You’ve probably heard of AMA Waterways, but you might be wondering how they are different than the other river cruise companies out there. AMA is a family-run company, whose head office is in California.
All of the river cruise companies that we deal with in Europe offer a luxury guest experience, so they are LESS differentiated than the ocean cruise lines. This means you’ll have a fantastic experience regardless of who you travel with, but it does make it confusing if you’re trying to make a decision between river cruise lines.
AMA operates on all the main European rivers, as well as Egypt, Viet Nam/Cambodia, South Africa, and Columbia. They do a number of themed cruises each year, so they are a good choice if you’d like to do a Wine or Golf Themed Cruise. AMA Waterways fares include transfers, a choice of shore excursion in every port, beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship.
When we’ve travelled with AMA Waterways, there’s a few things that stood out for us:
- The Rooms – there are window rooms available for those looking for the best price, but most of the rooms on decks 2 and 3 are combination veranda and French balcony (you get both!). So the room feels much larger.
- The Wellness Coordinator – each sailing has a crew member on board that can lead more active shore excursions, as well as offering fitness, yoga and pilates classes on board the ship included in your fare. There is also a small gym on board for those that wish to stay active.
- Bicycles for Borrowing – it’s nice to be able to go for a bike ride right off the ship in your spare time.
- Happy Hour – Beer and wine is included with your meals, and for the hour or so before they start seating for dinner, there is a happy hour in the main lounge where your drinks are also included. It’s a small thing, but a nice touch.
- Choice of Shore Excursions – in most ports of call, you have a choice between 2, 3 or 4 different included activities. This works really well if you’re travelling with group of people that may have different interests.
- Trip Extensions – There are some interesting pre and post cruise land packages, and on many of those, the cruise manager travels with you on the extension.
- Itineraries – AMA Waterways is the only company operating on the Magdalena River in Columbia, and the Chobe River in Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa & Zimbabwe). Imagine doing an African Safari from a River Boat! More information on both these unique itineraries below.
AMA is currently running some promotions that caught my eye:
Complimentary Land Package – just about everyone that does a river cruise extends pre or post (or both), so this offer is worth looking at. It only applies to select sailings, but there are lots of choices. Here’s a link to the list of applicable sailings: https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/freeland-2023
$200 referral bonus – if you bring a friend with you, THEY get $200 off, and you get a $200 credit.
Travel Opportunities
Complimentary AMA Waterways Land Packages
- Includes 4 or 5 star hotels, breakfasts, city tours and/or excursions, transfers, and your cruise manager travels with you from the ship (so you’re escorted through your journey). Some examples of Free Land Extensions:
- Prague 3-night extension (Value: $1320 per person)
- Amsterdam 2-night extension (Value: $1190 pp)
- Budapest 2-night extension (Value: $840 pp)
- Lake Como, Italy 3-night extension (Value: $1440 pp)
There are tons of combinations, but here are two examples of how a river cruise and free land extension would stack up:
Rhine River Cruise departing November 16 for 7-nights on the ship and 2-nights land:
- Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland
- Visit Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwigshafen, Strasbourg, Breisach,
- Free Amsterdam pre-cruise for 2-nights.
- Prices start at $3199 per person.
Danube River Cruise — 4 departures in August for 7-nights on the ship, and 3-nights land:
- Budapest to Vilshofen (Bavaria, Germany)
- Visit Bratislava, Vienna, Krems, Wachau Valley, Linz, Passau.
- Free Prague post-cruise for 3-nights
- Prices start at $4199 per person.
There are lots of other combinations too. Check out the link above for more information.
Magdalena River in Columbia
If you’ve been everywhere, here’s a destination to add to your list. AMA has two ships entering service in 2024 in this unique part of the world. Here are the details:
- Each ship will hold 60 guests, and sail between Cartagena and Barranquilla.
- The section of river you will cover has incredible biodiversity, and you’ll visit coffee and chocolate plantations. Savor the local music and culture of the small towns and villages along the river.
- You’ll spend 7-nights on board the ship, and there are available extensions to Medellin and Panama City.
- Prices between $3599 and $3799 per person for departures April through December 2024.
Southern Africa – Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe
Many people have an African Safari on their bucket list, but worry about the rigours of travelling there. A River Cruise – Land Combination trip might be the perfect fit:
- Capetown: Spend 3-nights seeing all the sights in this incredible city. Visit local wineries, take the cable-car up Table Mountain, or see Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18-years of his incarceration.
- Fly to Victoria Falls to board your River Boat for 4-nights as you do safaris both from the boat on the Chobe River, and on Four-by-Fours on land.
- Finish with 2-nights in Victoria Falls, and get a guided tour of both the township and the Falls themselves
- Fly to Johannesburg, where you can extend your stay, or fly home.
- Your trip is fully escorted, with air conditioned rooms on the ship, and in hotels. All your meals on the ship, as well as beer, wine, and local spirits are included, as well as some shore-side meals.
- Prices from $11,499 in September or October 2023, or $10,999 in November.
- Prices from $11,099 in March or April 2024.
The trip above is ONE of SIX itineraries AMA runs in Southern Africa. Here’s a link to their webpage if you want to learn more:
https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
