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!"
With rolling hills, lush flora and fauna, and only an eighteen mile drive from Lisbon, the picturesque beachside town of Sintra has long been a vacation retreat for royalty, nobility, locals and tourists alike. Visit Sintra, Portugal and the Pena Palace on our optional land package to Lisbon on our Portugal sailings.
Love for Sintra
The love affair with Sintra started long before the English Romantic poet Lord Byron dubbed it a “Glorious Eden” in his epic poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage and “perhaps the most delightful village in all Europe.” Longer still before another English Romantic poet called it “the most blessed spot on the whole inhabitable globe,” and at least as far back as when it was under Roman rule. The enamored Romans named the town “Cynthia,” after the goddess of the moon.
In the 19th century, King consort Ferdinand II fell in love with the lands as well and helped to usher in an era of exquisite and grand parties as many others soon followed, building their own extravagant estates. Even though the royal family considered the castle more of a royal retreat, it was hard for nobility not to want their own home in paradise. After all, on a clear day the castle can be seen from Lisbon.
The Beauty of Romanticism
Built on the spot of a ruined monastery (which, according to legend, occurred after an apparition of the Virgin Mary), the King’s Castelo da Pena would become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal and one of the most stunning examples of Romantic architectonic style. Many have called this a prototype of Germany’s Neuschwanstein castle, which in turn inspired Disney’s Cinderella’s Castle.
A Luxurious Palace
Also known as the Pena Palace or the Palacio da Pena, the castle is a colorful blend of styles in accordance with the taste of Romanticism. These include Neo-Gothic, Neo-Manueline, Neo-Islamic and Neo-Renaissance styles. Other prominent Portuguese buildings such as Belem Tower can also be spotted. Its extravagant exterior includes an enveloping wall, drawbridge, clock tower, the restored old convent from the Middle Ages, Moorish arches, gargoyles and a conglomeration of bastions, turrets, ramparts and domes. Inside, find a spacious ballroom, 16th century altarpiece, delicately carved ceilings and walls, antiques and exotic woodwork.
Gardens of Foreign Flora
Surrounding the palace is also a stunning garden -- 200 hectares of forested walkways, beautiful vistas and hidden paths -- with over 500 species of trees originating from the former colonies of the Portuguese empire. The garden is dotted with plenty of lovely fountains, statues, pergolas, grottoes, bridges and ponds.
The surrounding town is quite lovely as well, with wonderful shops, cafés, restaurants and museums to be explored.
Explore the romance of Sintra and its Pena Palace when adding our Lisbon land package to our Portugal sailings.