AmaWaterways wine cruises add a unique epicurean dimension to a variety of itineraries at no additional cost. Join one of these wine cruises with a special wine host and be treated to a menu of exclusive wine and culinary experiences designed to delve deeper into the wonderful flavors and tastes of Europe.
European cities transform into majestic winter wonderlands for the holiday season – and we invite you to experience all their splendor with us. In addition to our variety of daily excursions, you will also have the opportunity to visit festive Christmas Markets in select destinations and participate in nostalgic traditions.
Maximize your Christmas experience by embarking at the height of the holiday market season with daily or near-daily visits to Christmas Markets.
Get "just a taste" of the holidays in mid-November or late December with visits to one or two Christmas Markets during your river cruise.
We are pleased to offer guests the opportunity to experience Floriade in 2022 while sailing along the Rhine River and Dutch and Belgian Waterways between April 14 and October 9. Right outside Amsterdam, this rare experience calls for its visitors to “explore, touch and change” as part of their journey into Floriade – which is set to feature stunning gardens, innovative sustainable gardening exhibits, live entertainment, talk shows, souvenirs and food stalls.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Rhône with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Explore the rich history of classical music along the Danube River where famous composers lived, worked and performed. Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever “Soulful Experience” on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2024.
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through four countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
Join Chef Joanne Weir, award-winning cookbook author, restaurant owner and host of PBS television series “Plates & Places” as she hosts a special 7-night Flavors of Burgundy river cruise.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Danube with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever “Soulful Experience” on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2025
Explore the rich history of classical and folkloric music along the Danube River where famous composers lived, worked and performed. Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey.
Countries Visited: Austria, Hungary, Slovakia
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through five countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
We invite our loyal past guests to join us once again on these special Loyalty Cruises, offering unique experiences in multiple ports, commemorative gifts, and many more surprises and delights.
Imagine if there was a way to combine luxury river cruising on the iconic Danube with the opportunity to indulge your passion and play golf. We have created the perfect package to enable you to do just that with our Exclusive Concierge Golf Program. Discover Europe, complete with award winning cuisine, incredible service and a choice of excursions in every port, as well as up to 5 rounds of golf at some of the leading championship courses on the continent.
AmaWaterways’ Exclusive Concierge Golf Program is available on select Magna on the Danube cruises sailing aboard the AmaMagna.
Hello! "I'm Kristin Karst, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of AmaWaterways and I'm passionate about river cruising. Each month, I love to share with you my thoughts, personal stories, travel tips and latest news on the people and places that help turn every mile of our guests' river cruise experience into one of their most cherished memories!"
In fact, one Hermitage, the Hermitage La Chapelle 1961, is often one of the top sellers (and most expensive bottles) at wine auctions, claiming nearly fifteen thousand dollars for a single bottle.
To enjoy a taste of Hermitage wine is to enjoy a taste of the good life. A French, full-bodied, rich, tannic Appellation d’Origine Controlée (AOC), it is made from both red and white grapes. It is grown atop the Hermitage hill along the banks of the Northern Rhône in a space of only about 320 acres, where it thrives in a Mediterranean climate. It is also found on the eastern side of the river, making it the only major Northern Rhône appellation that is not found on the western side of the river.
With flavor notes of blackberries, spices and herbs, a glass of red Hermitage comes from the red Syrah grape and intoxicates all the senses. Reds pair particularly strongly with various meat dishes—along with both hard and soft cheeses and even bacon—but are versatile enough to pair with poultry and fish. The heartier the better for this potent wine, which pairs exceptionally well with beef, lamb or a rich hearty stew. Entrées with a sturdy marinade of herbs and spices also compliment the strong Northern Rhône wine.
White wine produced from the Roussane and Marsanne grapes are available in more limited quantities as well and produce a lighter taste with floral notes, a touch of vanilla and nutty aromas. Fish is a particularly well-suited compliment to these white wines—everything from lobster and crab to sea bass. Cheeses and spicy food also pair beautifully.
In either case, both the red and white varietals are best enjoyed matured. Ten, twenty, thirty, forty years or even longer! Young Hermitage wines are too intensely flavored—not to mention tannic and unformed. But with age, the flavors blend beautifully producing the delicate notes that Hermitage wine is renowned for.
The history of the wine is something to toast to as well. The Ancient Greeks and Romans began planting Syrah grapes in the region around 600 BC. A millennium later, France’s King Louis XIII made Hermitage his official wine of choice. The Sun King, King Louis XIV, followed suit. Demand remained intense, finding another famous devotee in oenophile Thomas Jefferson. For a time—and it is now strictly forbidden by French law—Hermitage was even added to some Bordeaux wines to give them an extra body, tannins and color.