AmaWaterways wine cruises add a unique epicurean dimension to a variety of itineraries at no additional cost. Join one of these wine cruises with a special wine host and be treated to a menu of exclusive wine and culinary experiences designed to delve deeper into the wonderful flavors and tastes of Europe.
European cities transform into majestic winter wonderlands for the holiday season – and we invite you to experience all their splendor with us. In addition to our variety of daily excursions, you will also have the opportunity to visit festive Christmas Markets in select destinations and participate in nostalgic traditions.
Maximize your Christmas experience by embarking at the height of the holiday market season with daily or near-daily visits to Christmas Markets.
Get "just a taste" of the holidays in mid-November or late December with visits to one or two Christmas Markets during your river cruise.
We are pleased to offer guests the opportunity to experience Floriade in 2022 while sailing along the Rhine River and Dutch and Belgian Waterways between April 14 and October 9. Right outside Amsterdam, this rare experience calls for its visitors to “explore, touch and change” as part of their journey into Floriade – which is set to feature stunning gardens, innovative sustainable gardening exhibits, live entertainment, talk shows, souvenirs and food stalls.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Rhône with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever “Soulful Experience” on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2024.
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through four countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
Join Chef Joanne Weir, award-winning cookbook author, restaurant owner and host of PBS television series “Plates & Places” as she hosts a special 7-night Flavors of Burgundy river cruise.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Danube with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Explore the rich history of classical music along the Danube River where famous composers lived, worked and performed. Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever “Soulful Experience” on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2025
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through five countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Douro with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
We invite our loyal past guests to join us once again on these special Loyalty Cruises, offering unique experiences in multiple ports, commemorative gifts, and many more surprises and delights.
Imagine if there was a way to combine luxury river cruising on the iconic Danube with the opportunity to indulge your passion and play golf. We have created the perfect package to enable you to do just that with our Exclusive Concierge Golf Program. Discover Europe, complete with award winning cuisine, incredible service and a choice of excursions in every port, as well as up to 5 rounds of golf at some of the leading championship courses on the continent.
AmaWaterways’ Exclusive Concierge Golf Program is available on select Magna on the Danube cruises sailing aboard the AmaMagna.
Hello! "I'm Kristin Karst, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of AmaWaterways and I'm passionate about river cruising. Each month, I love to share with you my thoughts, personal stories, travel tips and latest news on the people and places that help turn every mile of our guests' river cruise experience into one of their most cherished memories!"
Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town offers stunning views of vineyards and beautiful examples of architecture from ancient times to modern day.
Saint-Émilion is world-renowned for its red wines, specifically their Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Due to the variety of different soils in the area, this appellation is said to offer the most diverse range of wine styles in the Bordeaux region. Wines from this town can range from light and fruity—with grapes grown in sandy soils—to richer and darker tastes due to the clay and limestone in the earth.
The beginning of the wine tradition in this town dates back to the Ancient Romans, earning Saint-Émilion the title of the oldest wine producing appellation in the Bordeaux region. Decimus Magnus Ausonius, a famous Roman poet and namesake of the Château Ausone, lived in this region and wrote about the bountiful fruit and the delicious wine it created. You can see examples of ancient architectural ruins from this period throughout the town.
The town did not carry the name “Saint-Émilion”, however, until much later. In the 8th century, a monk named Émilion fled persecution in his Brittany homeland and settled in a hermitage amongst the natural limestone caves in the area. From there, Émilion gained a following by performing small miracles, and the town grew up around him as more people flocked to the region. With this influx, the construction of the town began, including the beginnings of what is now a massive, monolithic cathedral.
The Saint-Émilion Monolithic Church is impressive, with soaring spires and a 53-meter-high bell-tower. However, the true majesty of the structure is subterranean. Beneath the main chapel is an immense church carved completely out of the limestone that is the bedrock of the entire Saint-Émilion area. Walking through this underground section, you can feel the solemnity and quiet that permeates the air and stone, and the weight of the area’s long history falls on you as you walk between the giant pillars and beneath the towering ceiling.
On the Taste of Bordeaux river cruise, guests will have the opportunity to join an excursion to the town of Saint-Émilion. There, you will attend a Grand Cru Classé wine tasting and experience the top wines of the region. Guests will also tour through the famous cathedral, and explore its catacombs and massive underground church. This excursion through history will pull you from ancient times to the early years of the Christian Church. After these guided tours, you will have the opportunity to explore the town through your own eyes during a period of free time. There are plenty of sights to see and shops to explore, including a large assortment of macaron shops, as Saint-Émilion is said to be the birthplace of macarons!
Discover the beauty of Saint-Émilion, available on our Taste of Bordeaux itinerary!