AmaWaterways (Updated 2019)
The History of AmaWaterways
Family-owned and operated, AmaWaterways has been a passion project for its founders since its start in 2002. President Rudi Schreiner designed his first ship back in 1975 while sailing the Amazon for seven months. Since the completion of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal in 1992, Rudi has been a driving force for river cruise travel—and for these efforts has been recognized as the “Most Innovative Cruise Executive” and has been presented the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Executive Vice President, Co-Founder and Co-Owner Kristin Karst brings extensive experience in luxury travel, river cruising and customer service to AmaWaterways. Rudi and Kristin partnered with Jimmy Murphy, a brilliant travel entrepreneur who built Brendan Vacations. His son Gary now carries on his father’s tradition in his role as Vice President of Sales. These families came together to create the premiere travel experience for AmaWaterways’ guests.
The company now boasts a fleet of 23 modern river cruise ships operating in Europe: AmaCello (2008), AmaDante (2008), AmaLyra (2009), AmaDolce (2009), AmaBella ( 2010), AmaVerde (2011) and AmaCerto (2012).
In 2013, AmaWaterways launched the AmaVida to operate on Portugal’s Douro River, as well as AmaPrima in Europe, followed by AmaReina and AmaSonata in 2014.
Be sure to check out 12 Things To Like About The New AmaPrima.
In 2015, the company introduced AmaSerena and AmaVenita, and in 2016, the company welcomed AmaStella and AmaViola.
2017 marked the arrival of AmaWaterways’ 20th ship with the new AmaKristina, as well as the company’s 15-year anniversary. AmaWaterways will continue to expand its fleet of luxurious, custom-designed ships with plans for three more new ships in Europe.
In 2018, the company welcomes the AmaLea, sister ship to AmaKristina; and then in 2019, the company introduced a new Rhine River ship, AmaMora, sister ship to AmaLea, and on the Douro River, AmaWaterways will debut the 102-passenger AmaDouro. Also in 2019, AmaWaterways unveiled its biggest ship ever with the AmaMagna, representing a game-changing new design elevating modern luxury even further. See 6 Types Of Travelers Who Are Perfect For AmaMagna, Are You One Of Them?
AmaWaterways offers cruises along Europe’s Rhine, Moselle, Danube, Main, Seine, Rhône, Dutch and Belgian Waterways, Dordogne and Garonne, and the Douro; Southeast Asia’s Mekong river and Africa’s Chobe river.
Exotic River Cruises
AmaWaterways operates its own luxury cruise ship in Asia, the AmaDara, sailing Vietnam & Cambodia’s Mekong River; and in Africa, AmaWaterways operates the 28-passenger Zambezi Queen sailing the Chobe River.
Inside The Ships of AmaWaterways
As a family-owned and operated company dedicated solely to river cruising, AmaWaterways’ executives focus all of their time and effort on perfecting the art of delivering the quintessential river cruise experience for their guests. This has led to award-winning ships inspired by luxury yachts and designed specifically to maximize every aspect of the guest experience.
Innovative stateroom design features unique twin balconies with both a French balcony and outside balcony, so guests can enjoy the views however they wish. There are also staterooms with connecting rooms to accommodate more than two guests for families and groups who wish to travel together. Other amenities include a variety of dining venues, sun deck walking track and heated pool with swim-up bar, well-equipped fitness room and a fleet of onboard bicycles (for onshore exploration), as well as massage and hair salon.
Gold Medal Dining
Guests give AmaWaterways’ cuisine rave reviews. And that comes as no surprise, considering that Executive Chef Primus Perchtold is a three-time gold medal-winner at the European Championship of Culinary Art. All AmaWaterways’ ships in Europe are also members of the prestigious La Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society dedicated to fine cuisine. AmaWaterways’ culinary team crafts menus with the finest and freshest local ingredients. Selections change daily, featuring locally-inspired gourmet cuisine and traditional favorites.
AmaWaterways offers a variety of dining venues—at no additional charge—including The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant. Guests watch as the chef prepares a true tasting menu with three appetizers, a champagne sorbet intermezzo, three main courses and three decadent desserts—all paired with carefully hand-selected wines reflective of the places visited.
Guests can enjoy unlimited complimentary wines from Europe’s great wine regions, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board, as well as sparking wine during breakfast.
The AmaWaterways Difference:
- Spacious river view staterooms and suites range from 160 square feet to 350 square feet and most include the revolutionary signature twin balconies—a French balcony and a full outside balcony.
- La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs dining experience—featuring all meals on board, including exquisite multi-course dinners and bountiful breakfast and lunch buffets
- Multiple dining venues, including the one-of-a-kind exclusive Chef’s Table specialty restaurant featuring a unique tasting menu with perfectly paired wines for intimate dining experiences
- Entertainment-On-Demand and Ship-Wide Wi-Fi – all staterooms offer a flat screen monitor featuring moves, news, TV, and music.
- In-room internet access and ship-wide Wi-Fi are also complimentary
- Choice of complimentary shore excursions in every port that are led by expert guides. AmaWaterways offers choices for tours for gentle, regular, and active walkers.
- Expertly guided shore excursions with choices to tailor your experience as you like
- Exclusive Special Interest and Culinary Tours are included excursions to experience local culture in a unique way
- Adventurous guided bicycle and hiking tours, as well as options to bike on your own with complimentary bicycles and helmets
- Enriching onboard programs, including lectures, theme dinners, cooking demonstrations, onboard music performances and afternoon/evening piano music
- Experienced and dedicated Cruise Manager who accompanies you throughout your entire journey, both on land and on your cruise
- With a high staff-to-guest ratio on our ships, our team is fully dedicated to providing each guest with the highest level of genuine service with a smile
- Wellness Program offering a variety of exercise classes; discussion groups with a focus on healthy eating and relaxation. Select sailings in 2018; All European sailings in 2019 (excluding Portugal).
Key Points of Differentiation
As the trendsetter in river cruising, AmaWaterways has garnered several prestigious awards in 2016, including Berlitz. Out of 310 river cruise ships reviewed by the premier travel authority Berlitz—based on accommodations, dining, service and other onboard features—AmaWaterways received the top ten highest-rated ships in Europe.
Innovative Twin-Balcony Staterooms
AmaWaterways has maximized its guest stateroom views with not one, but two private balconies—a French balcony and a full outside balcony.
Top-of-the-line Exclusive Entertainment-on-Demand Center
Every stateroom on AmaWaterways has an Entertainment-on-Demand center, featuring complimentary high-speed Internet access via a flat screen monitor featuring movies, news, sports and satellite TV, as well as a large selection of music channels.
Generous Beverage Policy
Guests can start the day off sipping complimentary sparkling wine, coffee, tea and fresh juice at breakfast. For lunch and dinner, indulge in fine wines distinctive of the regions visited, beer and soft drinks, and be treated to a Sip & Sail daily cocktail hour.
Luxurious Stateroom Surroundings
AmaWaterways elegantly appointed spacious stateroom and suite appointments include white-on-white plush bedding, terry bathrobes and slippers, high-quality bath and body products and bottled water replenished daily. Suites include added enhancements, such as larger sitting areas and expansive bathrooms with both a shower and bathtub. On some twin-balcony ships, there are staterooms with connecting doors, as well as triple accommodations, making river cruising more convenient for friends and family who wish to travel together.
A Menu of Complimentary Shore Excursions
AmaWaterways recognizes every traveler is unique, so the company has carefully curated a menu of included excursions to tempt even the most seasoned travelers. Guests have the freedom and flexibility to choose from a range of guided tours.
For guests who wish to get more active, guided hiking and biking adventures take travelers well beyond the typical tourist paths, deep into the rich culture and natural beauty.
“Special Interest Tours” encourage further immersion into local culture. Authentic Belgian waffles and chocolate making in Antwerp; picnicking in the terraced vineyards of Portugal; or learning how to cook quintessential French cuisine in Provence, are just a few examples. Along with being intertwined with these deeply enriching experiences, guests can take excursions designed to showcase the renowned highlights, as well.
Health & Wellness
AmaWaterways has always been passionate about promoting health and wellness. As the first river cruise line to provide complimentary bicycles and safety helmets, AmaWaterways is always looking to further activate guest vacations and has expanded its popular guided hiking and biking tours throughout its European itineraries as well as the Wellness Program. A Wellness host leads exercise classes and discussion groups with a focus on healthy eating and relaxation (Select sailings in 2018; All European sailings in 2019 (excluding Portugal).
In addition, guests can keep up their exercise routine on board while soaking in the panoramic views with a jog around the track or taking a dip in the pool on the sun deck. Later, they can unwind with a massage and indulge in a variety of healthy cuisine options with menus featuring gluten-free and vegetarian choices.
The Finest Cruise Managers
AmaWaterways’ Cruise Managers are your hosts while you are traveling with them. The company hires only the very the most talented, knowledgeable and experienced in the industry. All skillfully trained and educated with years of experience means you can be assured exceptional levels of professional and personalized service throughout your entire journey both on board and on shore. Customer service, attention to detail and passenger satisfaction are AmaWaterways’ hallmarks.
The Special AmaWaterways Philosophy
AmaWaterways loves providing its guests with the best travel experiences possible. In fact, “Ama” is derived from the Latin word for “love.” It is a concept that permeates every aspect of their river cruises, from the design of the ships to the development of itineraries to the high levels of service delivered to guests. AmaWaterways is always looking to innovate, offer exciting new destinations and add extra value for each and every guest.
If there’s a secret to AmaWaterways success, it’s the company’s distinct business style. It is an efficiently run, hands-on company, with short lines of communication to owners and executives. You’ll always get a live person answering the phone during business hours, never a recording. Throughout its years of exponential growth, AmaWaterways has maintained a warm and family type atmosphere in the company.
Connect with AmaWaterways
- Website: https://www.amawaterways.com/
- Twitter: @AmaWaterways
- Facebook: AmaWaterways
- Instagram: AmaWaterways
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Amawaterways
Read other articles about the AmaWaterways.
I just returned a week ago from a 9 day water cruise on the AmaDara, up the Mekong river. What an amazing experience. The ship tours were well organized and food on board was outstanding. I would definitely use them again.
Just completed their Tulip cruise. Hard to imagine anyone finding fault with this company. Everyone on board was exceptionally nice. The food was excellent. And the venues great. Really a pretty nice experience.
The descriptions by River Cruise Advisor of
the various AMA ships are very appealing. Those of you who enjoy
bicycling may be interested to know that Backroads is planning a series of
trips using AMA river ships as floating hotels. This year, the only Backroads
AMA offering is along the Danube. But starting in 2016, Backroads plans AMA
trips on the Seine, Rhone, Rhine and Duero, as well as the Danube. Since
my wife and I recently cycled the entire length of the Danube (all the way to
the Black Sea), another trip along the Danube doesn’t interest us. But,
thanks in large part to RCA’s report on the AMA ships, we are planning to take
one of the Backroads AMA Rhine cruise bicycle trips next year.
Very exciting news. I’m an avid cyclist and looking forward to pedaling along the rivers.
I am having real problems with AmaWaterways. I left a fleece at Munich Airport which has been handed in. Munich airport will not post it to me, but have given me collection details. So it just needs picking up by AmaWaterways and sending to me. I have asked Fay McCormack in customer services for their help as they visit Munich airport often to pick up passengers flying in. It has been 3 months and they have not been able to arrange collection of the fleece. On the 12th June they said you would be in touch in August. On the 11th August they said they would be in touch by the end of August. On the 28th August they said they hoped you would be in touch in the next few days and nothing happens. It is a semi-expensive item of clothing, but more importantly it has sentimental value
I really find it hard to believe that no one has been to Munich Airport and has had a chance to collect
the lost property item over these months knowing that the cruise extensions involve Munich on a regular basis.
Your experience with the suite sounds just like Viking’s suites. No extra perks!!! Your room is bigger and all the extra you paid for it simply is for size. We too have traveled Uniworld and you get a lot more with the extra expense of the suites, and by the way they are beautiful!! As you know Uniworld went All inclusive this season. That means All !!!! Not sure about some of the others, but I don’t think Viking ever will.
Recently returned from a river cruise on the river Garonne. We were traveling in your vehicle. http://djanga.ru/2013/11/garonna-647km/ We loved it! Provence charming, small wineries, delicious food and wine, friendly people! And it is not expensive, will definitely return to this land!
By way of contrast to the “d.k.pickens” post, we had a marvelous time with AMA Waterways. Did the Tulip Time cruise and everything was spot on wonderful. We were on the AmaDolce and are going again in about 7 weeks for the Rivers & Castles cruise. We had a Violin Deck cabin up front. Wonderful. Excellent service, food, excursions, and staff.
Arles to Lyon April 12th-19th 2012. DO NOT PAY FOR THE SUITE! not worth the money. there is no extra service added on to the suite. nothing. nada. we had a junior suite at uniwolrd with free room service, free appetizers, and free laundry. we had an extra dinner options with ‘selected’ guests – all suite guests.
i was just told that i am not allowed to do my own laundry – i HAVE to pay. and of course – there is no laundromat.i do not feel comfortbale of somebody else doing my own laundry. this just adds on to the cost of the suite ::: – after traveling for the last 10 days we do have quite a lot of dirty laundry. (counting on a laundromat)
today at lunch we never get a waiter’s attention until we complained after 20 min. waiting. until then we had not even water on the table and no knowledge of a ‘menu’ at all. we were under the impression that the lunch consisted of the salad bar that was available freely.
there is no room to sit at the diner time. the dinner affair is a mess hall atmosphere and people line up before the restaurant opens up for the best seats/tables.then it’s so loud that the feeling of a peacedul vacation disappears withihn 10 min and you get a headache…last night we couldn’t find a table – until the end of the room – where it was so tight that my husband couldn’t sit there at all – we had to move the table to ‘add’ on to the other table and change the chairs. we felt very uncomfortable. so much so that my husband is refusing to go to dinner at all …
We just traveled on the Amalegro Budapest to Prague and everything was beyond compare. We had highest level category but not a suite. A category French balcony highest deck and service was impeccable.