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!"
In July 2002, our Co-Founders Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and the late Jimmy Murphy sat together in a one-room office. With passion in their hearts and a vision to show people the world one river at a time, they formed their river cruise company. "Our roles were clearly defined," said Kristin. "Rudi would design and build the ships, I would fill them, and Jimmy would provide both of us the guidance and wisdom we would need to turn this dream into a reality."
From the beginning, our dynamic leaders wanted to create a river cruise experience they, themselves, would love. That meant excellent food and wine, comfortable and tasteful decor, ample space in which to relax, and staterooms with maximum views to enjoy the ever-changing countryside.
Similarly, it meant listening to guest feedback and taking it to heart, creating enhancements and innovations, from a fleet of complimentary bicycles to The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant.
Timeline: A Trio Grows
By 2005, AmaWaterways opened another office in Vienna, Austria, to handle our operations; and in 2006, we had our first fully-owned and operated ship, the AmaDagio, designed by Rudi, whose previous ship design credits included the raft he sailed down the Amazon River some three decades earlier. “It was the realization of a lifelong dream to both build my own river ship and show people the world from a unique perspective,” said Rudi.
AmaWaterways started to gain a following. With a small group of employees in our intimate office in Chatsworth, California, Rudi, Kristin and Jimmy recognized the need to expand accommodations for growth, so in 2013, we moved to the top floor of our current office in Calabasas.
A Legacy of Love
Jimmy, known lovingly around the California office as Mr. Murphy, passed away in 2014. The legacy he left was one of greatness, and although the heart of the AmaWaterways family mourned, it also continued to grow in his memory. With the help of Jimmy’s son, Gary Murphy, who now finds success in his role as Senior Vice President of Sales, the U.S. team expanded, taking over the entire Calabasas office building by 2017 and accounting for approximately 300 employees worldwide. "It’s been inspiring to see employees who worked with Dad at the very beginning still working with AmaWaterways and continuing on his legacy today. He would be touched that so many of them are still a part of our AmaWaterways family," said Gary.
Though oceans separate AmaWaterways’ teams in Europe and the U.S., our leaders maintain a close connection with the people who make up our diverse family-owned and-operated company. "Dining aboard the new AmaMagna with Rudi and Kristin was deeply moving to me," said Leo Starico, Manager of European Operations. "It made me remember dining together in 2005 and that we are still as much a family company today as we were back then."
"Working for AmaWaterways since 2003 has meant the world to me," said Wade Korzan, Director of European Operations. "It’s changed and shaped my life in so many ways and my enthusiasm and passion only grow each season."
The Innovations Continue — Another Dream Realized
In 2019, another of Rudi’s dreams came true — the award-winning AmaMagna. Twice the width of traditional European river cruise ships, AmaMagna is a distinctive evolution of AmaWaterways’ fleet.
Real innovation was thought to be virtually impossible because river ships couldn’t be any wider than the locks in which they travel through on the rivers and other inland waterways. However, the mighty Danube is exceptional as many of the locks on the Danube are twice as wide as any of the other rivers in Europe. So, Rudi seized this opportunity to design a prototypical river ship: AmaMagna.
A Passion for Sustainability
Drawing from his architecture and design experience as well as the company’s mission to reduce our impact on the environment, Rudi has incorporated many eco-friendly elements into the ships’ design across the fleet. Our modern river fleet has innovative fuel-efficient engines, microfiltration and onboard recycling, and energy-saving LED lighting. AmaMagna also features an innovative 10-engine configuration designed to reduce overall fuel consumption by up to 20% depending on river conditions. Further, the ship’s Sun Deck features a sustainable herb garden. Biodegradable tetra-pak water containers are also distributed on board AmaMagna to guests to replace plastic water bottles during our included shore excursions.
The Godfather of River Cruising
Without Rudi’s vision and passion, river cruising may not exist as we know it today. Recognized as the "Most Innovative Cruise Executive" and presented with the prestigious "Lifetime Achievement Award" by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), our kind-hearted patriarch, the so-called "Godfather of River Cruising," always looks toward the future. Together, our leaders Rudi, Kristin and Gary have never lost sight of what is important: the warm, inviting atmosphere that welcomes our guests, dedicated travel advisors, staff and crew into our extraordinary AmaWaterways family.
Read part one of this story, The Big Adventure is Not Dead, follow our AmaWaterways story, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to get inspired for your next river cruise.