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!"
As you cruise along the rivers in Europe, you can follow the paths of two iconic composers who sparked movements in the music world that continue to reverberate through this day: Beethoven and Mozart.
Legacy of a Master
Ludwig van Beethoven was a musical genius whose most famous works continue to transcend time and culture. Defying the odds of his foreboding future of complete hearing loss, Beethoven still managed to compose some of his greatest works, including his renowned Fifth Symphony.
Vienna, Austria: Beethoven’s Second Home
Beethoven was officially baptized on December 17, 1770, in Bonn, Germany along the Rhine River, though he was likely born a day or two earlier. However, for 35 years, Beethoven made his home in Vienna, Austria, which you can visit during select Danube River itineraries. Extend your journey in Vienna as part of your optional Vienna land package before your Gems of Southeast Europe sailing.
Strolling the city’s streets, you can see notes of Beethoven’s past through various landmarks, from memorial plaques to museums. Imagine visiting Theater an der Wien, a cherished historic theatre venue that hosted Beethoven’s first opera performance of Fidelio. During our Celebration of Music itinerary beginning in 2025, you can experience a performance of this sort for yourself in this storied city of songs at an artistic venue such as Burg Kapel. And on board many of our Danube and Rhine River itineraries, you can behold performances by local string trio La Strada (or similar) as they occasionally play some of Beethoven’s works.
A Classical Prodigy
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – one of the world’s greatest composers – has captivated audiences for centuries with his transformative music. Stories say he spoke highly of Beethoven’s talent and promising future in music; however, there is no official proof that these icons ever met. Pushing through musical boundaries at a young age in the small city-state of Salzburg, Austria, this young composer quickly rose to fame in 1784 by performing 22 concerts within a span of five weeks.
Salzburg, Austria: “City of Mozart”
Salzburg honors Mozart’s legacy and the future of music by transforming into one giant stage, captivating musicians, and music lovers all around during its annual Salzburg Festival each summer. Each year, visitors to the so-called “City of Mozart” during early summer may be fortunate enough to hear musicians rehearsing in the city.
During our Romantic Danube, Melodies of the Danube, Grand Danube Cruise, or Christmas Markets on the Danube itineraries, venture with us to Salzburg for a glimpse of the distinct golden façade of Mozart Geburtshaus at No. 9 Getreidegasse, where the visionary musician was born on January 27, 1756. You can also see more of Mozart’s legacy continue to flow while in Vienna. Visit his grand marble statue in Burggarten Park during your free time and follow his footsteps to Hofburg Palace where he performed his second public performance.
Learn more about our Danube River itineraries. For those with a passion for tracing the paths of these genius composers, custom classical music excursions are available for groups of 20 guests or more. Contact your preferred Travel Advisor for more information.