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 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!"
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous have nothing on this 1,441 room Baroque masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Schönbrunn Palace, whose name literally means ‘beautiful spring,’ was the dazzling focus of court life during Habsburg rule, celebrating Austrian culture and hosting the leading statesmen of Europe and the world – both then and now. A mere hour’s drive from Vienna, it was one of the first homes of Marie Antoinette (the daughter of Empress Maria Theresa who was then known as Marie Antoinia). Mozart at the age of only six-years-old performed in the Hall of Mirrors for one of his first royal audiences (hence it is also the location of where he and a seven-year-old Marie Antoinette legendarily first met). Years later, Napoleon chose it for his Austrian headquarters when he occupied Vienna in 1805 -- and after his defeat and exile, his son grew up here. In more modern times, the palace hosted the legendary meeting between John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev in the opulent Great Gallery.
Originally built for Emperor Leopold I in 1696, the palace’s golden age truly began five decades later when Empress Maria Theresa commissioned court architect Nikolaus von Pacassi to create glamorous interior modifications. These designs added to the luxurious beauty of Johann Fischer von Erlach’s original exterior and were completed between 1749-1749. Adding many splashes of Rococo to the overall design, von Pacassi added a magnificent court theater and Great and Small Galleries, the latter two of which were used as receptions. The palace is outfitted with numerous Bohemian crystal chandeliers, white porcelain tile stoves, frescoed ceilings, huge mirrors, gilded ornaments, 18th century furnishings and ceiling frescoes celebrating the history of the mighty Habsburgs.
Millions visit the palace annually, making it one of Austria’s most popular destinations. Along with the lavish palace, the gardens have long been one of the grounds’ must-sees. It’s not hard to see why. Open to the public since 1779 (and hence during Maria Theresa’s lifetime), it ranks as the first public park in the world – and the park still maintains the same appearance it has for centuries. The harmonious Great Parterre and Privy Gardens (the latter of which is sometimes referred to as the Crown Prince Garden) are both gems of manicured, symmetrical design. The Grand Parterre’s Neptune Fountain was originally commissioned by Maria Theresa and is simply breathtaking. High up on a 200-foot high hill to overlook the gardens, Maria Theresa commissioned the iconic Gloriette. (As a fun tidbit, Fischer von Erlach originally planned to build the castle itself on this hill.) There is now a café located here for tourists.
Other favorites include an elegant iron and glass Palm House, a hedge maze, labyrinth, viewing terrace, zoo and butterfly house. The Palace can also be seen in numerous films and television shows – including James Bond’s The Living Daylights, Sophia Loren’s A Breath of Scandal and the Amazing Race.
A visit to Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace is offered as an included excursion on our Magna on the Danube and Majestic Capitals of the Danube itineraries. Contact your preferred travel advisor to reserve with peace of mind today!