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The pre and post cruise trips were the highlight of the trip.

The pre and post cruise trips were excellent, the organisation, the cruise manager, local guides and hotels were all exceptional. I would rate these as 5 stars. The actual cruise on the Mekong River aboard the AmaDara was not up to a standard that we were expecting. The ship was tired and felt in need of a refurbishment. With the exception of the chefs table, one evening, the evening meals were very poor. Hot food should be hot and not tepid, menu choices were not great, my wife had to have Salmon 4 out of 7 nights from the always available menu. The fruit selection at breakfast was the same day after day and a poor selection. I ordered the avocado on toast with a poached egg, both times they were cold. Lunch was also a buffet with a reasonable salad choice, without doubt the best food on board. The staff on board the ship were all excellent, they were very friendly, polite and extremely helpful. Apart from one full day cruising when we crossed the border there seemed very little cruising between stops. The views of the land when cruising was dull and boring with nothing really to see. Without a doubt the highlight of the trip was Halong Bay, Angkor Wat and the Chu Chi tunnels in Hanoi, Seam Reap and Ho Chi Min City respectively. Meeting new friends on this trip was also a highlight. Personally we would prefer the trip to be a little more expensive and remove the need for tipping and paying extra for certain drinks.

Date of experience : March 14, 2024

Reply from AmaWaterways

Dear Adrian, We sincerely apologize for the disappointing culinary experience you had with us. We appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns, as it gives us a chance to address any areas of opportunity to improve. As we always work to improve the dining experience for our guests, your feedback is invaluable, and we would love to hear more about your experience. Please contact [email protected] with any additional concerns. We sincerely hope we can make things right and welcome you back on board in the future. Warm regard, AmaWaterways

Cancellation policy

We booked a cruise and pre-trip to Egypt departing next year but had to cancel because my wife fell while in Japan in September and broke her femur. Even though we cancelled 9 months before the trip, AMA charged use the full insurance premium even though we had only made a 9.8% deposit on the trip. We were aware of the contractual penalty but not the forfeiture of the 91.2% of the insurance for which there was no risk. The difference was over $3000 so no small change. No one from the company ever discussed this issue during booking process other than to say insurance would be 13% of the trip cost. Seems fraudulent and have reported issue to State Insurance Commissioner.

Date of experience : September 14, 2023

Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for any inconvenience your negative experience with cancelling your trip may have caused and will pass this information along to our guest relations department. If you would like to reach out to them directly, please contact [email protected]. We sincerely hope we can make things right and welcome you back on board in the future.

You really don't care

Despite your reply to my complaint on here earlier, and an email to Customer services as you suggested....I still have had NOTHING from you. No I would never travel with you again.....your staff are downright rude and untrained. We paid alot of money for this which was our last holiday abroad as my husband has Parkinson's disease and Dementia. I thought this would be perfect as everything was included....your cruise Manager fell down in his duties.

Date of experience : July 13, 2023

Dear Rosemarie, we apologize if your interaction with our customer service agent was not to your satisfaction. We have received information that a team member has reached out to address your valid concerns. Your feedback helps us enhance our experience for the future and that’s exactly what we plan to do. Thank you for taking the time to let us know about your recent experience. A customer service team member has been notified to reach back out to you. We sincerely hope we can make things right and welcome you back on board in the future. - AmaWaterways

Never Book with AMAWaterways!

We booked a Nile Cruise with AmaWaterways and we’re told that the deposit would be refunded if we had insurance. We took out insurance. Before making the final payment Covid was still a concern so we thought it better to cancel. The insurance company, AIG, refused to issue a refund! We always enjoyed AnaWaterways and had four great cruises but based on our recent experience we will never book a cruise with them again! Our advice to anyone considering booking with AMA, DON’T BOOK! David Olsen

Date of experience : March 29, 2023

Hello David, Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for any inconvenience your negative experience may have caused and will pass this information along to our guest relations department. If you would like to reach out to them directly, please contact [email protected]. We sincerely hope we can make things right and welcome you back on board in the future.

My Wife Wasn’t the Only One Sharing the Bed With Me!

Even though we were impressed with the ambiance and itinerary, I never thought I would be dealing with bed bugs on our cruise boat. Mentioned my concerns to staff and even though apologetic, my cruise experience was a disaster. I will never cruise with this company again. Also food was served cold.

Date of experience : July 12, 2022

Hello R. E. Janus, On behalf of the entire AmaWaterways family, we are sorry for the experience you had during your journey. Your comments of concern are very important to us, and we will further investigate into your claim. We appreciate you taking the time to document your concerns, as it gives us a chance to address any areas of opportunity to improve. We promise to do our best to restore your faith in AmaWaterways. Your feedback is invaluable, and we would love to hear more about your experience. Please contact [email protected] with any additional concerns. We sincerely hope we can make things right and welcome you back on board in the future.

My wife's parents took a trip with this…

My wife's parents took a trip with this company where they departed 9/24/2022. They unfortunately contracted COVID by the time they arrived in Bilbao, Spain, and had to return to the US on 9/27/2022. AmaWaterways booked them a flight on Lufthansa/United from BIO to MUN to ORD to DEN for $2,800/person in economy. I did a quick search online and a round trip, with departure the same day, on the same airlines, with one fewer stop - BIO to MUN to DEN was $1,100/person. This seems like they were scammed out of thousands of dollars. I would like AmaWaterways to respond to this exorbitant charge.

Date of experience : September 27, 2022

Rolf was rude and disrespectful.

I was disappointed in my river cruise experience. I was expecting a more personal interaction than the large cruise ships but found quite the opposite to be true. Simple requests were met with responses such as, 'I don't think I can do that' , 'you want that' (followed by a turned up nose), or by simply not doing anything. I found Rolf to be very dismissive with guests (not just with me, but also with fellow passengers) and his sales pitch on the last night did not need to include bashing your competitors. Left a sour taste with me. Hopefully that is not company policy.

Date of experience : June 17, 2016

Hi Greta, I have sent your feedback to our Customer Relations team who will be in touch with you.

Obtaining a Refund from AMA

We have toured with AMA twice. We were happy with the service. In June 2021, my wife and I booked a land/river tour from Madrid to Porto with AMA. They wanted $400 per person deposit. A final payment of $5308 per person due February 2022. As the deadline approached, we were very concerned about the pandemic outbreak in Europe. I have a compromised respiratory system and I fear being infected while on our tour. AMA rules for cancellation are ridged. If we decide to cancel within 120 days of departure we lose our $800 deposit. I spoke to a AMA agent concerning recovering our $800 deposit. She said if we pay an additional $175 ($350 total) per person, we would get a $800 credit toward another AMA tour. This made no sense. I read through the fine print of the contract online and found a section about terms of cancellation. It said "...unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances are...significant risks to human health such as serious disease...which make it impossible to travel safely" One problem: this clause is for UK guests only. Why are they treated differently? They are not separated on the tour boat. After numerous emails and calls, AMA decided to refund us half ($200 pp) of our original deposit of $400 pp. They refused to issue a credit toward another river cruise for the remaining $400.

Date of experience : January 23, 2022

Too much water, not enough land, cruising the Rhine

This trip covered a long distance, so most of the time is spent on the water. If you want to just cruise down the river, fine. However, if you travel to see the towns and countryside, forget it. We saw about 5 cities for a total of about 1 1/2 days on land. Each tour involved running to keep up, rushing through a castle or a cathedral, with NO time to wander or explore on your own. I booked this trip because of a previous good experience with AMA on the Danube. I would now think twice before booking with AMA again. The tour director was young, giddy, and not very professional. It was very little for a lot of money.

Date of experience : June 26, 2016

Covering all the bases.

The staff and crew were all excellent. The room was very nice. We were disappointed in the dinners for an award winning chef. The outside areas were not made inviting. The common area was not that comfortable. Not enough included excursions.

Date of experience : June 24, 2016

Choose another company or at least, itinerary

This river cruise line was recommended by our TA and we were very disappointed all around with our first river cruise. The food was marginal at best, service could have been better (except for 3 outstanding employees) and the woman working the front 'welcoming desk' was not happy to be there; we heard others voice feedback about why is she working there! As for the excursions, they were pretty packed and many required hour long bus rides to cities. Then we had to deal with 'slow walkers' who didn't pay attention to the 'active tour' detail versus taking the 'gentle walkers' tour. The the average age of passengers on this particular cruise was over 70 - we weren't expecting a 'floating senior citizen home' !! And last item, for any of you readers thinking of choosing AMA and this particular route, the only night we (and quite a few other passengers) got a good night's sleep was when the ship was stationary; the captain increased the speed at night (obviously when he thought many would be asleep) but the walls of the cabin and the bed were rattling and vibrating all night making it impossible to get to sleep; and we were on deck two near mid ship! If we ever decide to try another river cruise, it will be with Tauck or Uniworld and a different itinerary. p.s. and the entertainment was pretty much 'non-existent - one night they brought on board a singing duo - they were fun but the rest of the nights consisted of 'elevator music' by a man playing an electric piano - disappointing there also!

Date of experience : September 24, 2022

Disappointed… were very excited to rebook our…

We were very excited to rebook our Covid cancelled river cruise. Unpacking for 8-10 days and seeing the sights. Not to be…due to the drought, the Rhine was too low for the boat to travel the whole way. Mid week we had to pack up, take a bus for 10 hours(!!!) and get on another boat. We ended up missing parts of the journey that we were really looking forward to. We had even treated ourselves to a suite because we were celebrating our 30th anniversary. I’m pretty sure river boat captains are well aware of the weather and the river situation‘s. Pretty sure they would’ve known that the Rhine was not going to be acceptable for the boat. A whole day on a bus?? Cancelled ports and excursions? I feel that Ama waterways should be reaching out to all passengers and offering them A credit for future use. That’s what a good company would do.

Date of experience : August 30, 2022

Took a 7 day cruise…

Took a 7 day cruise with extended family in a larger group. The furnishings on the ship are gorgeous and comfortable, the excursions lovely and Maung who did our housekeeping was second to none. That’s where any positives ended. The rest of the staff varied between ultra friendly to downright hostile so much so that I often avoided ordering a drink - and I am someone who often gets told that I’m the smiliest person people have ever met. Food, although very well presented, was mediocre and the 2 vegetarians in our group were served meat on more than one occasion (wrong order). For their Chef’s table evening, they were served bland salad and chewy spring rolls as alternatives. Most of our group, as with most passengers were American. Being British myself, in a conversation with Dinu, hotel manager, I told him that my father was originally Lebanese and he responded ‘I’ve been there, Lebanese are great - they are nothing like Arabs which makes them great and which is what I like about them and some even have blue eyes’. Telling someone so openly something this racist was shocking and I needed to calm my partner down who wanted to complain about this comment - this is the hotel manager who should know better. He then went on to say ‘My favourite place is Israel in the Middle East, and they are better than the Palestinians who just cause trouble’. I couldn’t believe this man was getting political with absolutely no exchange of a political nature from us. Finally, by the end of the cruise, at least half the passengers were showing signs of sickness and on the last morning we found out that staff knew of Covid cases and didn’t provide tests, masks or warnings. Given most of the passengers were elderly and a few who had recent cancer treatment, this kind of outbreak should be taken more seriously. Our whole group tested positive a day or two following the end of the cruise.

Date of experience : August 10, 2023

Hello Mr. Saleh, We sincerely apologize for the disappointing experience you had with us. We appreciate you taking the time to document your concerns, as it gives us a chance to address any areas of opportunity to improve. We promise to do our best to restore your faith in AmaWaterways. Your feedback is invaluable, and we would love to hear more about your experience. We have shared your feedback with our Customer Relations team, who will work to contact you. In the meantime, please feel free to contact [email protected] with any additional concerns. We sincerely hope we can make things right and welcome you back on board in the future. - AmaWaterways

TRY OTHER RIVER CRUISE LINES...LIKE UNIWORLD.

I have traveled on AmaWaterways last year on the Danube and this year on the Rhine. I enjoyed both ships. However and this is a big however, the food is mediocre at best. Breakfast the same every day and definitely lacks in variety. Special of the day such as Pancakes came in a pair the size of silver dollar and they were cold. Fresh fruit now sliced. No cereals. It was atrocious. They try to be a gourmet priority which comes up short because they fail miserably. Ordered Chicken Schnitzel and it was a piece of chicken breaded thinly and served hard. Steaks were also thin, tougher to chew and a disappointment as well. They include wine and beer and champagne with lunch and dinner. If you want a diet coke in mid-afternoon they charge for it. This is hardly a 5-star recommendation. I will never travel AMA again and I had 2 other cruises booked for my 3rd and 4th. If their food service was even halfway between Celebrity and Regent they would have something to brag about. Dismal.

Date of experience : September 15, 2022

A nice cruise, I would recommend

We had a lovely cruise. We started on the Amamora but due to high water levels we had to leave our boat and transfer to the Amaserena. The latter was slightly older. We preferred the staterooms in the Amamora. The staff on both boats were exceptional, nothing was too much trouble. Everything is very well organised including the boat switching! The food presentation was superb tho some dishes tasted a little bland. Overall I would recommend Ama Waterways.

Date of experience : November 20, 2023

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback – it is truly appreciated. We take pride in providing the best service for our guests, especially when water levels are uncertain. Safety remains our top priority, and our dedicated employees and crew around the globe remain dedicated to ensuring that our guests have the most enjoyable vacation possible. We look forward to welcoming you back on board again in the future!

Avoid AMAWaterways ….

After taking a wonderful cruise down the Danube, five years ago, my husband and I decided to take another cruise with Ama waterways. This time we took the Rhine cruise from Basil, Switzerland to Amsterdam, with a pre-cruise trip in Lake Como. I am sad to say, that we were both incredibly disappointed. It seems that AMAwaterways has drastically changed… The food was terrible, absolutely inedible. The menu was completely unappealing, and it was difficult to find anything that you wanted to order. The rolls that were served on day one were fresh…. with each day, the rolls became harder and staler. I am gluten-free, and they gave me a piece of gluten-free bread with each meal by day three the bread was so hard and so stale that I could not eat it. And even though I told the company I was gluten-free two months ahead of the cruise as I filled out their long, required paperwork, they were still unable to provide so much is a cookie at snack time that would be gluten-free. Every day the cookie jar was put out and I was told by my husband and friends, that the cookies were as hard as rocks and tasted like cardboard. But the most disgusting food were the hamburgers! They were filled with gritty substances and fellow diners needed to use their napkins to take large pieces out of their mouth. It was revolting. The ship’s entertainment was cringe-worthy….(an accordion player). The cabins were immaculate as was the ship….the staff could not have tried harder to please, or worked harder….but they were understaffed in the dining room and meals were super long…sometimes, there would be 20 minute gaps between courses….painful! The price for AMA is much more expensive than Viking and other most other competitors….I would not recommend AMA. If Tauck is the equivalent of The Four Seasons….AMA charges Marriott prices and feels more like a Holiday Inn Express. (Serving food that is not up the standards of a BurgerKing).

Date of experience : May 05, 2023

Hello Jane, We sincerely apologize for the disappointing experience you had with us. We appreciate you taking the time to document your concerns, as it gives us a chance to address any areas of opportunity to improve. We promise to do our best to restore your faith in AmaWaterways. Your feedback is invaluable, and we would love to hear more about your experience. Please contact [email protected] with any additional concerns. We sincerely hope we can make things right and welcome you back on board in the future.

It can be done in a wheelchair

Our needs were special - both of us use walkers or wheelchairs. Ama accommodated us well and lots of special attention. The tulip garden in Amsterdam was beautiful and we did that with one of us pushing the other in a wheelchair. Ama arranged taxis in places where walking was planned. The Amacerto was a lovely ship; the service was beyond compare and our cabin with a patio was exquisite.

Date of experience : June 18, 2016

AMAwaterways - Never Again

We booked a Danube Christmas river cruise, along with another couple, on the AMABella on 2/11/20, departing Budapest on 12/5/22. We took advantage of a cabin upgrade offer and were both booked in AA class cabins. We heard nothing further from Amawaterways (except confirmation of our final payment) until we boarded 12/5/22. Before heading to the ship on 12/5/22 we were told by another passenger that the ship had been changed to the AMAStella. We never did get any notification from AMA of the ship change and several passengers taxied around the dock area for some time trying to find the AMABella. Upon boarding we were informed that both bookings had been downgraded 2 cabin levels to category BA rooms (smaller sq ft). Ours was ultimately only downgraded 1 level to a AB class cabin. The other couple remained in a BA class cabin. No one on board could explain why we had been picked for the downgrade. All we heard was talk to corporate. Some crew members told us the ship change had happened more than a week ago. We had been on another AMA cruise, same itinerary, pre-pandemic. And we were told by the AMAStella hotel manager that all covid restrictions had been lifted. On this cruise there was no breakfast buffet. If you wanted water with breakfast you had to order it and it was delivered in a small glass. If you wanted more, same process. They did not refill water glasses in the morning. There was no dessert table at lunch or dinner. On the past cruise there was a dessert table you could go to make an ice cream sundae or pickup whatever dessert you wanted. Not anymore. We felt the menu was overly embellished, more style over substance. Portions were small. Steak entrée was small and tough. Chicken entrée was smaller than amount of chicken in their classic salad. It was like the whole dinning experience had been cheapened. On the positive side the staff tried to do a good job. The tours were good. The ship was clean and well maintained. We had booked directly with AMA. I called our booking agent about the cabin problem on 12/5/22. He was unaware of the problem but ultimately said "it would be made right". Ultimately AMA Guest Relations made us a settlement offer that we felt was insulting. Given the cabin downgrade, the the fact we were not notified of the downgrade before boarding and hence not given the opportunity to cancel or change our booking, and the meager settlement that was offered, we will no longer be cruising with AMA. Clearly we were not valued customers of AMA given that cabin priority was given other guests even though we had booked over 2.5 years ago. Ignoring the cabin problem, in our opinion the cruise was simply not good value for the money.

Date of experience : December 05, 2022

Magnificamt Europe Cruise

We felt the experience was outstanding. Unfortunately we both came down with a virus for several days the second week. The crew was friendly, helpful and efficient.. The tour director did an outstanding job. We were very 9mpressed with the itinerary. Also we liked the atmosphere where the crew and passengers almost seemed like a family, unlike the cold feeling one gets on a large cruise ship. River boat is the way to go.

We highly recommend AMA Waterways

The whole experience from our arrival and stay in Paris through the river cruise on the Mosel, Rhine, Main, and Main Danube Canal, and finishing with 2 days in Prague was glorious. Every detail was first rate. The tours were very informative and extensive. The food and wine were spectacular. Donna and I highly recommend AMA Waterways.

Date of experience : August 25, 2016

AmaWaterways vs. Viking: Which of these popular river cruise lines is right for you?

Among the cruise lines navigating the rivers of Europe, Southeast Asia and Egypt are two of the best-known names in the industry: AmaWaterways and Viking .

Each brand is distinguished by its hallmark attractions, such as AmaWaterways' selection of always-complimentary excursions and Viking's consistently sleek Scandinavian-inspired interior design. But is there really that much difference between these major river cruise brands that it matters which one you choose?

The answer is yes. Some of the variations may even surprise you, so read on for a head-to-head comparison of AmaWaterways versus Viking.

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AmaWaterways vs. Viking: Meet the river cruise lines

River cruise lines AmaWaterways and Viking launched within five years of each other. Both are helmed by well-known cruise and travel industry executives and feature fleets of modern river ships. Yet each takes its own unique approach to itineraries, tours and onboard ambience.

AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Vienna-born Rudi Schreiner, Germany native Kristin Karst and the late Jimmy Murphy, who was Irish. The line has a fleet of 26 ships, with three new vessels launching in 2024 and 2025.

The brand's hallmark is offering multiple excursions, typically three or four per port, included in the cruise fare. These are usually a city walking tour, perhaps with a wine or culinary focus, or a bus tour to nearby sights. One "Gentle" group is dedicated to guests who need a little extra time getting around, and each port almost always includes a more challenging hike or bike ride for fitness-focused guests. AmaWaterways ships also carry bicycles on board, which are available for independent exploration.

The company is known for custom-designed ships with destination-inspired contemporary decor. Its public spaces feel like those you'd find in a locally owned boutique hotel. A key design innovation by AmaWaterways was the introduction of the "twin balcony," which consists of a French balcony and a full-size step-out balcony. This adds exceptional views and a sense of spaciousness to the cabins that feature them.

The Viking story started a few years before AmaWaterways. Launched in 1997 by Norwegian-born cruise veteran Torstein Hagen and several partners, Viking River Cruises was designed to be destination-focused and culturally immersive. Viking currently has 69 river ships, with two more scheduled to launch in 2024 and 2025.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Viking cruise ship

Viking's river cruise fares include one complimentary shore excursion in each port, typically a panoramic bus tour or guided walking tour. Guests may also choose from among a range of other extra-fee tour options, most with a cultural or culinary bent but some a bit more active.

The company grew its river cruise business by attracting mature travelers seeking a convenient way to explore multiple cities and countries in Europe. However, its brand recognition and growth greatly accelerated with the introduction of its first Viking Longship in 2012 and a successful marketing campaign around the launch of the Longships (including sponsorship of "Downton Abbey" on PBS Masterpiece).

Today, Viking's 55 virtually identical Longships, named for Nordic gods and goddesses (from Viking Agir to Viking Vili), represent a certain standard of European river cruising, and all feature light and airy Scandinavian design.

Unlike AmaWaterways, which remains strictly a river cruise company, Viking has expanded into ocean cruising. In 2015, the company introduced the 930-passenger Viking Star and now operates a fleet of nine identical ocean ships. In 2022, it added a pair of 378-guest, Polar-6-Class expedition ships. That means Viking fans can vacation around the world without leaving the brand.

The ships in AmaWaterways and Viking's river cruise fleets range from intimate (28 guests) to grand (386 guests), with the size differences most notable on rivers such as the Nile, Mekong and Mississippi.

AmaWaterways' 29 ships aren't entirely uniform, even the 20 in its popular European fleet. Those ships are either 360 or 443 feet in length and carry 140 to 196 passengers and 45 to 70 crew members, respectively. The majority (15 ships) carry between 152 and 162 passengers and 51 crew, while four smaller vessels accommodate either 140 or 144 passengers and 45 crew.

The outlier is 196-guest AmaMagna, which is the line's flagship vessel on the Danube. At 443 feet long and 72 feet wide, it is almost double the width of the average river ship without significantly increasing the passenger count. This has created an abundance of space that AmaWaterways has used to enhance the cruise experience. Cabins and suites are larger than on its other ships at 205 to 710 square feet versus 160 to 350 square feet. AmaMagna also offers passengers a choice of four dining venues rather than two, as well as five onboard bars, unique for a river ship.

On Portugal's Douro River, AmaWaterways has two ships, AmaDouro and AmaVida. Each accommodates 102 passengers and 38 crew. A third vessel, AmaSintra, will launch in early 2025.

In Egypt, AmaWaterways currently operates AmaDahlia, which carries 72 passengers and 62 crew. When a second ship, AmaLilia, launches in 2024, it will accommodate 82 passengers and 65 crew.

On the Mekong River in Southeast Asia, AmaDara is the cruise line's sole vessel. This ship, featuring French colonial decor and beautifully carved wood furniture, accommodates 124 passengers and 52 crew.

AmaWaterways also operates one vessel on the Chobe River in Botswana, and like AmaMagna , it's an outlier — but for the opposite reason. At just 150 feet in length, Zambezi Queen was designed in 2019 specifically for wildlife viewing and accommodates just 28 passengers and 22 crew.

In 2024, AmaWaterways will add South America to its portfolio when it begins cruising the Magdalena River in Colombia. AmaMagdalena will carry 60 passengers and 30 crew.

Related: Best river cruise lines around the world

As for Viking, the company's fleet of 55 identical Longships is ubiquitous along Central Europe's major rivers. At 443 feet in length, each accommodates 190 passengers and 53 crew members.

On Portugal's Douro River, Viking operates four smaller ships. They carry 106 passengers and 33 crew members. On the Elbe River in Germany, the cruise line has two ships, Viking Astrild and Viking Beyla, each carrying 98 passengers and 33 crew.

On the Seine River in France, Viking's four identical ships, all built in 2020, accommodate 168 passengers and 46 crew.

Viking's fleet on the Nile River in Egypt currently numbers four ships, with two more in the pipeline. The two newest — Viking Osiris and Viking Aton — were launched in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Each accommodates 82 passengers and 48 crew members. The similarly sized Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek are set to join them in 2024 and 2025. Two smaller ships, Viking Ra (2017) and MS Antares (2007), carry just 52 and 62 passengers, respectively, with crew staffs of 55 and 75.

In Asia, Viking operates just one ship. Viking Saigon, which debuted in 2022 and accommodates 80 passengers.

Viking's largest river ship is actually cruising stateside. Viking Mississippi, which debuted in 2022 and is 450 feet in length, accommodates 386 guests and 147 crew.

If you do the math, you'll see that while both AmaWaterways and Viking's main European river ships are 443 feet in length, Viking's ships carry 30 additional guests. That means Viking ships will be a tad more crowded and cabins slightly smaller (135 to 205 square feet versus 160 to 235 square feet) to accommodate. (However, suites on Viking vessels are generally a bit roomier.)

AmaWaterways also has a slightly better crew-to-guest ratio on its core European river fleet: 51 crew members for 156-162 guests versus Viking's 53 crew members for 190 guests. Both cruise lines offer excellent service, however, and any discrepancy will most likely be felt when a Viking ship is sailing at capacity, and the ship's sole dining room is full at mealtimes.

Who is on board AmaWaterways and Viking?

Several factors play a role in the passenger mix aboard these competing river cruise lines. For one, Viking's ships are adults only (passengers must be at least 18), while AmaWaterways welcomes multigenerational families. That's not to say that you'll find kids running amok on the latter's ships, but you might share your river cruise with parents and teens or grandparents and younger children during summer and spring break.

The most obvious difference to the casual observer, however, will be the age and fitness level of each line's core clientele.

Viking is highly popular with Americans — especially older Americans age 65 and above who like the cruise line's consistency and emphasis on easy sightseeing by bus. More active passengers might find themselves frustrated by the pace of guided walking tours, but they can always book excursions coded as "moderate" or "demanding" rather than "easy" to lessen the odds of being slowed by fellow passengers who aren't as speedy.

AmaWaterways is also popular with U.S. travelers but attracts a slightly more international demographic that's also perhaps a bit younger — and fitter. Why? Not only does the cruise line offer active hiking or biking excursions in most ports, but its ships also have a Wellness Host on board leading morning and afternoon yoga, meditation and fitness classes. Guests who book AmaMagna can even play pickleball on a full-size court.

AmaWaterways also partners with bike touring company Backroads to host groups of cyclists on board, typically 30 to 40 at a time, for lengthier and more challenging bike rides than on its normal itineraries.

Wine lovers are another core group for AmaWaterways, which in 2024 will host more than 70 wine-themed cruises highlighting different wineries (mostly U.S.-based but also some European wineries on Rhone itineraries) that have been invited to bring their wine club members on board for tastings, lectures and special excursions. Some groups buy out the entire ship, but the average is 70 to 80 passengers, or about half the ship's capacity. That means you could be sailing with a large group that's keenly focused on wine.

Cabins and suites

Because 19 of AmaWaterways' core European ships fall into two size categories, accommodating 144 to 162 passengers, cabin and suite design is consistent across most of the fleet. Each of the generously sized rooms features a flat-screen TV and a bathroom with a roomy shower.

Fixed window cabins on the lowest deck are 160 square feet, French balcony cabins are 155 to 170 square feet, twin balcony cabins (with both a French balcony and step-out veranda) are 210 to 235 square feet, and suites are 300 to 350 square feet. The company's two Douro River ships, AmaDouro and AmaVida, feature similarly sized cabins and suites.

While the general theme uniting the accommodations across AmaWaterways' European fleet is contemporary design with destination-inspired touches, suite decor is unique from ship to ship. In general, cabin decor has become lighter and brighter with each new (or newly refurbished) ship, with interesting textures and patterns replacing more traditional fabrics.

In 2017, AmaWaterways also launched the first river ship (AmaKristina) with connecting rooms, designed for multigenerational families or groups of friends traveling together. Six additional ships (AmaLea, AmaMagna, AmaMora, AmaLucia, AmaSiena and AmaDahlia) now also have this feature.

Related: Best river cruises in Europe

Viking Longships are each a carbon copy of the others, so passengers know exactly what they are getting when they book. Cabins are more compact than those on AmaWaterways' ships but have an airy ambience featuring light woods, neutral fabrics and a well-designed bathroom with a heated floor.

Standard cabins are 150 square feet and have a small window just above the water line. French Balcony cabins are a snug 135 square feet, but feature wall-to-wall sliding glass doors. Veranda cabins are 205 square feet, while veranda suites are 275 square feet. The two Explorer Suites are 445 square feet, including a 270-degree wrap-around veranda.

For slightly larger accommodations, river cruisers should look to AmaMagna, as its double-width design allows for roomier accommodations. Its two top balcony categories offer a generous 474 and 710 square feet of space, similar to the square footage of suites on many ocean ships.

Dining options on AmaWaterways vs. Viking

There's no question that you will eat well on a river cruise. Both AmaWaterways and Viking have culinary programs designed to appeal to a wide variety of food preferences, including vegetarian. You can expect to enjoy classic preparations as well as destination-focused dining highlighting regional cuisines.

AmaWaterways, which is the only river cruise line that's a member of the prestigious culinary organization La Chaine des Rotisseurs, offers a la carte dining from menus that change daily for both lunch and dinner, as well as full-service breakfast from menus rather than a buffet. Options range from eggs Benedict or omelets to smoked trout or avocado toast.

Guests who prefer a lighter, more informal breakfast or lunch can skip the Main Restaurant and opt to enjoy a small selection of options served in a central buffet in the Lounge.

Sit-down lunch menus in the Main Restaurant feature a selection of appetizers served family-style and main course options that include at least one local preparation, such as goulash in Budapest or wiener schnitzel in Vienna. Dinner menus are more extensive and include three or four appetizers/soups and three or four mains (with well-conceived meat or fish options and delicious vegetarian dishes). There are two hard-to-resist dessert choices, along with seasonal fruits and a selection of cheeses.

All AmaWaterways ships also feature the Chef's Table, an intimate space (it seats 28) located at the back of the ship and offering panoramic views. Passengers can reserve a shared table here to enjoy a beautifully prepared multicourse meal at no additional cost.

In addition, AmaMagna offers two more restaurant options: Jimmy's for casual, family-style dining and Al Fresco for vegetable-forward menu options served in an outdoor setting.

AmaWaterways serves an excellent selection of complimentary wines (most from local vineyards along your river cruise route) and beers with both lunch and dinner, as well as a selection of complimentary mixed drinks, wines and beers during the nightly predinner Sip & Sail cocktail hour. Sparkling wine is also available during breakfast.

Viking's dining experience is also designed to offer plenty of options. At breakfast and lunch in the Main Restaurant, passengers can select items from the buffet — which typically includes freshly made pastries, cheeses, smoked salmon, oatmeal, fruit and eggs — and/or order off of the day's menu (buttermilk pancakes, eggs Benedict and more).

Lunch is similar, with buffet selections available as well as a menu with daily selections (soup, salad and two main options) plus always-available dishes (such as salad Nicoise and burgers). The lunch menu does not always have a locally inspired dish, but Viking guests can enjoy their midday meal while surveying local surroundings by opting to dine alfresco on the Aquavit Terrace. This aft space is popular on days when the weather is good and offers much of the same menu as the Main Restaurant.

It's at dinner that Viking's chefs inject more local flavors into the menu, with a suggested three-course Regional Specialties Tasting Menu (chicken paprikash as the main in Hungary, for instance). These offerings are complemented by a daily selection of two starters, two mains (always with a vegetarian selection) and one dessert. In addition, guests can choose from a Classics menu with always-available favorites.

Viking also serves unlimited complimentary wine and beer with both lunch and dinner, but the selection is a bit limited. Passengers wanting more options can purchase a Silver Spirits drinks package to enjoy a wider choice, including the sommelier's selection of wines, which are often excellent local varietals. The package also includes cocktails and other beverages, which can be enjoyed at any time.

Viking does not host a complimentary evening cocktail hour, but on certain days it does offer free wine tastings on the Aquavit Terrace.

What's on board

Most of the real estate aboard river cruise ships is taken up by guest accommodations, the main restaurant and the lounge, leaving little room for any fancy attractions beyond a small gift shop.

But AmaWaterways has managed to add a perk: a heated pool or hot tub on the Sun Deck of most of its ships. However, passengers who require an elevator can only access the two main decks, not the Sun Deck or the lowest deck.

In addition to their cache of bicycles, AmaWaterways ships also offer a wellness program, led by an onboard Wellness Host. Classes on the Sun Deck or in the Lounge consist of morning yoga, meditation or core strengthening and afternoon stretching or active walks. Every ship also has a small fitness center and a massage room. AmaMagna also has a full-size pickleball court.

Entertainment-wise, guests can expect nightly music by a piano player/DJ as well as guest performances by locals that range from folkloric song and dance to contemporary music.

Shipwide Wi-Fi is complimentary, but there is no internet center.

Viking's Longships don't feature pools or any wellness/fitness activities beyond a walking track and small putting green, but they do have a library with a good selection of books and an internet corner with laptops guests can use (shipwide Wi-Fi is free as well) and a small gift shop.

Related: Booking your first river cruise? Here's what you need to know.

The Sun Deck features a shaded sitting area, as well as solar panels and an herb garden that allows chefs anytime access to fresh ingredients. Elevators on Viking ships also offer access to the middle decks but not the Sun Deck.

Viking's entertainment is similar to most river cruise lineups and features a musician or DJ as well as local performers with a folkloric, classical or contemporary style.

AmaWaterways and Viking itineraries

River cruise itineraries, especially in Europe, don't vary that much from line to line. The cruise season is mainly from late March to mid-December. Certain rivers are more popular — namely the Danube, Rhine and Rhone — and most cruise lines, including AmaWaterways and Viking, visit the same key ports.

AmaWaterways offers 33 different itineraries in Europe on the Danube, Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Garonne and Dordogne, Douro, Main and Moselle rivers, as well as the waterways of Belgium and Holland. Cruises last five to 14 nights.

As of 2024, the company is offering February and March sailings aboard AmaMagna ("Magna on the Danube") on the Danube and AmaLucia ("Captivating Rhine") on the Rhine. Yes, the weather will be a bit nippy, but there will be fewer crowds, and the cruise fares will be hundreds of dollars lower than in warmer months.

The river cruise line does not only sail in Europe. In Egypt, the company features one Nile River cruise itinerary, "Secrets of Egypt & the Nile." It includes a three-night hotel stay in Cairo and a seven-night cruise.

It also offers two seven-night itineraries on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia.

AmaWaterway's seven itinerary options in Africa all combine a three- or four-night cruise on the Chobe River in Botswana with land stays in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe or Tanzania for a total of 10 to 17 nights.

In late 2024, AmaWaterways will become the first upscale river cruise company to sail the Magdalena River in Colombia. Its two new seven-night itineraries include the "Magic of Colombia" itinerary from Barranquilla to Cartagena and the "Wonders of Colombia" cruise from Cartagena to Barranquilla.

Related: River cruise packing list: What to pack when traveling by riverboat

Viking offers 29 different itineraries in Europe on the Danube, Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Garonne & Dordogne, Douro and Elbe rivers, as well as the waterways of Belgium and Holland. While most sailings, lasting seven to 16 nights, are from early March to mid-December, Viking has added a 10-night "Treasures of the Rhine" itinerary between Amsterdam and Basel for 2024, with dates in January and February.

Viking also offers river cruises beyond Europe. In Egypt, Viking offers one itinerary, the 10-night "Pharaohs & Pyramids," featuring four nights in Cairo and a seven-night Nile cruise. Its itinerary through Vietnam and Cambodia is the 14-night "Magnificent Mekong" from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, which includes an eight-day river cruise and hotel stays in Hanoi, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City.

Finally, the new Viking Mississippi cruises five itineraries in America's Heartland. These range from seven-night roundtrips from New Orleans to 21-night journeys that cover the mighty Mississippi's entire 2,350-mile length from New Orleans to St. Paul, Minnesota.

Bottom line

While both AmaWaterways and Viking do have a lot in common — similar itineraries and pricing, excellent cuisine and a generally casual dress code — their differences will matter to certain travelers, especially those who prioritize active wellness or multiple included tour options ... or perhaps even both.

Choose AmaWaterways if you want a slightly more inclusive cruise fare, a good selection of regional wines and a passenger mix that's a bit younger and more international. Choose Viking if you appreciate airy, modern design and enjoy traditional guided tours focused on history, culture and cuisine.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
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Rhone River Cruise Review: AmaWaterways Colors of Provence

Our Colors of Provence cruise with AmaWaterways was a vacation for the books! We saw incredible French towns and cities we may not have otherwise visited, sailed a wonderful route on a beautiful ship, and have everlasting memories from the excursions and time spent with fellow guests during our Rhone River cruise. 

If you’re considering this route, our review shares essential info you need to know, including overall information about where the cruise sails and what it's like to sail the Rhone , French ports on the itinerary with some excursions information, about AmaKristina river cruise ship, a general idea of the French food and wine you'll taste, engineering highlights like river locks, and answer FAQs about a river cruise in Provence. 

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post, which means we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase  at no cost to you . We thank AmaWaterways for hosting us. We truly only recommend cruises, experiences, products, and services we personally use. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Overall Region Where You Sail During a Colors of Provence River Cruise 

When you sail the Colors of Provence itinerary with AmaWaterways, you travel on the Rhône River in the South of France. 

You can sign up for a cruise sailing from Lyon to Avignon, north to south, or select the opposite direction from Avignon to Lyon, south to north. The only difference between them is the river cruise ship's direction and the order of the towns you visit; the itinerary and towns you stop at are the same. 

The Rhone River is around 500 miles, but you only sail a portion of it during this AmaWaterways 7-night river cruise. Mile marker “0” (zero) on the Rhone River is at the Confluences in Lyon, which you sail past during the cruise. The Confluence is the point where the Rhone and Saone rivers converge. 

Tip : During your free time in Lyon, you can visit the Museum of the Confluences and its adjacent modern neighborhood where the Rhone and Saone Rivers converge.

French Port Cities during a Colors of Provence River Cruise with AmaWaterways

You'll sail to and visit lovely French cities and villages on this itinerary, including Lyon, Beaujolais, Vienne, Tournon and Hermitage, Avignon, and Arles.

Excursion options range from food market tours to city walking tours, moderate hikes, wine tastings, and bike tours.

➤ Read Our Extensive AmaWaterways Colors of Provence Excursions Review

France tourism and the river cruise guests.

France is the most visited country in the world. 90M people visit a year, so if you go on a river cruise on the Rhone with AmaWaterways, you’ll be one of them! 

While 180M tourists in France are French people discovering their own culture (because the different areas of France vastly vary from one another), most of the fellow cruisers onboard AmaKristina were American and British. But don’t be surprised if you encounter a lot of French tourists while you’re in ports during a Provence river cruise. 

The official language in France is French, though most people speak English in the country, particularly if they’re in a tourism-related industry. 

French people are very friendly, especially in Provence. Actually, we have found that most French people outside of Paris (which is most of the population of France), no matter where we have traveled, from Normandy to Bordeaux, to the South of France, and Provence, make fun of Parisians as if they’re their own French breed.

While we have always had positive experiences with French people, including Parisians, you may have heard “rumors” that French people are rude. If so, don’t believe them. They are lovely people. 

About AmaKristina River cruise vessel

The ship is lovely and the staterooms are beautiful. One of the most impactful visions of the ship is when you enter and see the circular elevator flanked by two winding staircases.

The dining room on the ship is very nice, with booth seating and tables. There are semi-private rooms as well for groups. The common spaces, including the lounge areas and a small library and bar, are great places to relax after a day in port or to enjoy entertainment like listening to the piano player.

Another favorite area of AmaKrisitna is the Sundeck, which has an outdoor pool and pool bar for when the weather is nice. The ship also has a fitness room with assorted workout equipment, including weights, and a track around part of the Sundeck.

Sailing on the Rhone River Aboard AmaKristina

An AmaKristina Provence river cruise review is incomplete without a mention of what it’s like to sail on the Rhône River. 

We were excited to sail once the time came to leave Lyon. It was worth the wait because it was a gorgeous afternoon to sail. The sun was shining, and the skies were blue as we pulled away from the port, turned away from the attractive Pont d’Universite bridge, and sailed south. 

The next afternoon, we enjoyed a beautiful sail through the Rhone River valley after our morning in Vienne. During our October cruise, we sailed past hillside vineyards, castles, and gorgeous foliage turning from green to yellow. 

We also passed pretty towns, like the town of Saint Vallier.  

France’s Rhone River proved pretty to sail, just like the Danube River , which runs through various European countries. 

Scenery During a Rhone River Cruise

We mostly sailed during the evening and overnight on the ship, but there was an afternoon or two we cruised. The scenery is beautiful on the Rhone River. You see some houses along the waterfront, and it’s so pretty to see the landscape as you pull into the next port. 

French Wine and Food on a River Cruise in France on the Rhone River

During an AmaWaterways Colors of Provence river cruise, you may crave French wine and food. After all, depending on the direction you sail, it starts or ends in France’s culinary capital: Lyon! 

There is a nice variety of cruise excursions you can choose from that focus on French food and wine. Onboard, you’ll find French wine and some French-inspired food options here and there. 

You will not feel immersed in French cuisine when you sail on this cruise, like during a land trip to Provence. That’s generally true of most cruises, whose cuisine needs to cater to a broad audience. 

For us, the cruise is what brought us to the region. But for a truly French experience in the culinary sense, we recommend booking some restaurant experiences on your own in addition to the excursions offered.

The best thing to do is extend your river cruise for time on land with a pre or post-cruise extension. Dan and I did this, and it’s when we really immersed ourselves in French cuisine. 

In addition, as we explain in more depth below, be sure to go on the Paul Bocuse Les Halles Market Food Tour in Lyon if you’re an epicurean or even the slightest bit interested in French food and drinks. It’s an included tour option on the AmaWaterways Colors of Provence cruise.

Wine Production in the Rhône Region 

France is the only country in Europe that is self-sufficient in basic food production. While only 4% of the country’s residents work in agriculture, France is the third largest wine producer in the world. In recent years, Spain and Italy have taken the top spots. 

The third largest wine region of the 14 in France is the Rhône area, which has 175K acres of vineyards. These vineyards yield 7% of French wines. Bordeaux is one of the largest regions, with 300K acres of vineyards. 

French Cheese 

During our cruise, we learned that the French consume over 50 pounds of cheese per person per year. They eat a lot of bread and pastries too, but they remain a “slim” nation with a relatively low obesity rate.

While AmaWaterways offers some cheese onboard, we found it wasn’t as authentic as the cheese you can get on land. If you want to taste French cheeses, sign up for a food tour before or after the cruise in Lyon, or make sure you take the Les Halles Food Market tour excursion in Lyon or stop at a local market in any French town while the cruise ship is docked to purchase some. 

The best is if you can find a French cheesemonger and ask about the cheeses, then decide what you want to purchase. You are allowed to bring the cheese onboard, and there is a refrigerator in each cabin. 

We recommend getting a baguette from town if you bring cheese onboard. Baguettes are less than €1 per piece at any market or supermarket you visit in France. Our favorite grocery shop in France is Carrefour; most any sizable French city has one. 

Dan and I enjoyed our own little happy hour on the ship once or twice during the cruise, complete with French groceries we bought while in port – cheese and bread included.

Engineering Highlights via Locks and Power Plants During a Rhone River Cruise

The Rhone River became navigable for modern ships in 1981. The Colors of Provence river cruise traveled 600 feet during the journey, including 12 locks. 

The rate of ascent or descent (depending on the direction your cruise is traveling) is approximately one foot per minute. It takes around 30 minutes to travel through one lock. The biggest lock we experienced during the Colors of Provence river cruise dropped us 75 feet (12m).

If you love science, you’ll be intrigued to know that the cruise passes three nuclear power plants. Nuclear power is the primary way most of the towns in Provence get power. 

Water Levels During Our AmaWaterways Rhone River Cruise in France

One of the things to know about river cruising is that the river's water levels affect whether or not you can sail. Sometimes the water can be too high, making sailing impossible because the ship cannot pass under the low-clearance bridges along the route. Other times, the river’s water levels may be too low to sail because there is insufficient water beneath the boat and the riverbed.  

If there is a challenge regarding the river levels, AmaWaterways will do everything possible to maintain the schedule and all the excursions guests expect to go on. 

Schedule Adjustment to Avoid the Lock Workers Strike

Another unexpected Rhone River challenge had nothing to do with water levels; it had to do with the locks being affected by a strike! During the cruise, the captain smartly adjusted our day's schedule in Tournon to avoid the lock workers' strike.

If you’ve been to Europe, you probably know strikes are common. During previous trips in recent years, we were affected by a Lufthansa airline strike before our barge cruise with European Waterways and again for our Bordeaux summer river cruise with Viking. 

Luckily, AmaWaterways knew a lock workers strike would affect the fifth day of our cruise. Because they knew this beforehand, the captain, Cruise Director, and crew planned accordingly. 

They changed our sailing time to work around the lock strike, and none of our tours were affected! The only difference was our all-aboard time one day and where we got back on the ship in Tournon. AmaWaterways handled it beautifully! 

Pivoting in Tournon Because of the Strike 

As soon as the guests disembarked AmaKristina in Tournon, the ship sailed away to make it to the next location. This smart move was the captain’s solution to deal with the strike and stay on course for our Colors of Provence itinerary. 

As such, the guests boarded buses to reach the boat from Tournon after our morning tours; the ship was further along the Rhone River after our excursions than where we disembarked that morning.

We took a 45-minute bus ride to reach the ship, which was nothing compared to what could have happened had the ship been unable to navigate two locks before the strike. 

The crew and our Cruise Director were outstanding at pivoting and adjusting the cruise schedule accordingly to minimize the strike's impact. The change included more logistics and coordination than most guests probably realized. 

While the AmaWaterways crew and officers couldn’t control the strike, they managed how they handled it. They were true professionals in keeping us informed and planning for a forthcoming strike. 

Because of this, the guests hardly noticed an impending strike that could have very much affected the cruise.

AmaWaterways Colors of Provence Cruise FAQs

Do you see lavender fields on this cruise .

Provence is well known for its colorful lavender fields. We did not sail during the time when the flowers bloom. Thus, we did not see lavender fields at all. We did see plenty of souvenirs available with lavender motifs and scents, though! Lavender appeared on hand towels, as soap scents, and in sachets. 

While our minds immediately went to purple lavender fields coating the area when we first considered a Colors of Provence cruise (in fact, “purple” was the color that came to mind), AmaWaterways does not — to our knowledge — offer tours that take guests to lavender fields, even if they’re in bloom. 

The highlight is the small towns and cities you visit in Provence, not far from the Rhone River, not necessarily the countryside. 

Though you may see lavender fields in the distance if you sign up for this cruise during the summer season, which would be similar to our experience passing some tulip fields during our river cruises in The Netherlands during spring or sunflower fields during our summer river cruise in Bordeaux , do not count on it. 

If you want to be sure you’ll see lavender fields during a summer vacation in Provence, extend your cruise with a land trip before or after the journey to venture into the countryside. 

Can you buy Herbs de Provence during the cruise and then travel home with the spices? 

We love cooking. That’s why we had to get this herb blend during our Colors of Provence river cruise! Finding Herbs de Provence blend in most of the towns we visited was easy. The spice blend includes rosemary, thyme, basil, marjoram, parsley, tarragon, and other spices.

It was most affordable at grocery shops in the bigger cities where we could find them and packaged in nice bottles, good enough gift. We loved going to the Carrefour grocery store whenever we could, like in Lyon. The alternative is finding the herbs at specialty upscale spice towns in old town centers or in souvenir shops that sell a variety of keepsakes and trinkets. 

And yes, we could pack the herbs in our carry-on luggage or checked bags without a problem and bring them back to the United States. 

Is the Colors of Provence cruise itinerary worth it in the fall? 

YES! We loved our AmaWaterways Colors of Provence cruise on the Rhône River. Our experience on AmaKristina during this time of year was incredibly memorable. The temperatures were perfect, and we lucked out with sunshine almost daily. 

Another fun perk of a fall river cruise in the South of France was the breathtaking autumn colors in the vineyards. We didn’t see grapes on the vines because the workers harvested them by October. But we saw how beautiful the fall colors can be when you look out on the expanse of vineyards that this cruise brings you to in beautiful French port cities.  

Colors of Provence Rhone River Cruise Conclusion 

The cities we visited during this tour and AmaWaterways's service — especially in guided tours and their ability to pivot during a strike — were standouts. In a year that happened to have taken us to the South of France multiple times, this was a phenomenal conclusion to our three cruise vacations in a charming country. 

The region's colors were beautiful, from the river to the buildings and shops. The Colors of Provence itinerary is an unforgettable river cruise that everyone should sign up for if they have the chance!

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Read this next:

• AmaWaterways Food and Drinks Review
• Colors of Provence River Cruise Excursions Info
• Helpful Things to Know Your First Time on a River Cruise

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Review: AmaWaterways AmaSerena Tulip Time River Cruise

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If you are looking for a luxury river cruise, we wholeheartedly recommend AmaWaterways. The AmaWaterways staff look after you from when you arrive at the airport to when you fly home. From transfers to tours and fine dining to excellent onboard entertainment, AmaWaterways offers luxury river cruising as it should be. This is our story from the AmaWaterways Tulip Time cruise on their ship AmaSerena.

We arrived at Schipol Airport, just outside Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where an AMA representative awaiting our exit from the customs area. We were escorted onto the coach through the maze of this huge airport. Our luggage was taken care of right into the cabin, a bottle of water was provided, and only four people were on this VIP transfer.

Our first impression of this lovely new white ship was one of friendliness and efficiency. We were escorted to the large, inviting lounge with lots of comfy sofas, vases of tulips everywhere, and views over the water. A self-serve coffee and tea station was open all day for hot drinks. We were early, and a delicious buffet lunch was provided in the lounge with tasty pea soup, sandwiches, salad, pasta, apple tart, and fresh fruit.

The ship was built in 2015, and everything looked new and spotless. The ship felt enormously long (450 feet x 37.5 feet), but Captain Henk skillfully manoeuvered it in and out of huge locks and moorings, and you hardly felt you were afloat.

The cabins are at one end and the lounge and main dining room at the other, so it was quiet at night. On the top deck is a heated swimming pool and plenty of loungers in the sun and shade. Bicycles are provided for your own use or guided tours. Evening entertainers were brought on board at several locations, and the onboard pianist was very good too. There can be up to 164 people on board, which means you soon get to know each other. About 80% were Americans and Canadians on our cruise, plus British, Australians, and two Brazilians, varying in age from 45-80. The language on board was English throughout, and it was a very friendly atmosphere.

Our spacious two-balcony cabin (210 ft²) was delightful, on the middle deck, with a large comfy bed, thick terry bathrobes, huge flat screen TV/infotainment station (Hollywood movies, music, English/American TV), and free Wi-Fi. There were soft chairs and a glass table in front of the Juliet balcony and a small outside balcony with two chairs and a table through a glass door by the bed. The bathroom was excellent, with all the usual amenities and a good shower.

Breakfast was largely buffet style, with a delicious selection of fruit, yogurts, Bircher muesli, cheese, cold meats, and porridge to order. There was also an omelet station and a menu for a full-cooked breakfast or poached eggs. They had their own baker on board and a vast selection of breads, pastries, and delicious jams.

Lunch was also largely buffet style for salads, cold meats and cheeses, desserts, and ice creams, with a menu for soups and hot dishes. There was free good quality wine and beer with lunch and dinner.

Dinner was a grand unhurried affair with many courses and a good selection, including vegetarian dishes. The desserts were gorgeous. There is also a separate Chef’s table restaurant with lovely views at the rear of the ship, you book this on board (no charge) on a night to suit you, and it has an interesting taster menu, the food for which is prepared in front of you.

At start and finish, the ship was moored in the center of Amsterdam, and a 25-minute walk that took you to the old parts of the city and Dam square. Excellent maps were provided at reception for every stop. The cruise started with a day in and around Amsterdam, with tours to attractive old Edam and Volendam.

AMA Waterways includes all tours, which were excellently organized with knowledgeable guides. We then motored, usually overnight, down through Holland, visiting such highlights as Arnhem, Nijmegen, and ‘Het Loo’ Royal Palace, all places you wouldn’t easily see by car. The ship stops right in the center of most towns and cities, and where they didn’t, at Ghent, for example, for security reasons, we were coached there. Antwerp was a scenic old city. We took the limited edition tour to Ruben’s house and the cathedral (one can sign up for limited capacity tours online after you have booked your holiday, usually about 20 people per tour). In Ghent, we took the limited edition Belgian chocolate workshop tour, where we tried making the shells and praline fillings under the watchful eye of the chocolatier. This was messy but most enjoyable!! We had a glass of sparkling wine and some chocolates to sample to finish, and they sent us away with a small box of pralines each.

We returned via several beautiful little Dutch locations, such as Willemstad, Middleburg, and Kinderdijk, with 17 windmills. Of course, the highlight of this springtime itinerary was the visit to the Keukenhof gardens, which has millions of tulips in a 70-acre park and glasshouses, including one with amazing orchids.

River cruising is undoubtedly an effortless way to travel, the mainly Eastern European crew were some of the most obliging I have ever encountered, and the accommodations were eminently comfortable. John Riley, the tour manager, was very hands-on and seemed to be everywhere – he couldn’t do enough for us, and when we arrived home at Southampton airport, I missed having our AMA rep. Waiting for us in arrivals and taking care of us!

In summary, this our AMA waterways first river cruise experience was absolutely first class!

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This Rhine River Cruise Took My Breath Away. But Not in the Way I Expected.

Amawaterways’ european river cruise is not what you might think. see if you can keep up..

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The Rhine River is one of the most popular destinations for cruising in Europe.

Photo by Mae Hamilton

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I’m out of breath and panting, somewhere near Heidelberg, a historic German city located near the foothills of the Odenwald. My cycling group and I are pedaling toward Schwetzingen Palace, renowned for its Versailles-like gardens, about six miles away from our ship docked along the Rhine. As I pause in the middle of a cornfield, all my group mates are but a glimmer of silver hair in the distance.

“Don’t worry,” the wellness instructor says sympathetically. He had stayed behind with me so I wouldn’t get lost. “Some of these older people have been cyclists for years.”

“They’re in such better shape than I am!” I say. He gives me a look. “Well, yes.”

Amawaterways’ Captivating Rhine itinerary takes cruisers through several exciting destinations including Cologne, Germany, which is known for its UNESCO-protected cathedral.

It’s day five of AmaWaterways’ seven-night “ Captivating Rhine ” cruise. I’m sailing from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland, on the 156- passenger AmaLucia, which was christened in 2022. One of the newest ships in the company’s fleet, it offers two dining options (a main restaurant and the dinner-only Chef’s Table, which seats 32 guests), a spa, a walking track, and complimentary beer and wine.

But what distinguishes AmaWaterways from the seemingly endless array of Rhine River cruises is its wellness program and active excursions. It’s no secret that river-cruise passengers tend to be older, but this company is a go-to for those who like to start the day with vigorous bike rides and cap it off with a vineyard-side wine tasting. To that end, each ship has an onboard wellness instructor who organizes daily activities, including yoga, cardio workouts, and dance classes. Passengers can borrow bikes at no charge for use on land. AmaWaterways also offers shore excursions, ranging from a gentle cable car ride over vineyards to a Black Forest hike.

Toward the end of my trip, I sat on a stoop enjoying a mango gelato after a long walking tour of Riquewihr, a fairy-tale medieval French town. I had sweated my way down the Rhine for the past week, but it was exactly the kind of vacation I needed. For someone like me, whose mind is constantly racing with worries, staying active allowed me to be more present and connected—even when I was being shown up by people twice my age. Those moments in a new destination, when the responsibilities dissipate, make travel—and the sweat—so rewarding.

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See inside a new ultra-luxury river cruise line that's charging up to $59,520 per person

• Newcomer Riverside Luxury Cruises wants to break into the growing river cruise market.
• The ultra-luxury cruise line  operates former Crystal ships in popular European rivers like the Danube.
• Riverside's 2024 cruises start at $1,055 per person for four days.

A new ultra-luxury cruise line wants to be the swankiest travel-by-river vacation option.

To do so, it's enticing cruisers with truffle-infused butter, $320-per-person dinners, and butlers that can be beckoned with a simple WhatsApp message.

Affluent travelers , meet Riverside Luxury Cruises.

The budding company first set sail in March 2023. With a year of service under its belt, its three ships are now sailing some of Europe's most popular rivers — starting at more than $260 per person per day.

Riverside is operated by Seaside Collection, a European hotelier.

The firm had its sights set on a river cruise venture since 2018, Jen Halboth, CEO of Riverside Luxury Cruises, told Business Insider.

Ironically, COVID-19 was the reason it got into the business.

Crystal Cruises declared bankruptcy in early 2022 amid the pandemic. Shortly after, Seaside purchased and updated five of the then-defunct cruise line's ships.

Three of these vessels now make up Riverside's fleet. The other two are being leased to competitor Uniworld River Cruises.

River cruising has become increasingly popular as wealthy travelers gravitate to ultra-luxury small-ship vacations.

River cruise ships are much smaller than their behemoth ocean-based counterparts, allowing Riverside to sail in waterways like Europe's Rhine, Rhone, Danube, Main, Moselle, and Saône rivers.

Along the way, guests can explore destinations many giant ships can't easily access — like Budapest, Hungary; Frankfurt, Germany; and Amsterdam — sometimes visiting more than one port in a day.

One of Riverside's shortest and cheapest 2024 voyages starts at $1,055 per person for a four-day Danube River cruise from Passau, Germany, to Vienna.

Alcohol and excursion packages can tack on an extra $75 to $175 per person per night.

Looking to ball out? The most expensive and longest itinerary is $59,521 per person for a three-river, 22-day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest, Hungary, in the most expensive suite with the most inclusive package.

To compare, the cheapest 2024 voyage with all-inclusive luxury competitor Uniworld River Cruises starts at $2,000 per person for an eight-day Danube River sailing.

River cruisers tend to be over the age of 55.

But the new company is targeting guests 45 years old and older, specifically those who frequent luxury vacations but have yet to try a river cruise.

"New luxury travelers want to be pampered, get off and have an adventure, and come back and be taken care of," the cruise line's CEO said.

"Pampering” they will get.

Of Riverside's three ships, the 394-foot-long, 74-foot-wide Mozart can accommodate the most guests — up to 162, not including the 82 crew.

Yes, it's larger than Uniworld's ships, which range from 32 to 159 guests. But it's also significantly smaller than Royal Caribbean's new 9,950-person Icon of the Seas ocean vessel.

Like most cruise liners, Riverside's three ships have spas, buffets, and plush lounges and bars.

During the day, travelers can enjoy lunch at the open-air grill and relax to live music courtesy of Steinway and Bösendorfer pianos, no less.

At night, they can dine on a seven-course meal at the 295 euros ($320) per-person Vintage Room.

Riverside’s ships have up to 5 restaurants. Vintage Room is the only specialty option.

The cost to dine includes a wine pairing and plates like veal with truffle and chanterelle mushrooms and "surf and turf" with beef sirloin and scallops.

But don't expect a lackluster, rushed meal at the other complimentary options: "This is not a churn-and-burn," the company's CEO said of the ships' Waterside restaurants. "You come in for fine dining."

Infused, whipped butter is apparently one of Riverside's hottest commodities.

Sometimes, it has chiles. Other times, it's infused with citrus. If you're lucky, you'll get one with truffles.

"People were raving about our butter," Halboth said. "Everyone's waiting to see what butter they'll get at dinner each night."

Need to sleep off all that dairy? You're in luck. Every cabin has a king bed.

Riverside's suites range from 194 to 883 square-feet. These high-end cabins include butler service, stocked mini-bars, and espresso machines.

Some suites also have double-sink vanities and walk-in closets, a hallmark of an ultra-luxury cruise vessel .

Does Riverside’s more than $260 per person, per day fare seem reasonable now?

If yes, book soon. It'll only get more expensive from here.

These fares don't offset the amount Riverside is spending on amenities like the upscale food, according to Halboth. To make up for these expenditures, the cruise line plans to raise its prices gradually over the next two years.

The company's CEO said bookings have been 'a little lighter' since the start of 2024.

But the back half of the year is "filling up" thanks to Americans: About 70 to 80% of its guests are from North America, the company said.

Riverside will operate its Mozart, Ravel, and Debussy ships for three years as it 'hones the brand,' Halboth said.

The cruise line's two additional vessels would join its fleet in the next few years.

Given the growing popularity of river cruises , it's a good time for companies like Riverside to start expanding.

However, it could face plenty of incoming competition.

Jamie Loizou, the UK managing director of luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways, is forecasting 2024 as a "pivotal" year for the river cruise industry, noting that 15 new river-based vessels are expected to launch this year, Cruise Critic reported .

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AmaWaterways AmaViola - The Ultimate Mother-Daughter Getaway

L et’s talk about the ultimate mother-daughter getaway – a cruise! Specifically, a river cruise on AmaWaterway’s luxurious AmaViola that sails through the rivers of Europe. This cruise experience is perfect for women over 40, especially those looking for a unique and unforgettable bonding experience with their daughters. Imagine sailing past breathtaking landscapes , exploring enchanting cities, and enjoying delicious cuisine, all while spending quality time with your favorite travel companion. So pack your bags, grab your daughter, and let’s set sail on the AmaViola!

AmaViola Ship Overview

Let’s start with the most important part – the ship! AmaViola is one of AmaWaterways’ newer ships, boasting modern and spacious staterooms with good views of the stunning surroundings. The ship has a maximum passenger capacity of 156, guaranteeing an intimate and personalized experience. Our sailing had less than 80 people on board, so we knew almost everyone by the time the week was done.

The decor is elegant, featuring a mix of modern and classic design elements that will make you feel right at home. The lounges and bars on the ship are all comfortably furnished, perfect for relaxing after a day of sightseeing.

They offer just a few room choices. We stayed in one of the regular rooms with two twin beds and a balcony. It was the perfect size for us. If you prefer just one bed, it’s the same exact room, and they just push the beds together. The bathroom had a hair dryer that worked great. It also had shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. The bottles are large, so there is plenty of product for the entire trip. 

There is also a suite and a junior suite on the AmaViola. The suite can sleep four people, and the junior suite can sleep three. The AmaWaterways ships that they use just for Disney have lots of rooms like these to make it easier for families. If you want to travel with younger children, I recommend looking into the Disney AmaWaterways cruises . If your kids are older like mine, it won’t matter which ship you choose to sail on. 

The benefits of the largest suite include a stocked minifridge, snacks for the room, and a coffee service that will bring the coffee you want to your room in the morning. 

The ship is incredibly stable and neither of us experienced any motion sickness at all. It’s nothing like being on one of the big cruise ships. Even going through the locks (there were 25) the ship barely moved. The locks are a sight to behold. They do an educational lecture about how they work that you won’t want to miss. They also did a cooking demo on one of the days that was quite interesting. 

AmaViola Food and Dining

Now let’s talk about the food, which is borderline all-inclusive. The culinary experience on AmaViola is in a league of its own. The menus offer a variety of delicious dishes inspired by the local cuisine of the regions you’ll be sailing through. Whether you’re looking for a fine dining experience or a casual meal, the ship has you covered. And, of course, the wine is included at lunch and dinner. On our cruise, the wine at night tended to be something local. Cheers to that!

Food tip: If your chef is from Asia and they are offering curry, pho, or some other dish from Asia, then get it! If your chef is from some other region, figure out what that region is known for, and then watch for it to show up on the menu. While all our meals were fantastic, we had some of the best curries we’ve ever had on board the ship!

Happy Hour tip: They offer one hour a day called the ‘Sip and Sail” hour. During this hour you get lots of complimentary drinks. Here’s a look at the Sip and Sail menu.

Tea Time: If you are hungry in the afternoon they do tea time with finger sandwiches, cookies, other treats, and of course tea.

Chef’s Table: You have to sign up for the Chef’s table when you get on board. It’s a special multi-course meal in a different part of the ship. It’s the same every night so it doesn’t matter which night you attend. 

Attire Tip: I’ve had several people reach out online about what to wear to dinner. At the top of the post, you can see what Eden and I wore to the farewell night. I thought this farewell event would be dressier. It wasn’t. We were by far the most dressed-up people that night, but hey we looked great! We also dressed up a bit the first night because we were having dinner with the captain. We were also the most dressed up for this. I found the attire to be casual, so in general, you can dress however you like. Nobody will say a thing!

AmaViola Legendary Danube Itinerary and Excursions

The best part of this mother-daughter adventure is the itinerary, which for us was all new cities. AmaWaterways ships sail through some of the most beautiful rivers in Europe and Asia, stopping at charming towns and cities along the way. You can expect guided tours of historic sites and museums, as well as opportunities for shopping, street food exploration, and local entertainment. Some must-visit destinations on this itinerary include Nuremberg, Passau, Vienna, and Budapest.

One of the top reasons to cruise with AmaWaterways is the included excursions. Each stop offered one to three excursion choices. Typically one was a walking tour, one was a biking tour, and the third offering was a food tour or hiking experience. 

Nuremberg, Germany

In Nuremberg, we went on the WWII walking tour, and it was so good. I highly recommend going on this tour. It’s sad, but the fascinating history makes it worth it. Luckily, it ends on a happy note with some free time in the old town.

Regensburg, Germany

We did the active walking tour. It was decent, but if we had a do-over, then we would have done the biking tour instead. After the tour, we were also able to try an amazing and very popular sausage shop while it was still early in the day, so the usual large line hadn’t formed yet. The tour will lead you to this delicious shop.

Passau, Germany

If you can handle a 14-mile bike ride with several hills, absolutely choose this activity when you get there. This is what we did, and I cannot say enough good things about it. We biked through the town, saw the baroque cathedral, then biked out into the forest where we crossed the river into beautiful Austria. The scenery was incredible.

Melk, Austria

At this stop, we went by bus out to the tiny town of Durnstein about 30 minutes away. The drive is beautiful, and you learn a lot about the wine growing in the Wachow Valley. However, you will see most of it from the ship when you sail down that part of the river. (This will be during lunch, so I recommend skipping lunch and staying up to see it all. Then grab lunch in the lounge.)

Once there, we had a walking tour that lasted way too long considering how small the town is. I recommend taking the little train instead of doing the walking tour if you go here.

Honestly, we recommend opting for the Melk Benedictine Abbey tour instead of Durnstein. Based on what we heard from others, this was a better tour, and the Abbey is gorgeous. The bike tour at this stop is basically an exercise route. 

Vienna, Austria

Here we recommend taking the biking tour. I think you will have a better opportunity to see more things and not from a bus window. We did the walking tour, which was fine. Slightly too long, but then we had lots of free time in the amazing city. While the tour was average, we did have a day and a half in Vienna because it was the main stop on the cruise. Vienna was our favorite city on the cruise by far and is definitely worth exploring and grabbing some traditional food.

Budapest, Hungary

Here there was no biking tour offered, just two types of bus/walking tours. Make sure to do the earlier one, otherwise, you will miss out on the Grand Market. 

AmaViola Amenities

Fitness options.

One of the most unique and exciting features of the AmaViola cruise experience is the onboard fitness and wellness activities. There’s something for everyone, from yoga classes to cardio workouts and stretching sessions because they have an actual fitness trainer dedicated to this on board. Hopefully, you have Wellness Host Roman on your ship, he’s the best.

Spa and Hair Salon

The ship also has a spa room, where you can relax and unwind with a massage. There was even a hair salon where you could have your hair done too. 

Up on the top deck they have giant chess, a swimming pool, a walking track, and corn hole. Eden and I played many rounds of corn hole during our cruise. Bring a deck of cards with, you so you can play cards up here at the tables. 

Sadly, the weather was never warm enough for us to be able to take advantage of the heated pool, which was a bummer.  The first full day of sailing the river had many canal locks to get through and many bridges the ship had to clear. Therefore, the first day the pool and the entire sundeck were closed. That’s on the route going from Nuremberg to Budapest. The opposite route will probably have it in reverse, so the last day. 

Evening Entertainment

There wasn’t entertainment every night but almost every night. We enjoyed traditional Hungarian dancing and music, live music, disco parties, and more. 

Doctor at Every Port. 

I cannot conclude this article without mentioning the ‘doctor situation’ in the unfortunate scenario where you get sick. Unfortunately, Eden got an ear infection during our trip. I told the staff around 4/5 pm that she needed to see someone. They hustled and had a doctor on the ship in less than two hours. The next day was a national holiday, so everything would be closed. So they sent out a staff member to immediately get her medicine that night. They were unsure if the pharmacies would be open the next day and left nothing up to chance. I was blown away at how they got this done for us. The doctor charged us $350, but the ship charged us nothing to run out and get her medicine!

Conclusion:

Sailing on the AmaViola is not just a cruise, it’s an unforgettable experience that you and your daughter will treasure forever. The ship’s luxurious amenities, world-class cuisine, and outstanding itinerary guarantee a journey full of exploration, precious moments, and memories. So don’t hesitate – book your mother-daughter adventure today and get ready for the voyage of a lifetime!

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Hiking in Passau: The City of Three Rivers

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Known as the “City of Three Rivers” since the mighty Danube River is joined by both the Inn River and the Ilz River, Passau is a historic town who can trace their roots past the 2nd Century BC. First founded by the Celts and then a Roman town for 400 years, the city traded hands a few times.

The picturesque city is known for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture as well as its promenades, winding lanes and quaint Bavarian shops (expect to fall in love with a cuckoo-clock or two). It is also home to the historic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which for most of its life housed the world’s largest cathedral organ (that honor now goes to a church in Downtown Los Angeles). Left undamaged during World War II, the Old Town was left as it has been for hundreds of years.

Of course, one of Passau’s top destinations and most recognizable sights is the Veste Oberhaus which lords over the Danube River and will unmistakably “announce” your arrival into port. Join AmaWaterways for a guided hike up to Passau’s “Castle Hill” and enjoy the panoramic views of the Old Town and rivers below.

Nestled atop the St. Georgsberg Mountain, and nearly 350 feet above sea level, the Veste Oberhaus was originally built in 1219 by Ulrich II (the first Prince-Bishop but 34th Bishop of Passau). Like other castles and fortresses built along the Danube, the Veste Oberhaus was built to express the strength of the town and make those who might think of invading wish to reconsider.

Attacked five times between 1250-1482 (two of these times, the attackers were Passau locals who were rebelling against the bishop), the Veste Oberhaus was finally forced to surrender in the 18th century. Because of its many renovations over the centuries, some come here to study ancient fortification techniques.

Its most notable inhabitant is Napoleon Bonaparte who used the fortress in his campaign to take Austria. Not long after, and for almost a hundred years, the Veste Oberhaus was a state and military prison, feared as the “Bastille of Bavaria.”

Guests can playfully imagine this as their “Escape from Alcatraz” moment, hiking up and down the steep terrain. Remnants of a fortress wall line a footpath hikers use to tread up (or down), and along the way are various gateways and guard houses.

While there is also a city-run bus in Passau that takes tourists and locals up to the fortress (except for the winter season), making the hike with AmaWaterways will surely be a highlight of your trip and let you enjoy the views all along the way!

Be sure to look out for the Veste Niederhaus on the hill below. Built after the Veste Oberhaus, it served as a smaller second fortress. Today, the Veste Oberhaus is home to a museum (known as the Oberhausmuseum), an art gallery, a viewing platform, a youth hostel, a restaurant and a pre-World War II amphitheater, which has a history of its own.

Explore Passau to the fullest when sailing aboard one of our Danube River cruises.

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