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!"
Home to the charming La Petite France and Parc de l’Orangerie, France’s picturesque town of Strasbourg is home to exquisite Alsatian wines and possibly the oldest wine in the world.
Resting in an old cellar underneath the Hospices de Strasbourg is a wine that has been around since before Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Because deep in this cellar, originally built in the 1300s but recently renovated in 1994, is a barrel that is still filled with wine from 1472.
The vat it is held in is designed in the ancient more almond-like shape—and the vat is technically called a “foudre.” Foudres were once popular throughout France, are significantly larger than oak barrels—filling 2,000-12,000 liters, minimizes oak extraction, allows less oxidation due to the thickness of the staves and thus preserves vineyard character better than oak barrels. However, because of their heftier price and higher maintenance they are not used as often as they once were.
Was 1472 a good year? Well, it was the year Amsterdam prohibited snowball fights and Leonardo da Vinci was proclaimed a master in Florence’s “Company of Artists.” But as for wine? Well, that’s hard to say at this point.
Currently, the wine vat can be viewed but is protectively behind gated bars for security reasons. There have been very few tastings in its history—once in the 1500s, once more in the 1700s and the last tasting was by General Leclerc in 1944 upon the liberation of Strasbourg during World War II.
That said, we do know that the wine is a white Alsatian wine, with a 9.4 percent alcohol content, a complex nose and flavorful aromas that include eucalyptus, clove, coconut and thyme. Experts have taken samples over the years with modern analysis tools to make these discoveries.
And while you’re unlikely to sneak a taste of this particular wine, you might choose to either visit the wine cellar and museum during your free time in Strasbourg (your Cruise Manager can help you with any planning)—or choose to enjoy the region’s sublime wines while toasting to its wonderful history!
Strasbourg of course is the capital of Alsace, which is one of the top wine areas in wine-rich France. The region is often considered France’s white wine capitol, and it is known for its highly aromatic flavors.
Enjoy the taste and aroma of Alsatian wine in Strasbourg on our Rhine River wine cruises, including: Captivating Rhine, Enchanting Rhine and Rhine & Moselle Splendors.