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.
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.
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 2025
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 you to join our incredible cruise on the Douro with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
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!"
Strong family values are woven into every fiber of life in the Mekong River region – with special emphasis on paying homage to the ancestors and founders that paved the way for progress – all while preserving important traditions for generations to come. During the springtime, as the harvest season comes to a close, a variety of festivals and celebrations bring ancestral ties to the forefront. Here’s a sampling of what’s happening during the spring season in Vietnam and Cambodia (dates vary and are based on the lunar calendar):
Vietnamese Festivities
Tet Han Thuc (late March to early April)
Tet Han Thuc, also referred to as the Cold Food Festival, centers around the gathering of families in remembrance of their ancestors. The day of the festival, families come home to make bánh trôi and bánh chay – two traditional rice-based dishes – together. The food is placed on a tray and offered to the ancestors, who are invited to join the meal with the ceremonial burning of incense.
Hung Kings Festival (late March to early April)
This celebration is held each year over a three-day period, and the main festival day is also a public holiday in Vietnam. During the festival, the Vietnamese pay tribute to the traditional founders and first emperors of the nation, known as the Hung Kings. A procession stops at every small temple on the way to the High Temple, where prayers and incense are offered to the ancestors.
Buddha’s Birthday (late April)
All over the country, devotees gather to celebrate, listen to Buddhist scriptures and perform religious rites on the day recognized as Buddha’s birthday. Cities like Hoi An incorporate prayer sessions and street parades into the celebratory events of the day. Many temples are lavishly decorated, with locals bringing traditional Vietnamese dishes, fruits and flowers as offerings to the monks.
Cambodian Celebrations
Khmer New Year (mid-April)
Cambodians with Khmer roots take three days off from work to celebrate the end of the traditional harvest season. This is the time of year when farmers enjoy some leisure time after toiling on their land all year. Family members gather to perform purification ceremonies on statues of Lord Buddha and play traditional games like Teang Prot – a male versus female tug-of-war – and Bos Angkunh, which features the nuts of the angkuhn tree as the main game pieces.
Vesak Bochea (early to mid-May)
Also known as Buddha Day, this is one of the most important ceremonies for Buddhists around the world. This day celebrates the three major events in Buddha’s life – birth, enlightenment and passing into nirvana. Cambodian Buddhists donate food and clothing to the local monks in the area on this day of gratitude and prayer, with added focus on bringing happiness to the less fortunate.
There are many more traditions and celebrations to discover in the Mekong region year-round. Experience the history and culture of Vietnam and Cambodia Riches of the Mekong on our Charms of the Mekong river cruises.