River Cruising

With its great value and many thrilling choices, ocean cruising has become one of the world’s most sought-after vacation choices. But there’s another amazing option that’s riding a wave of popularity – cruising on the great rivers of Planet Earth. 

 Intimate, accessible, elegant and inclusive, river cruising can take you into the heart of the great cities of Europe, or deep into the wilds of the Amazon. On unique ships carrying fewer than 200 passengers, you’ll enjoy personalized service, fine wines and cuisine, and wonderful views from your balcony or the spacious top-level sundeck.

Here’s why river cruising should be high on your vacation planning wish-list

Embarking Couldn’t Be Easier

 With the smaller size and capacity of river ships, joining your cruise is as simple as walking aboard. Crew members will carry your bags and escort you to your private paradise, a stateroom or suite efficiently designed to absorb all of your belongings and envelope you in luxury.

Unpacked? You’re All Set

On a river cruise you get to explore new destinations every day. But you only have to unpack once. A few minutes of putting away clothes and toiletries and your work is done. The only things left to do is enjoy.

Another Day, Another Delight

One of the joys of river cruising is waking in the morning and pulling back the curtains to see where you’ve travelled overnight. You may have arrived at your next destination on the Rhine or the Danube river, or still be en route, travelling through glorious scenery. Either way, you’ll be eager to get out of bed and find out what pleasures the new day's itinerary will bring.

A Floating Boutique Hotel

Luxurious river ships are designed with comfort in mind. Aside from the well-appointed staterooms and suites, there are welcoming public areas where you can relax with a hot or cold drink, or curl up with a good book. The top deck offers 360-degree views as well as cozy seating areas, a walking track and sometimes a swimming pool. Some ships feature additional amenities like specialty restaurants and salon and spa services.

Gather For A Feast

Fine foods and beverages are essential to any vacation, and on river cruises they play a starring role. From sumptuous breakfasts through multi-course gourmet dinners, river cruise lines put a huge focus on culinary excellence. Guests are often seen sneaking an early peek at the evening menu, or heard discussing the delights of last night’s extravaganza. Choices often include specialties of the regions you cruise through, and on lines like AmaWaterways, local wines and beers are included in the cruise fare at lunch and dinner, enabling you to savour the flavours of your destination.

How Many Vs In VIP? 

River cruising offers a level of service that’s hard to match. With fewer than 200 fellow passengers, you’ll get to know the crew members whose mission is to give you the best possible experience. Bartenders, servers, front desk staff and room stewards will soon know your name, and their welcoming smiles and greetings are remembered by many as trip highlights.

Shore Thing: Excursions Included

Premium river cruise lines like AmaWaterways offer value-packed pricing complete with just about everything you need for a memory-making vacation. That means luxurious accommodations, three stunning meals each day, local wines and beers at lunch and dinner, an early evening cocktail hour and onboard enrichment and entertainment. The generous inclusions extend to daily shore excursions, with a variety of choices designed to showcase the best of each port. There are options for more or less active travellers, ensuring everyone makes the most of their trip.

Making New Friends

River cruisers tend to be a sociable lot – curious, engaged and eager to share new experiences. You’re almost sure to meet groups who first met on a river journey and now expand their friendships by travelling together. The intimate ships offer a convivial atmosphere and the shared bond of discovering new destinations together is the source of many long-lasting relationships.

A River Runs Through Them

From fairy tale European rivers and medieval villages to global cities like Paris, Amsterdam and Cairo, river cruises can take you to some of the world’s most scenic, historic and atmospheric places. AmaWaterways, for example, criss-crosses Europe on close to a dozen different waterways, as well as sailing on the Nile in Egypt, the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia and the Chobe in southern Africa. In 2024, AmaWaterways will be the first cruise line to offer sailings on Colombia’s Magdalena, known as the “river of a thousand rhythms.”

Pursuing Your Passions

Are you a wine lover? A classical music aficionado? An epicurean? An ancestry explorer? There are themed river cruises for all of these passions and more. AmaWaterways offers a range of themed sailings exploring everything from Europe’s wonderful Christmas markets to some of the best golf courses in Europe. Combining your passionate interests with this wonderful vacation mode can result in the best holiday of your life.