An AmaWaterways river cruise is about more than the destination – it’s the journey. We invite you to take one of our European river cruises, Asia river cruises, or Africa river cruises and see the world in luxury and comfort. River cruising Europe with AmaWaterways is an excellent way to explore a destination. Discover local culture and sights on included tours, and then hop back on your luxurious river cruise ship and sail to the next stunning city or charming town. Included in the fares of our river cruises are shore excursions in every port of call; all dining on board (including The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant); fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; internet access and Wi-Fi; and bicycles that you can use to explore on your own or join our guided bike tours. In Europe, you can take one of our Danube river cruises, or one of our Rhine river cruises. We also offer river cruises in France and Portugal. We hope that you enjoy exploring our many itineraries in Europe, Asia and Africa, and look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.
Award Winning River Cruise Operator
AmaWaterways provides all-encompassing river cruise vacations on the most breathtaking waterways of Europe, Africa and Asia. World-renowned for the unparalleled quality of its rapidly-growing fleet – custom-designed ships boasting impeccable itineraries, services and amenities – AmaWaterways has earned a reputation for transforming the river cruise industry, creating authentic and inspiring travel experiences.
AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy. Rudi was born in Vienna and is one of river cruising’s pioneers, having introduced the modern-day river cruise concept to the market. Kristin was born in Germany and brings extensive experience in travel, river cruising and customer service to the company. Jimmy Murphy was a brilliant travel entrepreneur, having built Brendan Vacations, one of the most successful tour operators in the U.S. Their combined expertise and passion for the river cruise business results in a river cruise vacation experience that will exceed expectations. With multiple itineraries to choose from, the river cruise vacation of a lifetime awaits with AmaWaterways!
Welcome to the casually elegant small ship world of Windstar Cruises. Leave the crowds behind on a luxury cruise ship carrying fewer than 300 privileged guests. No lines. No waiting. Just a warm and intimate ambiance you won’t find on larger cruise ships. Sail right into the heart of Old World villages, hidden coves, and harbors off the beaten path – places only Windstar’s small cruise ships are welcomed. Every itinerary is expertly crafted and artfully planned, visiting both boutique ports and bucket-list capitals. Share intimate moments away from the crowds. Immerse yourself in local culture and cuisine, and a behind-the-scenes experience with Windstar’s complimentary Destination Discovery Events.
And of course, part of the Windstar magic is our incredible personal service. Enjoy undivided attention from a crew that delights in remembering your name and preferences. Both gracious hosts and ambassadors, they delight in surprising you in discrete ways – satisfying your sweet tooth with an extra chocolate on your pillow or sharing the location of a favorite seaside café. Welcome to Windstar Cruises – an experience that is truly 180 degrees from ordinary.
Windstar Cruises operates a fleet of small luxury cruise ships known for its intimate yacht style experience and unique voyages to the world’s best small ports and hidden harbors. Its three sailing yachts carry just 148 to 310 guests and cruise to 50 nations, calling at 150 ports throughout Europe, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, and Central America. In May of 2014, Windstar launched Star Pride, followed by Star Breeze and Star Legend in May of 2015. The all suite yachts, with a capacity of 212 guests each, double the size of Windstar’s fleet, making the company the market leader in small ship cruising with 300 or fewer passengers, with a total of 1,242 berths. The additional capacity opens up new itineraries such as voyages to Iceland, Puerto Rico, and beyond. Windstar was recently listed on Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List, coming in as the #3 cruise line in the world.
MEET OUR PARENT COMPANY – XANTERRA PARKS & RESORTS
Viking River Cruises offers river cruises through the product line, Viking River Cruises.
A global corporation headquartered in the United States with main operational headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, the company was established in 1997 by a Scandinavian and Dutch consortium led by Torstein Hagen. Initially the company purchased four Russian ships and provided a Russian river-cruise product to Europeans. The following year the company purchased additional ships and continued to cater to the European market. In 2000, the company expanded into the American market, establishing U.S. headquarters as Viking River Cruises in Los Angeles, California. Through rapid expansion, the purchase of KD River Cruise lines, and unprecedented new builds, the river cruise division grew to be the world’s largest river cruise line, and currently offers cruises along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt. In May 2013, the company announced the launch of a new small-ship ocean cruising division, Viking Ocean Cruises, which began with the maiden season of Viking Star in spring of 2015, and features Baltic and Mediterranean itineraries. In 2016 and 2017, Viking Star will be joined by two equally elegant sister ships, Viking Sea andViking Sky.
Viking Cruises continues the Viking tradition of exploration along the world’s great waterways. The Board of Directors includes prominent investors and financial leaders with impressive credentials in cruising and shipping, and the company is led by Chairman Torstein Hagen, a native of Norway and one of the original founders of the company.
Viking Cruises offers both river cruises and ocean cruises through two product lines, Viking River Cruises and Viking Ocean Cruises. A global corporation headquartered in the United States with main operational headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, the company was established in 1997 by a Scandinavian and Dutch consortium led by Torstein Hagen. Initially the company purchased four Russian ships and provided a Russian river-cruise product to Europeans. The following year the company purchased additional ships and continued to cater to the European market. In 2000, the company expanded into the American market, establishing U.S. headquarters as Viking River Cruises in Los Angeles, California. Through rapid expansion, the purchase of KD River Cruise lines, and unprecedented new builds, the river cruise division grew to be the world’s largest river cruise line, and currently offers cruises along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt. In May 2013, the company announced the launch of a new small-ship ocean cruising division, Viking Ocean Cruises, which began with the maiden season of Viking Star in spring of 2015, and features Baltic and Mediterranean itineraries. In 2016 and 2017, Viking Star will be joined by two equally elegant sister ships, Viking Sea andViking Sky.
Viking Cruises continues the Viking tradition of exploration along the world’s great waterways. The Board of Directors includes prominent investors and financial leaders with impressive credentials in cruising and shipping, and the company is led by Chairman Torstein Hagen, a native of Norway and one of the original founders of the company.
Ships: Viking Star, Viking Sky, Viking Sea, Viking Sun and Viking Spirit.
Award-winning Uniworld—the world’s ONLY authentic boutique cruise line™—offers itineraries in spectacular destinations throughout Europe, Russia, and Asia. The company’s European fleet features luxurious ships with an average capacity of 130 guests, the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry, enticing shore excursions, world-class gourmet cuisine, impeccable hospitality, and numerous other all-inclusive benefits.
The Highest Standards in Luxury River Cruising
In 2004, Uniworld was acquired by The Travel Corporation (TTC), a highly successful international travel group founded by Stanley Tollman. TTC has more than 30 top brands, including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, and Contiki, as well as Red Carnation Hotels, a renowned collection of four- and five-star luxury properties.
TTC has made major investments in Uniworld’s ships, crew, and staff, with an eye towards providing guests with all the elements of an unforgettable Six-Star Experience: Expertise; Service; Luxurious Ships, Uniquely Designed; Culinary; Choice; and Truly All-Inclusive. Combining the tour planning and hotel management expertise of TTC’s sister companies with Uniworld’s decades of superior nautical experience has created an entirely new category of luxury river cruising.
The Boutique Experience, Onboard & Onshore
The renowned Red Carnation Hotel Collection was founded in the early 1980s by Beatrice Tollman, who has many years of experience as a chef, cookbook author, and hotelier in South Africa, Europe, and the US. The family-run business now spans four generations—including her husband Stanley and three children—and owns and operates 17 boutique properties in five countries. Mrs. Tollman was named Hotelier of the Year at the European Hospitality Awards in 2012.
Boutique hotels are known for their destination-specific interior décor, gracious service, and carefully selected amenities, all of which provide an intimate, elegant, and relaxed experience. Similarly, Uniworld’s boutique river cruises allow guests to travel from one exciting destination to the next aboard a stylish floating hotel with inviting lounges, cozy libraries, panoramic restaurants, sumptuous cuisine, exquisite antiques and original art, and luxurious riverview staterooms and suites. Meticulous attention to detail is readily apparent on every company-owned ship, including Uniworld’s three stunning Super Ships—the S.S. Antoinette, S.S. Catherine, and S.S. Maria Theresa (debuting 2015).
Ships: River Ambassador, River Baroness, River Beatrice, River Countess, River Duchess, River Empress, River Princess, River Queen, River Royale, River Tosca and River Victoria.
With the debut of luxury cruise ship Silver Explorer in 2008, Silversea introduced expedition cruising — Silversea style, adding yet another unique niche in the luxury cruise market. Now more intrepid travellers could experience adventurous voyages to the most remote regions of the planet while enjoying Silversea’s brand of signature distinctions, including ocean-view suites, a superb culinary experience, and an incomparable level of service with a crew to guest ratio of nearly one to one. Along with both polar extremes, Silversea’s three expedition ships sail to the islands of Oceania, Southeast Asia, the Russian Far East, Australia’s remote Kimberley Coast, Central and South America (including the Galápagos Islands), and the exotic western coast of Africa.
Today, Silversea Cruises owns and operates eight luxury cruise ships (soon to become nine) from 100 to 540 guests, along with a global portfolio of itineraries to all seven continents and over 800 destinations worldwide. The cruise line’s headquarters are based in Monaco, and the company maintains branch offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia.
Since its inception in the early 90s, Silversea Cruises has been recognised as the gold standard in luxury cruising, acclaimed both for its legendary European lifestyle and global reach of destinations. The cruise line was the brainchild of Antonio Lefebvre d’Ovidio, a respected Italian jurist and maritime law professor. His idea was to create a new class of elite vessels designed with more space for fewer guests and with the highest levels of personalised service. Lefebvre’s maritime background led to his involvement in shipping and eventually the cruise industry.
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