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!"
The idyllic, fairytale charm… the culinary delights… the enchanting Christmas Market. Sail our Christmas Markets on the Rhine itinerary and explore the magical Christmas Markets of Strasbourg.
Europe’s Oldest Christmas Market
The romantic Alsatian town is home to Europe’s oldest Christmas Market, tracing its origins back to 1570 and the time of Shakespeare, Moliere and Louis XIV. While eleven other markets have long since arrived to the sprawling Strasbourg holiday scene, the original remains the main event. Centrally located near the Strasbourg Cathedral, the marketplace is illuminated with thousands of lights and whimsical decorations. Foodies and wine lovers might wish to wander towards the Place d’Austerlitz for epicurean delights. In Place Kléber, the market keeps alive the spirited tradition of donating to charity and the less fortunate. Gifts are left under the tree and visitors are invited to speak with on-site charities to learn more of their works. Throughout the streets, you can be charmed by the beautiful melodies and holiday songs sung by orchestras, choir groups and gospel singers.
The Holiday Spirit
Fragrant aromas of pretzels, roasted chestnuts and vin chaud (hot mulled wine) will excite your festive spirit as you wander through 300 or more chalets of seasonal goodies for everyone on your naughty and nice lists. A colorful light show flickers near the 100 foot Christmas tree that was hauled in from the nearby Vosges Mountains and to be the centerpiece for the market. Nativity plays and an ice skating rink are part of the celebrations, as are the stuffed white storks you can find in seemingly every booth. Storks are a city mascot and an Alsatian symbol for good luck. This is France, of course, so food plays a pleasurable part in the festivities as well. Gingerbread, dried fruit, citrus fruits, goose, foie gras, bièrre de Noël (Christmas beer) and biscuits are readily available.
Christmas Traditions
Also integral to the first Christmas Market in Europe – celebrating its unique history, of course! Along with being the oldest, it is said that the tradition of decorating Christmas trees with glass ornaments began here at the Chriskindelsmarik. In 1539, the world’s first documented Christmas tree was used inside the staggering Strasbourg Cathedral, symbolizing the tree of life in the story of Adam and Eve. Apples and wafers were attached, in association with the forbidden fruit and the Eucharist. Beginning in the 1500s, parishioners started placing fir trees in their homes, initially hanging them from the ceiling. But after a drought hit the Alsace region in 1858, a new tradition of glass ornaments was born.
Merry Christmas, or as they say in France -- Joyeux Noël!
Spend the holidays in the romance of Strasbourg while on our Christmas Markets on the Rhine sailing.