Have you ever wondered what your ancestors’ lives were like in Europe at the turn of the century? Or imagined how it would feel to follow in their footsteps, walking the same paths they did in your ancestral village? Now you can experience a deeply meaningful connection with your personal heritage while enjoying the enriching and exclusive experiences only a river cruise with AmaWaterways provides. As part of a history-making partnership, Ancestry® and AmaWaterways are combining our shared passions for family, heritage and travel to offer you the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to uncover their family history while cruising along Europe’s legendary rivers.

Heritage on the River

We have two exciting Heritage on the River: Your Personalized Ancestry Journey opportunities in 2023 – and with the add-on Ancestry® package, you have the opportunity to consult with AncestryProGenealogists® both prior to this special Rhine River cruise and on board during your journey. You can learn more about your family tree as it pertains to the cities and countries we sail through, or simply enjoy cruising along the fairytale Rhine River while learning more details about your family history as it unfolded in another part of the world.

Go “Home” to Your Ancestral Village 

Guests who already have traced their family tree back to the Netherlands, Germany, France’s Alsace region or Switzerland may also have the chance to enhance their Heritage on the River journey by adding an Ancestral Home Visit during the sailing for a nominal fee.^* In fact, Ancestry’s DNA Expert, Angie Bush, had the opportunity to visit her ancestors’ hometown during one of our Rhine River cruises in August 2021. Her story below will give you a glimpse into the type of experience you may be able to have should you have the opportunity to add an Ancestral Home Visit to your river cruise. 

Angie’s Story  

I knew my ancestors came from Oberstedten, Germany and that it wasn’t too far from the Rhine River port of Rüdesheim. When we arrived on my personalized Ancestral Home Visit excursion, looking around the town and seeing how green and pretty it was there was incredible. I stood there thinking about how my ancestors walked away from that beauty because they wanted a better life in America. What struck me most was the contrast in our experiences: how easy it was for me to make that journey in modern times, but how difficult it must have been for my family to have packed up everything they owned and travel by horse and buggy, by rail and by steam ship. I realized the opportunities in America had to really be worth that incredible effort and long journey that they undertook to emigrate and that definitely made an impact on me.