AmaWaterways River Cruises: What to Know Before You Book
If you’re curious about AmaWaterways river cruises, you may be wondering what makes them different from the ocean cruises you already know. River cruising has been growing in popularity, especially with travelers who want to spend more of their vacation actually experiencing a destination rather than having the ship itself be the main attraction.
AmaWaterways offers river cruises throughout Europe as well as destinations including Egypt, Cambodia and Vietnam. Instead of sailing with thousands of other passengers and spending days at sea, you’re traveling along rivers that take you through cities, villages, wine regions and countryside. In many destinations, you can walk off the ship and be much closer to what you came to see.
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But river cruising is a very particular style of vacation. Some travelers are going to love the smaller ships, included excursions and destination-focused days. Others are going to miss the entertainment, restaurant choices and endless activities of a large ocean cruise. Understanding that difference is one of the most important things to consider before choosing AmaWaterways.
Before You Sail: More Questions About AmaWaterways River Cruises
Once you start seriously considering an AmaWaterways river cruise, a whole new set of questions tends to come up. Beyond choosing a river and itinerary, there are practical details that can make a difference in how you plan your vacation. Here are a few things worth knowing before you start narrowing down your sailing.
AmaWaterways keeps things fairly relaxed during the day, so comfortable casual clothing works well while you’re on the ship or heading out for excursions. Evenings are generally smart casual rather than formal. You may want something a little nicer for certain dinners or special evenings, but you won’t need to pack formal gowns or tuxedos like you might for a traditional formal night at sea.
Yes. AmaWaterways offers pre- and post-cruise land packages with select itineraries, and you can also build additional independent vacation time around your cruise. Adding extra nights can be especially helpful after a long international flight because it gives you time to adjust before your cruise begins. It’s also a great way to spend more time in a city that might otherwise only be your embarkation or disembarkation point.
There isn’t one perfect month because the experience changes throughout the river cruise season. Spring can bring cooler temperatures and seasonal scenery, summer offers long daylight hours, and Fall is popular with travelers interested in wine regions and harvest season. Late November and December bring Christmas Market sailings on select European rivers. Your ideal travel dates depend on the destinations you want to visit and the type of experience you’re hoping to have.
Many AmaWaterways ships offer staterooms with the line’s signature twin-balcony design, which combines a French balcony with an outside balcony. Stateroom configurations vary by ship and category, however, so it’s important to look at the exact room you’re considering rather than assuming every stateroom has the same type of balcony. This is one area where choosing your stateroom carefully can make a difference.
Booking earlier generally gives you more choices when it comes to sailing dates and stateroom categories, particularly if you have a specific itinerary or time of year in mind. Specialty sailings such as Christmas Markets and Celebration of Wine cruises can also appeal to travelers looking for a particular experience. International airfare and any pre- or post-cruise plans should be considered as part of your overall timing rather than waiting until the cruise is close to departure.
AmaWaterways has a lot more to explore than you might expect when you first start looking at river cruising. From choosing the right stateroom to deciding when to travel and whether to extend your stay, those smaller planning decisions can have a big impact on the overall trip. Keep reading for a closer look at AmaWaterways, some of the itineraries worth considering and how to decide whether river cruising fits the way you like to travel.
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What Is AmaWaterways?
AmaWaterways is a river cruise line offering itineraries on some of the world’s best-known rivers. Europe accounts for many of its sailings, including cruises along the Danube, Rhine, Rhône, Seine and Douro. There are also itineraries that take river cruising much farther from the traditional European routes, including the Nile in Egypt and the Mekong through Cambodia and Vietnam.
The ships are much smaller than what most people picture when they hear the word “cruise.” That’s partly out of necessity because river ships need to navigate locks, bridges and waterways that simply can’t accommodate a massive ocean cruise ship. But the smaller size is also a big part of the experience. There aren’t thousands of passengers trying to get on and off the ship every time you reach a destination.
The other big difference is where the focus of the vacation falls. AmaWaterways ships are comfortable places to eat, relax and enjoy the scenery, but you’re choosing the cruise because of where it’s taking you. The river and the destinations along it are the real stars of the trip.
What Makes an AmaWaterways River Cruise Different?
One of the things I like about the AmaWaterways concept is that exploring a destination doesn’t necessarily mean everyone has to experience it the same way. Depending on the itinerary and port, there may be several included excursion choices. While one traveler might prefer a traditional guided sightseeing tour, someone else may choose a guided hike or bike ride.
That flexibility can be particularly useful when couples or friends have different activity levels. You can spend part of the day doing different things and meet back at the ship later without either person having to give up the type of experience they enjoy. AmaWaterways also offers wellness activities on many sailings, adding another option for travelers who like to stay active while they’re away.
The pace is different from an ocean cruise as well. There aren’t long sea days separating destinations. The scenery is constantly changing as you travel along the river, and some of the best moments may simply be sitting outside and watching vineyards, castles, villages and countryside pass by. The actual journey becomes part of the sightseeing rather than just transportation between one port and the next.
What Is Included With an AmaWaterways River Cruise?
When you’re comparing the price of an AmaWaterways cruise with another vacation, it’s important to look beyond the initial cruise fare. A number of things you might normally budget for separately are already incorporated into the river cruise experience.
Dining on board is included, along with a selection of beverages during meals and the Sip & Sail cocktail hour. Wi-Fi is included as well, and many of the sightseeing excursions throughout the itinerary are part of your cruise fare. Those included excursions are especially important when you’re trying to figure out what the entire vacation is actually going to cost.
Think about what can happen on a traditional European trip. You book your hotels, arrange transportation between cities, pay for tours and attractions, figure out where you’re going to eat and then repeat the process every few days. River cruising bundles much of that together while allowing you to unpack once. There will still be expenses outside the cruise fare, including airfare, gratuities, optional experiences and anything you add before or after the cruise, but you’re starting with quite a bit already built into the vacation.
Five AmaWaterways River Cruise Itineraries Worth Considering
Choosing a river cruise isn’t just about picking a ship. I would actually start with the opposite approach and decide where you want to go first.
AmaWaterways offers enough choices that two cruises with the same company can feel like completely different vacations. These five itineraries are a good example of the range available and give you somewhere to start when you’re trying to figure out which river might be right for you.
Best of the Danube
If you’ve never taken a European river cruise, Best of the Danube is one of the itineraries I would put on the list to consider. The seven-night cruise sails roundtrip from Budapest and travels through Hungary, Slovakia and Austria, combining major European cities with smaller towns and some beautiful scenery along the Danube.
Budapest is a major part of the experience, along with Bratislava and Austria’s Wachau Valley. There are also opportunities to experience places such as Melk, with its famous abbey, and excursions that can take travelers beyond the immediate riverfront destinations.
I especially like the roundtrip Budapest setup. International airfare can be one of the more complicated pieces of planning a European vacation, and being able to fly into and out of the same city can make that part of the trip easier. You could also add a few nights in Budapest before or after the cruise if you want more time there.
I am looking into taking this cruise later in 2027, as it takes me to places where my ancestors originated from. I love the idea that I can go and be escorted and learn more about these places, and not have to worry about making separate arrangements. This is what sets river cruising and AMAWaterways apart from the others.
Colors of Provence
If France is calling your name, Colors of Provence offers seven nights along the Rhône River between Lyon and Arles. Instead of trying to cover several countries in one vacation, this itinerary allows you to settle into one region and experience different sides of France as you travel south.
Lyon is well known for its food, while Provence brings an entirely different atmosphere as you move through the Rhône Valley. There are historic towns, vineyards and plenty of opportunities to experience the food and wine that are such a big part of traveling through this part of France.
This could be a particularly good choice for someone who has already done Paris and wants to see more of the country. Select departures are also offered as Celebration of Wine cruises, which adds another layer to the trip for travelers who enjoy learning about and tasting wines from the regions they’re visiting.
Enticing Douro
Portugal has become a favorite European destination for many travelers, and Enticing Douro takes you away from a typical city-to-city vacation and into the Douro Valley.
The seven-night itinerary sails roundtrip from Porto and travels through Portugal’s famous wine country, with Spain also included in the itinerary. The terraced vineyards along the river are a huge part of what makes this particular cruise appealing. You’re not simply traveling to the next destination while you sleep. The scenery along the way is part of what you came to experience.
I can see this itinerary appealing to couples who enjoy wine, beautiful landscapes and smaller destinations more than checking off a list of Europe’s largest cities. Porto is also a destination worth spending additional time in, so adding nights before or after the cruise could turn this into a longer Portugal vacation.
Secrets of Egypt & the Nile
Secrets of Egypt & the Nile shows just how different an AmaWaterways river cruise can be from the traditional image of sailing through Europe. This 11-night journey combines time in Cairo with a cruise along the Nile, putting Egypt’s history at the center of the entire vacation.
For many travelers, Egypt is one of those destinations they’ve talked about visiting for years but aren’t quite sure how to plan. There is a lot to coordinate if you’re trying to see Cairo, archaeological sites and destinations along the Nile independently. A structured river cruise itinerary takes much of that logistical work and puts it into one vacation.
This is also the type of trip where I think the destination itself needs to be the deciding factor. You choose this itinerary because seeing Egypt is important to you, and the river cruise becomes the way you experience it.
Riches of the Mekong
For travelers ready to venture well beyond a traditional European itinerary, Riches of the Mekong explores Cambodia and Vietnam along one of Asia’s most famous rivers.
The seven-night cruise portion focuses on the communities, cities, markets, traditions and history found along the Mekong. Land programs can also be combined with the cruise, creating a longer vacation that includes destinations such as Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City.
This probably wouldn’t be my first suggestion for someone who simply says, “I want to try a river cruise.” But for a traveler who has already visited many of Europe’s major destinations and wants something very different, the Mekong opens up an entirely new side of river cruising.
Who Would Enjoy an AmaWaterways River Cruise?
River cruising isn’t about reaching a certain age or having a particular travel style on paper. It’s much more about how you like to spend your vacation days. If several of these sound like you, an AmaWaterways river cruise may be worth considering.
- Travelers who want to see the destination: If sightseeing is one of the main reasons you travel, river cruising puts a lot of emphasis on getting off the ship and exploring. The towns, cities and regions along the river aren’t interruptions to your cruise. They’re the reason you’re there.
- People who don’t want to keep changing hotels: Exploring several European destinations can involve a lot of packing, unpacking, trains and hotel check-ins. On a river cruise, you unpack once and your room travels with you while the scenery outside keeps changing.
- Couples who enjoy sightseeing together: River cruising can work especially well for couples who want a vacation that combines exploring during the day with quieter evenings back on the ship.
- Travelers who like choices in how they explore: Not everyone wants to experience a destination from a motorcoach. Depending on the sailing, AmaWaterways may offer walking tours, hikes and bike rides, allowing you to choose an excursion that better matches how active you want to be.
- Food and wine lovers: Many river cruise itineraries travel directly through some of Europe’s best-known wine and culinary regions. The Danube, Rhône and Douro all offer very different opportunities to connect food and wine with the places you’re visiting.
- Travelers who enjoy history and culture: If your vacation wish list includes castles, cathedrals, historic neighborhoods, museums, archaeological sites and learning about the places you’re visiting, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy.
- Friends traveling together: A river cruise can be an interesting alternative to renting a house or trying to coordinate a multi-city European trip. Everyone has the same home base, but you don’t necessarily have to choose the same excursion every day.
- Travelers who enjoy a slower evening pace: After a full day of exploring, you may be perfectly happy having dinner, enjoying a drink and watching the river go by instead of looking for a nightclub or a Broadway-style production.
Who Might Not Enjoy River Cruising?
There is nothing wrong with deciding river cruising isn’t for you. In fact, I’d much rather figure that out before you spend thousands of dollars on the vacation.
Here are a few situations where I’d probably start looking at other options.
- You want the ship to be the destination: If one of your favorite parts of cruising is exploring a huge ship filled with attractions, restaurants and entertainment, a river ship may feel small. The focus here is much more heavily on what’s happening off the ship.
- You love big nighttime entertainment: You aren’t choosing an AmaWaterways cruise for massive theaters, elaborate production shows, casinos or nightclubs that stay busy until the early morning. Evenings tend to be much quieter.
- You want dozens of dining choices: River ships don’t have the space for the huge restaurant lineups you’ll find on today’s largest ocean cruise ships. If trying a different specialty restaurant every night is an important part of cruising for you, that’s something to consider.
- You want lots of sea days: Some cruisers genuinely love having a full day with nowhere to go and nothing they have to do. River itineraries tend to be much more destination intensive, with frequent opportunities to get off the ship and explore.
- You want a vacation centered around children: Families should look closely at the experience before booking. River ships aren’t designed around kids clubs, waterslides, splash areas and children’s entertainment in the same way many ocean cruise ships and family resorts are.
- Your idea of vacation is doing absolutely nothing: If you’re happiest spending seven days beside a tropical pool with a book and a frozen drink, I’d probably point you toward a different vacation. River cruising works best when you actually want to get out and see things.
- You need a very predictable itinerary: Rivers are affected by nature. Water levels and other conditions can occasionally require itinerary adjustments. Travelers who struggle with changes to plans should understand that this is part of river travel.
Is River Cruising Only for Older Travelers?
This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding river cruising. Yes, river cruises attract plenty of mature travelers, but I don’t think age alone tells you whether you’ll enjoy the experience.
Look at what you’re actually doing during the trip. You may spend the morning walking through a European city, choose a bike ride in the afternoon, return to the ship for dinner and wake up the following morning somewhere completely different. For someone who loves exploring, that can be a pretty full vacation day.
I think the better question is whether you enjoy destination-focused travel. Couples celebrating anniversaries, groups of friends traveling together, adult families and travelers who would normally plan a multi-city European vacation could all find something appealing about river cruising. You don’t need to reach a certain birthday before you’re “old enough” to try one.
How Does River Cruising Compare to an Ocean Cruise?
I wouldn’t look at river cruising as a smaller version of ocean cruising because they’re really two different vacation experiences.On an ocean cruise, you might spend months researching the ship. Which restaurants does it have? What’s the entertainment like? How many pools are there? What can you do on a sea day? The ship itself can be one of the biggest reasons you choose that particular vacation.
With river cruising, I’d turn that process around. Where do you want to go? What do you want to see? How do you want to experience it? Once we answer those questions, then we can start looking at which river, itinerary, ship and travel dates fit what you have in mind.
That difference is important because someone who loves ocean cruising won’t automatically love river cruising, and someone who has never been interested in an ocean cruise might discover that a river cruise is exactly their style.
How Do You Choose the Right AmaWaterways Itinerary?
With so many different rivers and itineraries available, I wouldn’t start by trying to compare every AmaWaterways sailing at once. Start with your vacation wish list instead. Maybe you’ve always wanted to visit Austria and Hungary. Perhaps Portugal has been sitting at the top of your list for years. You might want a trip centered around French food and wine, or maybe you’re finally ready to take that dream trip to Egypt. Once you know where you want to go, the choices become much easier to narrow down.
From there, we can look at the length of the cruise, the cities and towns included, excursion options, time of year, ship and opportunities to add nights before or after your sailing. That’s where planning a river cruise becomes much more personal than simply asking which AmaWaterways itinerary is “the best.”
Is an AmaWaterways River Cruise Right for You?
What I find most interesting about AmaWaterways is just how many different vacations can fall under the label of “river cruising.” Sailing through the Wachau Valley on the Danube, passing vineyards along Portugal’s Douro and exploring Egypt along the Nile have very little in common other than the fact that you’re traveling by river.
That’s also why I wouldn’t choose your first river cruise based on a sale or simply because someone else loved a particular itinerary. The destination needs to interest you, the pace needs to fit the way you travel and the overall experience needs to match what you want from your vacation.
If you’re considering an AmaWaterways river cruise, Shoreline Journeys Travel can help you sort through the rivers, itineraries, ships and dates to find the options that make the most sense for your vacation. And if we talk through river cruising and decide it isn’t the right fit, that’s perfectly fine too. There are plenty of ways to see the world, and finding the one you’ll actually enjoy is the most important part.
Ready To Book Your Next Cruise Vacation?
Ready to unpack once and wake up somewhere new? A cruise can be a great way to explore multiple destinations in one vacation, but choosing the right cruise line, ship, itinerary, and stateroom can make a big difference in your overall experience. Whether you’re dreaming about sailing through the Caribbean, exploring Europe by river, planning an adults-only escape, or looking for a fun family cruise, there are plenty of options to consider.
As your travel agent, I can help you sort through those choices and find a cruise vacation that fits the way you like to travel and your budget. From selecting the right itinerary and stateroom to helping with the details leading up to your sailing, Shoreline Journeys Travel is here to make planning your cruise easier. Simply fill out this contact form or send me an email, and I’ll be in touch with you shortly to start planning!
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I’ve never been drawn to the large cruise ship experience but I have thought about a retirement experience with a river cruise as I’m more interested in the destinations rather than the ship experiences. Given the right ship having a constant through the journey would make it more enjoyable.
Agree. I have not done any of the large ships and have no desire to. River cruising is a great compromise. You can make more friends, have better dining, and still have your own space.
I’ve always fancied a cruise, but I get really seasick so a river one might be a better idea. Thanks for joining in with #pocolo
Yes, I have heard that river cruising is great for those that suffer from motion sickness. You should try it!
So many details about things I have been wondering about have been answered here. Thanks for this very informative post!