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!"
Le Cordon Bleu-trained chefs, certified sommeliers and AmaWaterways Wine Hosts Ryan Levy and Ian Eastveld of Nice Winery were kind enough to share their most famous recipe with us. Best made with their winery’s Malbec, this dish is a delicious crowd-pleaser that is absolutely worth the wait – and is a great addition to any celebration!
Ingredients
6 bone-in short ribs, 3/4 to 1 pound each, patted dry salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup olive oil 2 carrots, peeled and finely diced 1 onion, finely diced 1 stalk celery, finely diced 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups chicken stock 2 cups of Nice Malbec wine or other full-bodied red wine 1 package (9 ounces) moist prunes, all but 6 cut into quarters 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes 3 tablespoons tomato paste 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley, garnish
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Season the short ribs on all sides with salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven large enough to hold all 6 short ribs, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Using tongs, add the short ribs in two batches, and sear on all sides until well browned. Transfer short ribs to a large plate.
2. Reduce the heat to medium and add the rest of the olive oil to the Dutch oven. Add the carrots, onion, celery, basil and thyme and sauté, scraping up any brown bits or food that may be on the bottom of the Dutch oven. Stir occasionally for 6 to 8 minutes or until the vegetables are tender but not browned. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
3. Stir in the stock, Malbec wine, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and all but the 6 whole prunes. Bring to a simmer. Nestle the short ribs into the sauce in one layer, with the bones facing the sides, not on top and not under the short rib. Top each short rib with a whole prune; cover the Dutch oven with the lid or tightly with a sheet of aluminum foil. Place in the oven and cook the short ribs until the meat is very tender and beginning to fall off the bones, about 4 hours.
4. Using tongs, carefully transfer the short ribs to a platter and tent with foil. Be sure to grab the meat, the bone and the prune on top together. Strain the sauce through a sieve or china cap, pressing gently with the back of a spoon or ladle, into a saucepan. Simmer over medium-high heat for about 20 minutes, or until thickened and reduced by half. Taste and adjust seasoning.
5. Spoon the reduced pan juices over the short ribs. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Advance Preparation: Can be prepared up to 2 days ahead, covered and refrigerated. Keep sauce separate and reheat gently before pouring over reheated short-ribs.
For more delicious food and wine, check out AmaWaterways’ Wine Cruises.