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!"
Ho Chi Minh City – also known as Saigon – is widely known for its historical significance during the Vietnam War, but did you know that one of the city’s most enduring legacies is its stunning architecture? A trip around this incredible city will introduce you to a variety of structures ranging from French Colonial villas to modern steel and glass skyscrapers – signs of the city’s growth and innovation as well as its rich history.
View from the Top
Vietnam’s most populous city is also the country’s financial center, so it is fitting one of the highlights of any visit is a stop at the Bitexco Financial Tower. The tower is the tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City, clocking in at 859 feet high, and standing as a symbol of the rapid development of the city’s economy. Its design was inspired by Vietnam’s national flower, the lotus, with a helipad projecting out from the center at what would appear to be the blossoming lotus bud. While primarily used as an office space, it also houses a shopping mall, cinema, restaurant and bar. On the 49th floor is the Saigon Skydeck, where guests can enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of the city and the Saigon River.
The Other Notre Dame
The name Notre Dame generally evokes images of the famed Notre Dame in Paris, but there is another. Notre Dame Cathedral is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most prominent attractions and it still serves as an active religious institution for locals, who can attend Sunday mass. The structure includes twin Romanesque bell towers that stand at nearly 196 feet tall. All the building materials for the cathedral were imported from France, and construction spanned three years from start to finish – from 1877 to 1880. While the building itself holds an important place on this list of architectural wonders, it is what’s outside that has drawn curiosity in recent years due to the story of the religious miracle that was said to have taken place there. In 2005, witnesses claim to have seen a single tear streak down the right side of the Virgin Mary statue that stands out front. Locals swarmed the city center to catch a glimpse, forcing authorities to stop traffic around the cathedral.
From Saigon with Love
Right next door to the cathedral is the Central Post Office, constructed between 1886 and 1891. This still-operating post office, which features a bright yellow exterior framed with white accents, is known for its distinctly French Colonial architecture, intricately designed marble floors, and looping arches. Amid the decidedly European touches hangs a large portrait of Ho Chi Minh at the end of the hall, reminding visitors that they are still, in fact, in Vietnam. Original oil paintings adorn the walls, which also feature two painted maps – one depicting the postal route from southern Vietnam to Cambodia and another outlining the local area. Travelers can visit the post office to purchase souvenirs, send postcards home, and visit the last remaining “public letter writer,” who has been translating letters into English, French, and Vietnamese for almost three decades. Nearly a nonagenarian, Duong Van Ngo has become a regular fixture here, setting up shop every morning as one of the few constants in an ever-evolving cityscape.
Additional time in Ho Chi Minh City is included with our comprehensive land packages for Riches of the Mekong and Charms of the Mekong itineraries:
What's Included in the Ho Chi Minh City Portion of Your Land Package
If you’d like to experience Ho Chi Minh City for yourself, we would love to welcome you aboard one of our Charms of the Mekong or Riches of the Mekong river cruises.