If you’ve travelled with AMA previously, there are probably a few things that stand out for you:

• Elevated Culinary Offering – particularly at the Chef’s Table restaurant on board. 
• Excursions: Choice of several included shore excursions (including some active ones).
• Final Payment Date of 90-days prior, allowing you to keep your money longer. 
• Guest Count: Average of 156 on the same sized ship that others put 190 people on. 

If you haven’t travelled with AMA previously, here’s a bit more detail:

AMA is an American company, with 23 river boats in Europe, with another 8 scheduled for delivery by the end of the decade, and another handful of ships around the world.

WHERE Does AMA WATERWAYS Operate?

• All the rivers in Europe.  
• NILE River in Egypt, with extensions to Dubai, Jordan, and Alexandria.
• MEKONG River in Vietnam & Cambodia, with extensions to Thailand. 
• CHOBE River in Southern Africa, with extensions to Capetown, Rwanda (for Gorillas), Zanzibar, or Kruger NP.
• MAGDALENA River in Colombia, with extensions to Medellin and Panama City.

HOW is AMA Different?

In addition to the culinary, shore excursions, and final payment date mentioned above:

• TWIN BALCONY Rooms that feature a step out Veranda and a French Balcony, so you don’t have to choose. 
• HAPPY HOUR:  An open bar during your port briefing before dinner. 
• BICYCLES to BORROW if you want to explore independently.
• WELLNESS Coordinator that offers complimentary fitness classes and runs more active shore excursions.
• AMA MAGNA & AMA RUDI:  These double-wide river boats operate on the Danube. 
• La CHAINE des ROTISSEURS:  AMA is the only river cruise line whose entire European fleet is recognized as members of this International Association of Gastronomy, demonstrating their commitment to the food and dining experience.

WHO Travels with AMA WATERWAYS:

• FOODIES – those wanting an elevated culinary experience.
• ACTIVE TRAVELLERS — Those wanting the option to be active on vacation
• CHOICE — Those that value choice (particularly for shore activities)

APRIL is the BEST TIME TO BOOK:  We’ve got some special pricing with AMA during the month of April, so reach out for more details. 

VIDEO Resources for AMA WATERWAYS:  

We have a number of videos on our YouTube Channel if you’d like to learn more about AMA:

• Our trip to Lyon & Provence: https://youtu.be/H2rBL8J7DIU?si=b5cWlfjOLGoHqAyM 
• AMA Dara MEKONG ship tour: https://youtu.be/T6YIfrUbDwk?si=RTjgrID_LDdcJB0i 
• AMA Mora EUROPE ship tour: https://youtu.be/BCfmq1g4CaU?si=I1mdN3Ta4OBTCLRH 
• Interview with Kristine Karst: https://youtu.be/3NAEB01hhAE?si=4n0F_agm2hDn7VId 
• How AMA does Shore Excursions Differently: https://youtu.be/YK30TUkkueY?si=XMdtG9VRe0sXNuAm 
• AMA on the MEKONG:  Kim interviews Alex Pinelo from AMA Waterways about their itineraries in Vietnam & Cambodia, while on board AMA’s river boat there: : https://youtu.be/tvA_WHOYuLo 

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED Podcast

AMA Waterways EXPLAINED —  Check out our PODCAST where Kim & Bob talk about AMA WATERWAYS: Who It’s For, Where They Sail & What Makes Them Different.

https://youtu.be/wovDQXBqyu4

In Case You Missed It:

SHORE EXCURSION SURVIVAL GUIDE:  When it comes to Shore Excursion availability and quality, we still haven’t fully recovered from the pandemic.  Here’s some ideas on how to manage this:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/shore-excursion-survival-guide/

EASTERN EUROPE:  Many of the former Soviet-block countries have had a remarkable renaissance in the past couple of decades.  If you want to try something new, and experience something different than Western Europe, it might be time:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/destination-eastern-europe/

MAKING MEMORIES with your GRANDCHILDREN:  A few months ago, we were blessed with our second grandson.  He got us to thinking how short the window is for making memories with these little people.  Maybe we’ll take them on an AMA Waterways cruise in Europe!

https://pamperedcruiser.com/only-18-summers/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:

We’ve got all kinds of videos about AMA Waterways, and itinerary videos from when we’ve traveled with them.  Here’s a link to the AMA WATERWAYS Playlist on our YouTube channel:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVE0S_npvbpzwHrLv0eaIQ-f&si=CIeREWoLndRe2coQ

Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there.  It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!

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Today’s Travel Opportunities

AMA in EUROPE

For the FIRST TIME river cruiser: The Rhine River will take you from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, through France and Germany before finishing in Switzerland.  This is a great itinerary for first-time river cruisers in Europe:

Amsterdam to Basel for one-week

• Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwigshafen (for Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Basel 
• 2026: Departures March through December from $3,249
• 2027: Departures March through December from $2,579
• Optional escorted extensions to Lake Como in Italy can be added to this trip.

Here’s our video Rhine Itinerary: https://youtu.be/UHzzsujRcDY?si=UubHGgsw4ykTcIDN 

For the SEASONED TRAVELLER: If you’ve already travelled extensively through Europe, or done a few river cruises, consider the LOWER DANUBE through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.  Eastern Europe is very different than Western Europe, and infinitely fascinating:

EASTERN EUROPE: Budapest to Bucharest departing for 7-nights

• Start in Budapest, and then travel the Lower Danube River through Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania before finishing near Bucharest. 
• Optional extension to Transylvania/Dracula’s Castle and Bucharest.
• 2026: Departures March – December from $3,449
• 2027: Departures March – December from $3,879

Here’s our video from when we did this trip:  https://youtu.be/-OhF7PSrj0c 

PORTUGAL & SPAIN departing for 7-nights

• Visit Porto, Douro valley, Regua, Pinhao, Vega de Terron, Salamanca, Afurada.
• See the vineyards and estate wineries, traverse the locks, take in spectacular scenery, visit castle ruins, see paleolithic art, and enjoy architectural treasures.
• Optional extensions to Lisbon. 
• 2026: Departures March – December from $3,099
• 2027: Departures March – December from $2,879

EXOTIC ITINERARIES with AMA WATERWAYS

AMA has many more itineraries in Europe (they’re on all the rivers), but if you want to be amongst the first to try river cruising OUTSIDE of Europe, here are some options: 

COLOMBIA: Barranquilla to Cartagena for 7-nights

• Take in a Carnaval celebration, take a stilt-house village tour, enjoy a jazz street performance, and San Felipe Castle and Walled city tour.  Enjoy the Latin music, sample the famous coffee, and take in the tropical rainforest.
• Only a 4 HOUR FLIGHT from many US Gateways.
• Pre/post available to Medellin and/or Panama.
• Departures year round.  Pricing starts at $2999

Here’s a short video of a MOTHER-SON trip with AMA in Colombia that perfectly captures this fascinating destination:

https://youtu.be/tGbLg6R7mfI?si=YLDqAyklNozmvlM2

DISCOVER SOUTHERN AFRICA Itinerary

• Start in Capetown for 3-nights, then board your ship, and spend the next 4 days on Safari both by riverboat and 4 X 4.  Spend 2 nights in Victoria Falls, before finishing in Johannesburg for the trip home. 
• 2026: Fares from $13,570 with departures April through November
• 2027: Fares from $12,885 with departures February through November 

EGYPT for 11-nights (4 nights Cairo and 7-nights on the ship)

• See the Pyramids and Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum (with King Tut’s room), Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel, and a Nile Felucca ride. 
• 2026:  Departures March through September from $6,279
• 2027:  Departures year-round from $5,749

MEKONG River: Vietnam & Cambodia from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap for 7-nights

• Visit local markets and temples, do a local school visit, get a tuk-tuk tour of Phnom Penh, and experience the amazing people, culture and food of the unique part of the world on a fully escorted trip. 
• Departures January through April AND August through December from $2299

AMA on the MEKONG.  Kim travelled with Alex Pinelo from AMA Waterways on the Mekong, and put together this video: https://youtu.be/tvA_WHOYuLo 

YACHTING with WINDSTAR

With a maximum of only 342 guests, it’s only a bit larger than a river boat, and as a member of the James Beard Foundation, you’ll find the culinary experience to be elevated as well. 

MOROCCO, SPAIN & CANARY ISLANDS: Barcelona to Tenerife depart October 30 for 19-days

• Start in Barcelona, then visit Mallorca, Valencia, Cartagena, Malaga (overnight), Tangier, Lisbon, Funchal, San Sebastian, Santa Cruz de Palma, Las Palmas, Tenerife.
• Fares from $8,006

CARIBBEAN:  San Juan round-trip departing November 29 for 14-days

• Warm weather escapes, Island Hopping, beaches
• Start in Puerto Rico, and then spend the next two weeks visiting US Virgin Islands, Gustavia, Brasseterre, St. Maarten, Great Harbour, British Virgin Islands, St. George’s, Bequia, Mayreau, Les Saintes, and Marigot.  
• Fares from $5,393

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with HX

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS and Quito for 9-days

• 2-nights in Quito, then fly to Galapagos (included in fare) for 6 nights.  Visit Mosquera Inlet, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Research Station in Port Ayora, Espanola Island, Eden Islet.  

• 2026:  February through December from $6,753
• 2027:  March through December from $7,705
• See our video blog from when we did this trip: https://youtu.be/3F38Km2EEjQ 

NORTHERN LIGHTS in NORWAY

• Round-trip from Tromso, for 8-days with 5 stops on Norwegian Coast
• Northern lights PROMISE.  If you DON’T see the Aurora Borealis on this journey HX will offer credit towards another cruise.
• 2026: Depart November, or December from $3,685
• 2027: Depart January through March or November through December from $4,342

CRYSTAL: Small-ship LUXURY

Crystal Cruises creates raving fans with their intuitive service, resulting in the highest repeat rate in the industry.  They’ve also modified their ships to REDUCE the number of guests on board, which means they have the best passenger-space ratios at sea:

NEW ZEALAND/AUSTRALIA: Auckland to Brisbane departing March 3, 2027 for 15-nights

• Visit Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Milford Sound, Melbourne (overnight), Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane.
• Fares from $10,330
• OR stay on board for 29-nights, travelling up the Australian East Coast towards Bali, and stop in at Airlie Beach, Cairns (overnight), Papua New Guinea, Darwin, and Komodo Island before arriving in Bali for an overnight stay for an additional $8340.

SOUTH AMERICA: from Buenos Aires to Santiago departing November 11, 2027 for 18-nights

• South America ENCOMPASSED!  Visit Uruguay, Puerto Madryn, Falkland Islands, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas (overnight), 2-days in the Chilean Fjords, and then 4 port stops in Chile before finishing with an overnight in Santiago. 
• Fares from $8830

CANYON SPIRIT LUXURY RAIL JOURNEY in the USA

This is the perfect way to take in the incredible scenery in Colorado, Utah, and the surrounding National Parks:

Denver to Las Vegas for 5-nights with 5 National Parks:

• Denver, Glenwood Springs, Moab (2), Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas
• Departures available April through October from $5234

Denver round-trip for 7-nights with 4-Days on the Rails

• Denver, Glenwood Springs, Moab (for 3 nights), Glenwood Springs, Denver
• Departures available April through November from $4535

TRAVELLING in SUMMER 2026? Be READY

FIFA WORLD CUP is the largest sporting event on the planet, and it’s coming to North America this summer.  Even if you’re NOT a soccer fan, you SHOULD have this on your radar if you plan to travel (internationally or domestically) in June or July of 2026.  Here’s why:

• AIR TRAVEL domestically, as well as to/from Canada and Mexico will be very busy.
• AIRPORTS:  Even if you’re flying to Europe or Asia, domestic airports will be busy. 
• HOTELS:  If you’re trying to find lodging in a host city around game day, it will be tight. 
• SECURITY:  The security in airports and at venues will be enhanced, and slow everything down. 
• SEATTLE & VANCOUVER:  If you’re going to Alaska in June or July, book your hotel NOW.  Both these cities are hosting multiple games. 
• HOST CITIES:
  • CANADA:  Toronto, Vancouver
  • MEXICO: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey
  • UNITED STATES: Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle

FIFA’s impact on travel to host cities is equal to travelling to an Olympic Games. Be prepared.

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