Cruise line review
AmaWaterways
A guided choice in every port, bikes waiting at the gangway and a dining room that pours local wine with lunch and dinner: river cruising for travellers who like to get off the ship and keep moving.
The line
AmaWaterways is a family-founded river specialist that has grown to around 30 ships, most of them on the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône and Douro, with further fleets on the Mekong, the Nile and the Magdalena in Colombia, plus a Chobe river ship in Africa. Two ships joined in 2026: AmaSofia in Europe and AmaKaia on the Mekong.
The ships
European ships carry roughly 150 to 200 guests, sized to fit under the bridges and through the locks. The newer ships add a second restaurant, a walking track and a heated sun-deck pool, and the AmaMagna on the Danube is about twice the usual width, which buys bigger suites and more space in the public rooms. Twenty of the European ships hold Green Award certification.
Cabins and suites
Many staterooms use a twin-balcony layout: a French balcony plus a small outside balcony, so you can open the glass and still step out. Suites on the upper decks are worth it on a 14-night itinerary. Beds are good and storage is tidy rather than generous, so pack soft bags.
Food and drink
Wine, beer and soft drinks are poured with lunch and dinner, and the European ships run a pre-dinner Sip and Sail cocktail hour. The Chef's Table, a small tasting-menu restaurant, is included by reservation, and bread is baked on board each morning.
Onboard life
Days start early with stretching or a bike ride and end with a talk, a local musician or a quiet drink on the top deck as the ship slips past vineyards. There is no casino and no production show; the river is the entertainment.
Excursions
Every port offers a choice of included outings, usually a classic walking tour, a gentler option and an active one such as a guided cycle or hike. Paid extras such as private wine tastings are the ones to look at on a second visit to the same river.
What is included
Meals, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, the cocktail hour on European sailings, guided excursions in every port, bikes, Wi-Fi and the onboard wellness classes. Gratuities are included on Mekong, Nile and Africa sailings but not in Europe. Flights are extra.
Who will love it
Active, curious travellers who want a well-run ship, an outing every day and the freedom to swap a coach tour for a bike ride. If you want butlers and caviar, look at Uniworld instead.
Questions
Are excursions included on AmaWaterways?
Yes. Every port has a choice of included outings, from walking tours to guided bike rides and hikes.
Are drinks included?
Wine, beer and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner, and European sailings add a daily cocktail hour. Other drinks cost extra.
Are tips included?
Not in Europe, where gratuities are added on board. They are included on Mekong, Nile and Africa sailings.
When is the quietest time to cruise the Danube?
April and early May, or late September and October, outside the summer school holidays and before the Christmas market sailings.
Last updated 30 October 2026
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