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!"
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Forever entwined with papal history, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (AOC) is one of the most renowned and popular appellations of the enchanting Rhône Valley. Indeed, Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine and its surrounding namesake region is loosely translated as “The Pope’s New Castle.”
In 1308, Pope Clemens V moved the papacy from Rome to Avignon, ushering in the seventy-year era of the Avignon Papacy. Of course, there are many explanations for the relocation (such as security and stability while Rome was undergoing various upheavals). But the so-called Avignon popes were also said to be avid wine-drinkers, and promoted the local wines there (along with other French wine like Burgundy). Pope John XXII (who canonized St. Thomas Aquinas) also built the castle (now castle ruins), which sometimes stands in as a symbol for the iconic appellation.
Hundreds of years later, in 1923, it was the first wine to be introduced as an Appellation Contrôlée, the precursor to apellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC). Naturally, it is not just its historical significance that makes Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines such a delightful appellation.
Grown over about 8,000 acres, wine production here accounts for more than all the wines produced in the Northern Rhône Valley combined. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, grown in the Southern Rhône, enjoys frequent sunshine and mistral winds to carry away moisture and thus, intensify the dry climates.
A handful of grapes are used to produce the wine, including Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Counoise and Terret Noir grapes. And while there are both red and white varietals of the appellation, a whopping 94 percent of the wine produced is the rich, full-bodied red wine. With notes of blackberries, strawberries, black currants, kirsch, black and red cherries, textures are luscious when young and like the mark of many fine wines, only get better with age. The freshness and spice of a red Châteauneuf-du-Pape pairs beautifully with hearty dishes like grilled beef, duck, sausage, lamb, stews and rich seafood dishes.
The white appellation tends to be a significantly younger wine. Most should be imbibed within four to five years, although a few can age much longer. Grenache Blanc, Counoise, Vaccarese A crisp wine, the wine possesses floral, fruity notes with an alcohol content of about 14 percent, this appellation is becoming increasingly sought after. Excellent food pairings include chicken, various hard and soft cheeses and virtually all types of seafood, ranging from shellfish like lobster and shrimp to sushi.
Discover the flavorful Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine during a Provençal river journey with our Colors of Provence Wine Cruise.