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!"
Golden sandstone buildings which seem to glow gold, orange and pink as the sun sets earned this city the nickname La Dorada, or the Golden City. Discover Salamanca while sailing our Enticing Douro or Flavors of Portugal & Spain itineraries. Known for being one of the most stunning Renaissance cities throughout Europe, Salamanca was first founded in the pre-Ancient Rome era in roughly the 2nd or 3rd century BC. Rich in culture and history, Salamanca’s gorgeously preserved Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Bustling Plaza Mayor
At the heart of the Golden City is one of Spain’s most beautiful and celebrated plazas: the Plaza Mayor. Originally built between 1729-1755 as a bullfighting ring, the plaza is now a bustling center of activity and popular gathering area for locals and tourists alike. Admire its traditional Spanish Baroque style, elegant balustrades, arches and richly decorated façades and medallions -- along with its dizzying array of cafés, restaurants, jewelry stores, specialty boutiques and even ice cream parlors. Many of the medallions represent historical and religious figures, including former Spanish rulers, writers and saints: Cervantes, Charles I, Alfonso XI, Ferdinand VI, Cervantes and St. Theresa. The Town Hall is located here as well.
Shops and boutiques not only line the interior of the Plaza Mayor but spill out onto nearby streets such as the Calle de Toro. Restaurants and cafés are kept busy here too, particularly during lunchtime as this is the biggest meal of the day for Salamancans and when most shops and businesses close for a break time. One of the local specialties is Iberian ham -- a cured pork leg which is a bit richer than those consumed elsewhere.
A Historic University
The University of Salamanca was founded in 1218. Less than forty years later, in 1254, Pope Alexander IV called it “one of the four leading lights of the world.” It continues to draw students and scholars to this day – along with architecture and art lovers - including our guests - who admire the brilliant Plateresque façade. The University has long taken center stage in some of the most fascinating moments in history: it is here where Columbus pled his case to a council of geographers when seeing approval from the King and Queen to find his western route to the Indies. It is here too where mathematicians proposed changes to what would become known as the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used international calendar that we use to this day.
Where the Old Meets the New
During your walking tour in Salamanca, you will see the New Cathedral, which overshadows the nearby Old Cathedral. Construction began in the 16th century and continued until the 1700s and is a blend of the popular-at-the-time Plateresque style merging with the previous church’s Gothic style. Intricate designs include modern additions added during playful renovations from the 1990s, including an astronaut and a faun holding ice cream.
The House of Shells
Another popular destination included as part of your Salamanca excursion is the uniquely decorated 15th-century La Casa de las Conchas – which translates to ‘House of Shells.’ Between 350-400 shells – all of which have been carved out of sandstone – decorate the exterior façade of what was originally the palace of Rodrigo Maldonado, a knight of the Santiago Order (but is now a library). Maldonado’s coat of arms is etched onto the walks and around the windows. Some dispute the reason for the scalloped shells – but the building was likely enhanced in this fashion either because they are a symbol of the Santiago Order (also known as the Order of St. James) or an offering to Maldonado’s beloved.
Watch the golden city of Salamanca come alive during our Portugal sailings.