European Rivers
Rhine, Danube and Douro: a new town every morning, no sea days, everyone back for dinner.
ResearchLines, ships and destinations, in detail
Cruise line
AmaWaterways cruises
River ships of around 150 to 196 guests on the Danube, Rhine, Rhone, Douro and Mekong, with AmaMagna twice the width of the rest.
AmaWaterways is the river line we propose most often for active families and grandparents: twin-balcony staterooms, a fleet of bikes, several excursion paces per port, and on AmaMagna real space, with a pool, several restaurants and suites as large as an ocean ship's.
River cruising is where many multigenerational parties start, and AmaWaterways does the details well: a bike fleet on every ship, excursions graded gentle to active, a dedicated wellness host, and twin-balcony staterooms where both a French balcony and a step-out balcony open from one room. AmaMagna, launched in 2019 on the Danube, is twice the width of a standard river ship, so she carries around 196 guests in the space other ships give 160, with a pool, a water sports platform and four restaurants.
The limits are those of any river ship: cabins are compact except on AmaMagna, there is no children's program outside the family-focused departures run with Adventures by Disney, and locks and bridges set the schedule. For grandparents taking adult children through the Danube's capitals or the Douro's vineyards, few lines are as easy to recommend.
What's included
- Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- At least one excursion in every port with a choice of pace
- Bikes and a wellness program
- Wi-Fi
Ships
8 ships in the fleet. See the fleet, ship by ship
The ships
The AmaWaterways fleet, ship by ship.
8 ships: 1 written up ship by ship (suites, dining, children, grandparents, accessibility, our verdict), a licensed photograph of each one we have pictured, the rest by name. Tell us which you are drawn to and we will say whether it is the right one for your party.
AmaMagnaPhoto: Photographer: Mosbatho · CC BY 4.0
- AmaLucia
- AmaSiena
- AmaMora
- AmaKristina
- AmaLea
- AmaDouro
- AmaDara
On board
On board with AmaWaterways
Four honest notes, in our words, on the things people ask us about most.
- Suites
- Standard twin-balcony staterooms run around 20 to 23 square meters; AmaMagna's suites start around 33 square meters and the Grand and Owner's Suites are far larger than river cruising usually offers.
- Dining
- The main restaurant plus The Chef's Table, a small tasting-menu room included in the fare; AmaMagna adds Jimmy's wine bar and a casual Al Fresco restaurant. Regional wine comes with lunch and dinner.
- Facilities
- A sun deck with a small pool and a walking track, a fleet of bikes, a fitness room and on AmaMagna a proper pool, a water sports platform, a spa and a cinema.
- Children
- No children's program on standard departures. Selected family-focused departures carry a dedicated activities team and are the ones we propose for parties with children under twelve.
Who it's for
- Grandparents hosting adult children on Europe's rivers
- Active couples who want to cycle and walk from the ship
- Families who choose a family-focused departure
Who it isn't for
- Anyone who wants open sea and a big ship
- Travelers who need a children's club on every sailing
- Guests who want a formal dress code and a show every night
Our promise
We will say no.
We do not recommend a cruise because it is expensive, and we do not put people on the wrong ship. If AmaWaterways is not right for your party, we will tell you and suggest the one that is, even if it costs less or is sold by someone else. We are an advisor, not a booking engine.
Speak to a specialistNot sure AmaWaterways is the right fit?
Tell us who's traveling and what matters most. We'll say honestly whether we'd book this line for you, or which one we'd choose instead.
Where they sail
Destinations
Where they take you
Explore the regions with AmaWaterways
A sense of the places in the regions this line sails. These regional photographs are inspiration; the itinerary confirms your ports and ship.
The Hungarian Parliament on the Danube at Budapest, seen from the riverPhoto: Draceane · CC BY-SA 4.0 
River ships passing the wooded banks of the Danube at Dürnstein in the Wachau valley, AustriaPhoto: Bybbisch94, Christian Gebhardt · CC BY-SA 4.0 
River cruise ships moored on the Danube in Vienna below the church of St Francis of AssisiPhoto: ImagePerson · CC BY 4.0 
Passau from the air, the old town on its spit where the Danube, Inn and Ilz meetPhoto: Carsten Steger · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Uniworld's S.S. Joie de Vivre moored on the Seine in ParisPhoto: Artvill · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Uniworld's River Beatrice moored on the DanubePhoto: Gary Bembridge · CC BY 2.0
Have a budget in mind?
Tell us what you are looking for and the figure you have in mind. We will say what it buys on each line, and where the same money goes further.
Good to know
AmaWaterways cruise FAQs
What makes AmaMagna different from other river ships?
She is about twice the width of a standard European river ship, so she can offer larger suites, a pool, four dining venues and a water sports platform. The trade-off is that she sails only the Danube.
Plan your AmaWaterways cruise with Blackbury Travel.
Suites we would book: A Suite or Grand Suite on AmaMagna for a grandparents' party; a twin-balcony stateroom on AmaLucia or AmaSiena for a couple.. Tell us who is traveling and when, and we will say which ship, which sailing and which deck, or whether another line would suit you better.