LUXEMBOURG – EMBARKATION. Board your ship in Luxembourg for your Europe’s Rivers & Castles cruise. (B,D)
BERNKASTEL, GERMANY. Walk through Bernkastel’s colorful Old Town center and past many medieval and Renaissance buildings on a guided tour that also includes a winery visit and tasting. If you prefer a more active tour, join our guide on a cycling excursion along the picturesque Moselle River. You may also join a guided hike up to the Grevenburg Castle ruins and through the village’s vineyards, with a tasting of local wines awaiting at the end of the trail. (B,L,D)
COCHEM, GERMANY – KOBLENZ, GERMANY. Head to fairytale Cochem and visit Reichsburg Castle followed by a walking tour. As an alternative, hike to Reichsburg Castle and enjoy a visit inside, or pedal through the charming town on a guided bike tour. Later in the day, sit out on your balcony or go up on the Sun Deck to marvel at the beautiful views as we cruise to Koblenz. There, you can join a guided evening walk through the charming historic town, perhaps stopping for photos at the Augenroller (eye roller) of Koblenz. (B,L,D)
Located in the West of the country, Koblenz is one of the oldest cities in Germany. It is situated on both banks of the river Rhine, at its confluence with the Moselle River. The beginnings of Koblenz can be traced back to its military beginnings around 8 BC. The city is rich in its history and heritage and is easily explored on foot. Take the cable car crossing over the river Rhine for spectacular aerial views or enjoy the city from the one thousand year old fortress, Ehrenbreitstein. The upper middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its unique landscape can be enjoyed and discovered through the interactive multimedia journey at the Romanticum. Historical and architectural sites of interest include Stolzenfels Castle, the Electoral Palace of Koblenz and Old Town. From the romantic winding streets and small squares of Old Town, stroll through the alleyways from the Church of the Holy Virgin to the St Kastor Basilica and enjoy the picturesque buildings and squares along the way. Koblenz is also very popular for its Riesling and strong Spatburgunder wines since the Romans introduced it two thousand years ago.
RHINE GORGE – RÜDESHEIM, GERMANY. Drink up the stunning views by soaring high above the vineyards with a gondola ride to the Niederwalddenkmal Statue or allow yourself to be treated to a wine tasting. For a more active adventure, hike through the town’s beautiful vineyards above the Rhine River. (B,L,D)
Rudesheim am Rhine is a town in the Rhine Valley in Germany and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Rhine Gorge. It is known for its production of Riesling wine and has been popular for its wine making since ancient times. The Medieval Bromserburg Castle is home to the Rheingau Wine Museum and wine is a crucial part of Rudesheimer culture. The town is surrounded with vineyards and wineries, as well as many local wine bars and seasonal wine taverns. Wine tasting is a must do in Rudesheim and dining out is a great accompaniment. The local cuisine is seasonal and is closely intertwined with the wine growing traditions together with soups such as Zwiebelkuchen, Handkäs mit Musik and Spundekäs. Nordic Walking is popular around town, with five adventure trails around the vicinity, as well as many popular cycling routes. Great views of the town can be found from the water, the cable car to Niederwald Monument and the Monument itself. Old Town has the best examples of the town’s architecture with Eagle Tower, Oberstrasse and Rheinstein Castle some key sites to visit.
WERTHEIM, GERMANY. Wertheim’s old town center still features half-timbered houses and the Gothic architecture of the Stiftskirche, its oldest Protestant church. Join a guided walking tour through the historic city center and then learn the art of pretzel making with a visit to a local bakery. For those seeking a more active adventure, take a scenic bike ride through the Main River Valley or hike high above the town for a visit to the castle, one of the most picturesque ruins in Germany. (B,L,D)
Würzburg is a city in Bavaria in southern Germany. It is located on the River Main and is famous for its lavish baroque architecture and Franconian wine. The Residence Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is highly recommended. It is a well known example of Baroque architecture with its acclaimed staircase, impressive frescos and imperial hall. Other impressive sites in Würzburg include the towering fortress of Festung Marienberg, the Alt Mainbrücke old bridge, which offers ideal views of the Marienberg, Dom St. Kilian cathedral and the many churches of Würzburg including the Romanesque Neumünster. Many of these sites have their own museums for visitors to learn of the history or view unique collections. Other museums of interest are the Mineralogical Museum, exhibiting the world of minerals and stones, and the Botanical Gardens, with various greenhouses and outdoor areas to enjoy. Wine lovers will find an abundance of wineries in Würzburg, offering cellar tours and wine tasting as well as traditional Bavarian cuisines and hospitality. Enjoy wine soup, Gerupfter (cheese spread) and Sauerbraten (braised beef in wine) in a friendly traditional wine tavern.
WÜRZBURG, GERMANY. Enjoy a city tour of Würzburg, bursting with Baroque splendor. Or visit Würzburg’s Baroque Residenz Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features an opulent interior, including a grand fresco by Tiepolo. Or stretch your legs while hiking to Würzburg Castle. Alternately, go on a full-day excursion to Rothenburg, Germany’s best-preserved walled town located on the Romantic Road. (B,L,D)
ELTMANN, GERMANY. Head to Bamberg, which has been referred to as “Franconian Rome” as, like Rome, it was built on seven hills—but in Bamberg, a church graces each one. Bamberg’s medieval and Baroque architecture has withstood the test of time and, as such, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Join a guided walking tour of this medieval gem where you’ll see its cathedral, Old Town Hall and elegant old mansions, and afterwards, indulge in the town’s famous smoked beer, Rauchbier. Or, indulge in the culinary specialties of Bamberg, including licorice root, Hornla pastries, traditional German sausage and smoked beer. As a more invigorating alternative, pedal from Eltmann to Bamberg, meeting the ship there later in the day. (B,L,D)
Nuremberg is a medieval city located in northern Bavaria in Germany. It is Bavaria’s second largest city and is noted for its iconic red roofed buildings and medieval architecture. The imperial Castle overlooks Nuremberg and was one of the most important fortifications of the Roman Empire. For more significant cultural history, the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, one of the largest cultural history museums in the German speaking world, offers visitors exhibitions from Prehistoric all the way to present day. Walking tours around the city offer an enjoyable and active way to learn of Nuremberg’s history and culture. Through Old Town, discover fountains, wells, churches, and art treasures, as well as learning of the colourful past and cosmopolitan present of the city and its people. Nuremberg is also home to one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany, the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, where visitors can purchase traditional handmade decorations and enjoy the famous gingerbread, mulled wine, and grilled sausage from over one hundred and eighty wooden stalls.
NUREMBERG – DISEMBARKATION. Bid farewell to the ship in Nuremberg as you prepare for your return flight home. (B)B,L,D – Indicates Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included on this day.
Stateroom Features
Stateroom Features
Stateroom Features
Stateroom Features
Stateroom Features
Stateroom Features
Stateroom Features
Stateroom Features
Stateroom Features
AmaWaterways’ expert chefs craft menus that feature exquisite, locally-inspired cuisine as well as traditional, Western offerings. At breakfast, sip sparkling wine as you partake fresh pastries, or opt for something made-to-order from the menu. Stop by the Main Lounge for a light lunch, or head to the restaurant for full menu service and high-quality regional wine or beer. Dinner is a delectable, multi-course affair with wine recommendations that accompany visually stunning, delicious dishes. Try local favourites — like goulash while cruising through Hungary, bratwurst and sauerkraut after returning to the ship from Vienna, or Camembert cheese while on the Seine — or something more familiar, like a sandwich. No matter what your preference, your taste buds are sure to be impressed.
Join a few of your fellow travellers at The Chef’s Table, where the kitchen — usually hidden — becomes part of the entertainment. You’ll have the opportunity to watch the chef prepare a special multi-course meal right in front of you. The menu here is unique, making this a truly distinct gastronomic experience. Indulge in delectable dishes served with unlimited fine wines, hand-selected just for this dinner. It is the only venue of its kind on the river.
Our skilled chefs ensure that our menus always have healthy choices prepared with the freshest locally-sourced ingredients. We are also able to accommodate dietary needs such as low-sodium, vegetarian and gluten-free. Below are some of our favorite recipes for health-conscious guests.
We are proud to have been the first river cruise line to carry an entire fleet of complimentary state-of-the-art bicycles on board, so you can pedal alongside enchanting riverside pathways and in city centers on a variety of included excursions throughout Europe. Whether you feel like joining one of our exclusive guided bike tours, or you want to reserve a bike to discover a destination on your own, there are many ways for you to explore on two wheels during your river cruise. From lighter five-mile bike tours to rides that stretch over 20 miles, we offer excursions for guests at any level.
Bike Tour Guides
Your guide will be sure to stop and point out highlights along the way, providing interesting facts and history, as well as much-needed water breaks! Often, there is some built-in free time for you to explore off your bike. And best of all, to ensure no guests are left behind, there is typically a guide both at the front and back of the tour group, so whatever pace you pedal, you will have peace of mind you will be taken care of and find your way back to the ship.
Child-sized Bikes
There are a limited number of child-size bicycles available on board as well. This enables you to enjoy family-friendly active excursions in many destinations along the rivers.
The beauty of Europe does not simply lie in its architecture and landmarks – there are also breathtaking sights when you venture out into nature. That’s why we have designed special included hikes that will take you a bit off the beaten path, showing you incredible destinations from a unique perspective and giving you a chance to revel in the fresh air. With hikes ranging anywhere from two to seven miles and varying from extended city walks to hilltop castle treks, you are sure to find a wonderful hike that suits your style.
We offer a variety of included tours specially curated with your individual passions in mind. Enjoy exploring the world through your tastebuds? Indulge in authentic Belgian waffles and chocolate in Antwerp or learn the art of French breadmaking in Libourne. Are you interested in engineering? Venture through the immense aerospace and locomotive collections at Speyer’s Technik Museum. Do you love music? Browse the antique music boxes and organs at Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet while cruising the Rhine.
With fewer passengers on board, guests can enjoy the luxury of space — our public areas, like lounges and restaurants, are never overcrowded.
Guests can enjoy a drink as they relax on the Sun Deck.
Whether it’s traditional Bavarian music, a local quartet or contemporary piano favourites, you will enjoy an eclectic schedule of onboard entertainment every night.
The Reception is located on the Violin Deck.
Soak up some rays or take a dip in our refreshing pool with a swim-up bar as we pass by centuries-old castles, charming villages and other breathtaking scenery.
Are you looking for a way to stay fit on vacation? Hit the treadmill or lift some weights while cruising from one destination to the next.
Whether you’d like to dress up for the captain’s special dinner or a night out on the town, you can complete your look by getting your hair styled in our salon.
After a marvellous day of immersive shore excursions, return to the ship and treat yourself to a bit of pampering with a soothing massage.
**Massage services available for a nominal fee.
A variety of daily activities are available for guests, with group classes such as pilates, resistance band stretching, cardio, active wellness walks and dance, based on each individual Wellness Host’s expertise. Guests of all ages and activity levels are encouraged to participate and simple modifications are offered for guests with mobility limitations.
All guests under the age of 18 are to be in a stateroom with an adult and must remain supervised at all times; their safety is the responsibility of the accompanying adult(s). In the case where a triple or quad occupancy stateroom is not available or not selected, children under the age of 10 at the time of embarkation may share a stateroom with two adults only in circumstances where the child is able to share the bed with the adults – no additional bed will be provided. Please be aware that balcony staterooms of any kind may be unsafe for minors if left unsupervised. There is a minimum age limit of 4 years old, unless otherwise agreed upon by AmaWaterways.
On our Africa Safaris & Wildlife Cruise program, due to safety precautions, there is a minimum age limit of 12 years old, unless otherwise agreed upon by AmaWaterways.
AmaWaterways does not provide child-specific programs or child-minding facilities. Please reach out to us if you have any further questions regarding our child policy.
Reasonable efforts are made to accommodate the special needs of disabled cruise participants, but no responsibility will be undertaken for any denial of services by carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other independent suppliers. Tour buses are not equipped with wheelchair ramps and cabin doors are not wide enough to allow access by standard wheelchairs.
Wheelchairs and walkers cannot be carried on tour buses, due to space limitations. Wheelchair passengers should be aware of these limitations. For safety reasons, passengers in wheelchairs cannot be carried on ramps in ports where the ship is at anchor. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to a tour member for walking, getting on/off tour busses and other transportation vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified travel companion must accompany travellers who need assistance.
Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside any of the ships. Smoking is only permitted on the Sun Deck. For the safety and comfort of all passengers on board, your cooperation in observing the no-smoking policy is greatly appreciated.
Please advise your Travel Agent or call us directly to advise if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies prior to embarkation. In most cases, we will do our best to accommodate special dietary requests and food allergies, but with one exception: Kosher. This diet has specific rules regarding food and its preparation and the shipboard environment does have limitations that prevent us from being able to adequately cater to this dietary need. Please note, though we can provide options to accommodate food allergies and sensitivities, we cannot guarantee there will not be any cross-contamination.
Comfortable, layered clothing adaptable to changing weather conditions is always advisable for daytime excursions. For the evening, “Casually elegant” attire is recommended and you may want to pack something a little dressier for the Captain’s night/Farewell Dinner – similar to how one would dress to dine at a 5-star restaurant. Comfortable shoes are recommended for excursions and workout clothing if you plan to take part in any wellness activities, active tours or use the onboard gym. Depending on the time of year, clothing that can be layered is highly recommended.
Europe: There are no medical facilities on board. However medical services can easily be called from shore if required.
Vietnam & Cambodia: We do not employ doctors or nurses on board the ships. In the event medical assistance is needed, appropriate medical facilities will be contacted. Note that response time can vary.
Africa: We do not employ doctors or nurses on board the Zambezi Queen. In the event medical assistance is needed, appropriate medical facilities will be contacted. Note that response time can vary.
Europe: High-speed Internet service is available free of charge as part of the in-stateroom “Entertainment-On-Demand.” Additionally, AmaWaterways offers complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship.
Vietnam and Cambodia: Free Internet and Wi-Fi in the lounge with computer stations.
Africa: Free Wi Fi is available but may be limited and sporadic during certain times of the day due to the ships isolated location.
Environmentally-Friendly Ship Design
Our river cruise fleet has been thoughtfully designed with eco-friendly elements. These include energy-saving LED lights, special insulated windows that reduce energy needs for heating and cooling, power locks to plug into a port’s power supply instead of running generators, solar heating systems, water treatment plants that provide microfiltration and recycling of all water used on board. AmaMagna also has an innovative 10-engine configuration designed to reduce fuel consumption and solar panels have been installed on all stateroom balconies. In addition, the Zambezi Queen uses a water jet propulsion system that protects the Chobe riverbed, water-saving taps and showers, biodegradable detergents and soaps, and a five-stage water purification plant.
A Greener Onboard Experience
To reduce overall plastic consumption, we use paper straws (upon request), refillable glass water bottles in all staterooms, and hand out recyclable tetra-pak water containers for excursions across the fleet (where available). We have lessened unnecessary food waste from large-scale buffets by serving a la carte lunches on board our European fleet. For our personal audio devices used on excursions, we are proud to partner with Quietvox, which utilizes biodegradable rice paper bags and rechargeable batteries. In addition, our luggage tags and handy travel wallets are both made from recycled plastic bottle material and are now delivered to guest staterooms on board our ships in Europe, reducing our carbon footprint. The usage of our innovative myAmaCruise app and electronic travel documents has also significantly reduced paper consumption both pre-cruise and on board.
Europe:
Every excursion is included with your choice from up to six guided tours each day, all operated in small groups. In every city or town you visit, there is typically a sightseeing tour offered at three unique activity levels for gentle walkers, regular walkers and active walkers, along with free time to explore the city according to your own interests. The sightseeing tours can take place on foot, via motor coach, or a combination of the two. Each tour is led by a qualified, licensed English-speaking local guide or your Cruise Manager. On select excursions, we also have a “Late Starter” option for guests who wish to sleep in but do not want to miss key tour highlights. For those guests interested in exploring Europe from an exciting new perspective, we offer guided bicycle and hiking tours in select cities. In addition to our many choices of excursions we also offer our special interest tours such as wine tastings and culinary demonstrations, offering small groups the chance to be even more immersed into the local life. In the event of water level problems on certain stretches of the river, it may be necessary to operate part of the itinerary by motor coach or to alter the daily program as determined by the ship’s Captain.
Each of our ships in Europe (excluding Portugal) has a limited number of complimentary bicycles and helmets available for use when the ship is docked and can be signed out for independent use. Most sailings will also offer a choice of bicycle lead excursions with a tour guide and these can be reserved once you are on board. Bicycles are available in 3 different sizes: S, M, L.
We do not have bicycles available on our ships in Portugal, Vietnam & Cambodia, Africa or Egypt.
Use of the bicycles is at your own risk. Therefore, without limitation, AmaWaterways and all of its affiliates are not responsible for any injuries sustained during their use.