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!"
Mick Wilson, owner of the popular Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula, California, and one of our award-winning Celebration of Wine River Cruise Hosts, provides some expert advice on holiday food and wine pairings.
RED
Pinot Noir is THE red wine to pair with a holiday meal. It’s not too heavy (a big, heavy wine can overpower a meal) yet is has layers of flavor with soft tannins. Find a nice Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, Sonoma (Russian River), Santa Rita Hills (Santa Barbara, CA), or even the home of Pinot Noir, the famous Burgundy region in France. A good Pinot is worth spending a tad more, so look at something around $20-40/bottle.
WHITE
Sauvignon Blanc is my favorite white wine to pair with a holiday meal. It brings the complexity and mouthwatering acidity needed to pair with food. I would lean toward a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with more tropical notes. If you want one with more acidity, go with Sancerre, a Sauvignon Blanc from Loire Valley in France. But New Zealand offers a great bang for the buck at $15-25 for a nice bottle.
SPARKLING
Sparkling wines from anywhere in the world are always a great choice for a festive occasion. My top suggestion would be a Champagne (“Brut” or “Extra Dry” which is a tad sweeter). But Champagne can be pricey, so some other solid suggestions include Cava from Spain and Prosecco from Italy. Also, try the award-winning sparkling wines from Wilson Creek Winery, including the popular Almond Sparkling Wine, priced around $17/bottle.
TWO QUICK TIPS
Match the weights. Pair heavy food with heavier richer wines, lighter food with lighter wines. Try to avoid wines with high alcohol (above 13%) as the alcohol can overpower a wine. The wine and food should complement one another.
Offer more than just one wine. It can be challenging to find one wine that’s a perfect match for all courses and everyone’s tastes. My suggestion is to get a few wines. Start off with an elegant Sparkling wine as an aperitif, then follow it with a crisp white (Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling), and a delicate, fresh and fruity red like Pinot Noir. Finish with a dessert wine that complements pumpkin or pecan pie, like a Sauternes from France, Tokaji from Hungary, Ice Wine from Canada or Moscato d’Asti from Italy.
Join expert wine hosts from North America in comparing old world with new world wines on AmaWaterways' exclusive Celebration of Wine River Cruises.