquilla, Mompox, and Palenque. The AmaMelodia, her sister ship, is scheduled to join the Magdalena fleet in June 2025.
Looking Ahead: Exciting New Ships in 2026
AmaWaterways’ commitment to growth and innovation continues with two remarkable additions planned for 2026:
AmaSofia – European Excellence
AmaSofia will become AmaWaterways’ 24th ship in Europe, launching with her inaugural voyage on May 24, 2026. The custom-designed luxury vessel will have 31 departures in 2026, featuring multiple itineraries on the Danube, such as Melodies of the Danube, Romantic Danube, and the popular Christmas Markets on the Danube. Her maiden voyage will be the magnificent 14-night “Magnificent Europe” itinerary, following the route of emperors, kings and queens between Amsterdam and Budapest.
AmaMaya – Asian Adventure
AmaMaya will join AmaDara on the Mekong in August 2026, enhancing AmaWaterways’ presence in Southeast Asia. The new ship is scheduled for 22 sailings in 2026 and 38 in 2027, including the seven-night itineraries Charms of the Mekong and Riches of the Mekong, both sailing from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap.
Signature Twin-Balcony Staterooms: A Design Revolution
AmaWaterways pioneered the concept of twin-balcony staterooms, offering guests both a French balcony for panoramic views and a step-out balcony for fresh air and intimate moments with the passing scenery. This innovative design allows guests to experience their surroundings in multiple ways, whether enjoying morning coffee in the fresh air or watching the sunset from the comfort of their room.
The accommodations aboard AmaWaterways vessels are thoughtfully designed with modern amenities, elegant furnishings, and generous space allocation that creates a true home-away-from-home experience.
Culinary Excellence: Beyond Expectations
AmaWaterways is the only major river cruise line to be part of the prestigious Chaine des Rotisseurs food and wine society, ensuring every meal meets the highest culinary standards. The dining experience extends far beyond typical cruise fare, with multiple venues offering distinct atmospheres and cuisines.
The Chef’s Table Experience
The seven-course tasting menu at Chef’s Table is complimentary and available to book at least once per cruise for all passengers. This intimate dining experience features a glass-enclosed galley where guests can watch the chef prepare their meal, creating an interactive culinary theater that’s both educational and delicious.
Enhanced Dining Innovation
In 2023, AmaWaterways replaced fleetwide breakfast and lunch buffets with full-service à la carte menus, reducing food waste by approximately 30%. This shift not only demonstrates environmental responsibility but also elevates the dining experience with made-to-order meals that cater to individual preferences.
Wellness at Sea: Mind, Body, and Spirit
Understanding that modern luxury travelers seek to maintain their wellness routines while exploring the world, AmaWaterways has developed comprehensive wellness programs that set them apart from other cruise lines.
AmaWaterways offers professionally trained Wellness Hosts on-board most of the fleet. These hosts lead a variety of fitness classes including core strengthening and circuit training, as well as occasional health and wellness-related lectures and discussions.
2025 Wellness Innovation
This August, AmaWaterways will launch its ‘Celebration of Wellness River Cruises,’ demonstrating their commitment to health-conscious travelers. AmaWaterways has placed wellness at the forefront of its river cruising experiences, offering a range of onboard and off-ship activities designed to cater to guests’ physical and mental well-being.
Global Destinations, Intimate Experiences
AmaWaterways’ itinerary program spans four continents, offering an unparalleled selection of waterways that showcase the world’s most culturally rich and naturally stunning regions.
European Waterways: The Heart of River Cruising
Europe remains AmaWaterways’ primary focus, with 23 ships navigating the continent’s most storied rivers. The Danube, flowing through more countries than any river in the world, connects guests to the imperial capitals of Vienna and Budapest, the medieval charm of Passau, and the fairy-tale landscapes of the Wachau Valley. The Rhine presents a tapestry of castles, vineyards, and historic cities from Amsterdam’s canal-ringed beauty to Basel’s cultural sophistication, passing through Germany’s romantic Rhine Valley and the Netherlands’ tulip-adorned countryside.
French waterways offer their own distinct pleasures: the Rhône and Saône rivers wind through Provence’s lavender fields and Burgundy’s world-renowned wine regions, while the Seine guides travelers from Paris’s iconic landmarks to the D-Day beaches of Normandy. Portugal’s Douro River reveals terraced vineyards and authentic quintas in one of the world’s most spectacular wine regions, while the Moselle meanders through Germany’s most picturesque wine country.
Asian Adventures: The Exotic Mekong
In Southeast Asia, AmaWaterways operates on the legendary Mekong River, where the AmaDara currently sails between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia. This seven-night journey unveils ancient temples, floating villages, and vibrant markets largely untouched by time. Guests witness Buddhist blessing ceremonies, explore the magnificent temples of Angkor Archaeological Park, and experience the French Colonial heritage that defines this extraordinary region. The Mekong winds through rainforests, plains, and rice fields, offering encounters with local artisans, traditional xe-loi (trishaw) rides, and immersive cultural experiences that bridge ancient traditions with modern life.
African Wonders: The Nile and Chobe Rivers
Egypt’s legendary Nile River hosts AmaWaterways’ AmaDahlia and AmaLilia, offering 72 and 82 guests respectively an intimate journey through 5,000 years of history. These seven-night roundtrip voyages from Luxor to Aswan reveal ancient temples, royal tombs, and archaeological treasures that can only be properly appreciated from the river itself. The ships blend modern luxury with the timeless mystique of ancient Egypt.
On Africa’s Chobe River, the intimate 28-guest Zambezi Queen provides an unparalleled safari experience. This floating lodge features floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto sweeping balconies, perfect for wildlife viewing. Guests witness elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and countless bird species in their natural habitat, combining river cruising with authentic African safari adventures across Botswana, with extensions to Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
South American Pioneers: Colombia’s Magdalena River
AmaWaterways has pioneered luxury river cruising in South America with the launch of operations on Colombia’s Magdalena River. The AmaMagdalena now offers two seven-night itineraries – “Magic of Colombia” and “Wonders of Colombia” – sailing between the colonial jewel of Cartagena and the vibrant port city of Barranquilla. These cruises explore UNESCO World Heritage sites like Mompox, visit the culturally significant village of Palenque, and showcase Colombia’s incredible biodiversity through birdwatching expeditions and immersive cultural encounters with local communities.
Smithsonian Journeys
AmaWaterways has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Smithsonian Journeys, the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution, to offer an exclusive collection of 33 co-branded European river cruises beginning in April 2026. This extraordinary alliance draws on the Smithsonian’s 175+ year history as the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex to create truly transformative travel experiences. Each sailing features two Smithsonian Journeys Experts—distinguished art historians, archaeologists, scientists, and anthropologists—who share their insights through engaging onboard lectures and intimate conversations over meals and during tours. These aren’t typical cruise presentations but dynamic explorations led by the same caliber of experts who curate exhibitions at the nation’s most prestigious museums. The partnership creates exclusive Smithsonian-crafted excursions available nowhere else, from discovering little-known World Heritage sites along the Lower Danube to experiencing vibrant musical traditions in Vienna’s concert halls with musicologists who’ve studied these venues for decades. Whether you’re sailing through Holland’s tulip fields with botanists who understand the centuries-old cultivation techniques, exploring Salzburg’s baroque architecture with art historians who’ve written about Mozart’s Vienna, or delving into the archaeological mysteries of ancient Roman settlements along the Rhine with experts who’ve excavated similar sites, these journeys transform sightseeing into profound cultural immersion that continues to enrich your understanding long after you return home.
The AmaWaterways Difference
What distinguishes AmaWaterways from other luxury cruise lines is their philosophy that every detail should reflect their commitment to creating meaningful connections between guests and destinations. This family-owned approach manifests in ways that fundamentally transform the river cruising experience.
The Power of Choice and Flexibility
Unlike many cruise lines that offer a single shore excursion per port, AmaWaterways provides multiple options at every destination, all included in your fare. Whether you prefer gentle walking tours, active hiking adventures, cultural immersion experiences, or culinary explorations, you can choose your own path at each port without additional costs or advance commitments.
Seamless Travel Integration
AmaWaterways excels at creating worry-free travel experiences through comprehensive logistics management. Their cruise managers don’t just disappear when you disembark—they accompany guests on pre- and post-cruise extensions, handling everything from passport collection for border crossings to coordinating complex multi-country itineraries. This level of personal oversight is rare in the cruise industry.
Investment in Local Communities
Rather than simply visiting destinations, AmaWaterways actively invests in the communities they serve. In Cambodia, they sponsor local schools and encourage guests to bring supplies, creating meaningful connections beyond typical tourist interactions. This commitment extends to their hiring practices, employing local guides and crew members who provide authentic cultural insights.
Experience AmaWaterways with Expert Guidance
The world’s most beautiful rivers await your discovery, and there’s no finer way to explore them than aboard an AmaWaterways vessel. From the romantic Rhine with its medieval castles to the exotic Mekong with its floating markets, from Portugal’s terraced Douro Valley to Colombia’s biodiverse Magdalena River, AmaWaterways offers journeys that transform the way you see the world.
For personalized assistance in planning your AmaWaterways river cruise experience, contact Ana White at ana@anawhiteluxurytravel.com. With her expertise in luxury travel and comprehensive knowledge of AmaWaterways’ offerings, Ana can help you select the perfect itinerary, stateroom category, and pre- or post-cruise extensions to create your ideal river cruising adventure.
Let Ana guide you through the nuances of AmaWaterways’ innovative ship designs, exclusive dining experiences, wellness programs, and award-winning service to ensure your river cruise exceeds every expectation.
Discover why AmaWaterways continues to set the standard for luxury river cruising – contact Ana today to begin your journey.
