The back story
Founded: 2002, by Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy; still family-run and focused solely on river cruising (amawaterways.com, About us and press release, Aug 2025) · Fleet: Europe ships including AmaMagna (Danube); AmaLilia, AmaCleo, AmaDahlia and AmaNubia (Nile); AmaDara and AmaMaya (Mekong); AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia (Magdalena); Zambezi Queen (Chobe) (amawaterways.com ship pages, Oct 2026) · Guests per ship: 28 (Zambezi Queen) to 164 (AmaSonata); “fewer than 200 guests on board” on every ship (amawaterways.com) · What’s included: All meals, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, a Sip & Sail cocktail hour on European cruises, shore excursions with local guides, Wi-Fi and a Cruise Manager; on select sailings some excursions cost extra (amawaterways.com FAQ, Oct 2026) · New ships: AmaNubia arrives on the Nile in November 2026; AmaRudi’s inaugural Danube cruise departs 11 April 2027 from Vilshofen; AmaFiora debuts on the Rhine in 2027 (amawaterways.com) · Sails: Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, Saône, Dordogne, Garonne, Douro, Nile, Mekong, Magdalena and Chobe
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The back story
AmaWaterways·In depth
Three river-cruise pioneers, a founder who once built and lived on a raft on the Amazon, and a family-run line that now sails four continents.
The fleet
Who it suits. On a budget: First-timers can start with a seven-night Danube or Rhine sailing in a window stateroom on the lowest deck; the fare still covers every meal, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi and excursions in every port. Mid-range: A twin-balcony stateroom, with both a French balcony and a step-out balcony, on one of the Europe ships, or a Douro sailing on a 102-guest ship through the port-wine valley. Luxury: AmaMagna’s 710 sq ft Owner’s Suite or one of its six Grand Suites on the Danube, the 502 sq ft Luxury Suite on AmaDara on the Mekong, or a suite on the new AmaNubia on the Nile.
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98 rooms and suites
AmaWaterways·River ship · Danube·€€€€
The double-width Danube ship: 72 ft across, with four included restaurants, a Zen Wellness Studio, a pool and a pickleball court.
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Inaugural cruise 11 April 2027
AmaWaterways·River ship · Danube·€€€€
The next-generation Danube ship, named for co-founder Rudi Schreiner, with full-balcony suites and four restaurants.
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144–164 guests
AmaWaterways·River ships · Europe·€€€
The European fleet on the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône and Dordogne, with French and step-out balconies side by side.
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102 guests
AmaWaterways·River ships · Douro·€€€
AmaDouro, AmaVida, AmaSintra, AmaGaia and AmaLusa, each carrying 102 guests through Portugal’s port-wine valley.
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72–82 guests
AmaWaterways·River ships · Nile·€€€€
AmaLilia and AmaCleo (82 guests), AmaDahlia (72) and the new AmaNubia (76), each with an Egyptologist on board.
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120 guests
AmaWaterways·River ship · Mekong·€€€
French colonial elegance on the Mekong: 60 staterooms and suites, every one with twin balconies, and the Saigon Lounge for evening performances.
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60–64 guests
AmaWaterways·River ships · Colombia·€€€
The line’s first ships on Colombia’s Magdalena River: AmaMagdalena (2025, 60 guests) and AmaMelodia (64), with a pool on the Luna Deck.
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28 guests
AmaWaterways·River boat · Chobe·€€€€
A floating lodge for 28 guests on the Chobe River along the Botswana–Namibia border, with elephants and hippos seen from the deck.
