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!"
While some may believe that France has a monopoly on European cheese, the Netherlands is one of the largest cheese exporters in Europe. In fact, the Netherlands was one of the top countries for cheese consumption per capita in 2014, with individuals eating an average of 42.7 pounds of cheese each year.
Historic Cheese Markets
A handful of Dutch cheese markets honor a fascinating tradition that all begins with farmers bringing their cheese to the market. The cheese wheels are stacked into barrows and carried ceremoniously into town by teams of porters wearing brightly colored straw hats. A lively bargaining ritual thus ensues involving hand-clapping and shouting between sellers and buyers, a tradition known locally as handjeklap. Only after the price is agreed upon are the wheels weighed on cheese scales and displayed for sale.
Seasonal cheese market traditions can still be observed in the Dutch towns of Alkmaar, famous for its 400-year-old market, and Edam, which features horse-drawn carriages and boats to transport the wheels to its 18th-century weigh house. The cities of Gouda, Hoorn and Woerden also have their own unique traditions. During AmaWaterways’ Tulip Time cruises, you can visit the city of Gouda on an excursion from Rotterdam, during which you’ll have a chance to see the historic Weigh House where cheese was once scaled
As Gouda as Gold
The Netherlands is renowned for its Gouda, a style of cheese that, when aged, has a crystallized texture and distinctive butterscotch flavor. Traditionally made from cow’s milk and named for the city in South Holland where it was originally traded, Gouda has been produced since the end of the 12th century and accounts for half of all Dutch cheese production.
Following the simple recipe below, you can melt shivers away this winter and get a taste of the Netherlands’ cheesy pride and joy right in your own home. It is so flavorful and creamy, you may find it doesn’t even need the half-and-half. We recommend pairing this soup with a fruity Riesling or Chenin Blanc.
Dutch Cheese Soup Recipe
Roughly chop the onion, carrots, celery and garlic and combine with the cauliflower, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and salt and pepper in a large soup pot. Cook over medium heat until vegetables soften and onions become translucent, about 20-25 minutes.
Add the bay leaf and chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove the bay leaf and purée soup until smooth.
Just prior to serving the soup, stir in the gouda, mustard, half-and-half and butter. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Continue cooking until cheese has melted and soup is smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.
In a small pan, heat remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat and quickly fry the rosemary and prosciutto until crispy and aromatic.
Divide soup into bowls and garnish with the rosemary and prosciutto.
Makes 8-10 servings.
Venture to the Netherlands for its flavorful cheese products when sailing on our Best of Holland & Belgium and Tulip Time sailings.