AmaWaterways, LLC
Company typePrivate
IndustryRiver cruise company, cruise line
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002)
Headquarters
Calabasas, California
,
United States
ServicesRiver cruises
Websitewww.amawaterways.com

AmaWaterways is a Calabasas, California based river cruise company that offers cruises in Europe, Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, South America, and Egypt.[1][2] Its price range is considered "luxury" among river cruises.[2] It had a fleet of 26 ships as of 2022.[1]

History

AmaWaterways was co-founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner, Jimmy Murphy, and Kristin Karst.[1][2] Schreiner had been one of the pioneers of the river cruise industry after the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal opened in 1992.[3] Schreiner was still the president and co-owner of the company as of 2018.[4]

Present day

The AmaPrima on the Danube

AmaWaterways cruise ships ply a number of rivers in Europe, including the Danube, Rhine, Seine, Douro,[2] Moselle, Main,[5] Garonne,[6] and Rhône.[7] Outside Europe, their ships cruise the Mekong and Chobe rivers.[2]

At each port of call, there are guided excursions that are graded according to the difficulty level of the walking.[2] The company also caters to bicyclists, golfers,[4] and other active passengers. Starting in 2016, it offered "cruise and bike trips on the Rhine, Seine and Douro".[2]

Cruises are full-board and include wine and beer with meals as well as a cocktail hour.[8] AmaWaterways is reportedly the only river cruise line to belong to the gourmet chain La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.[2]

Unusually for river cruises, there are hair salons on AmaWaterways ships,[2] as well as spas, gyms, and libraries.[8]

Special interest cruises

To attract families with younger children, AmaWaterways partnered with Adventures by Disney to create Disney-themed cruises that feature the Christmas markets in cities on the Danube and Rhine rivers, among others.[9][2][10]

The company has also offered promotions for solo travellers. On four ships (the AmaDolce, AmaLyra, AmaCello, and AmaDante), single cabins are available without a supplemental fee.[11]

Fleet

As of 2022, AmaWaterways had a fleet of 26 ships.[1] One of these, the AmaMagna, is the largest cruise ship on the Danube.[2] Roughly twice as wide as other cruise ships on the Danube,[12] the AmaMagna is meant to offer passengers more roomy accommodations and more dining options than would be possible on a narrower river cruise ship.[4]

Ship Entered service Length Passengers Class Port of registry Flag Register No. Notes
AmaBella 2010 135.0 m (443 ft) 162 Basel ENI 02332082
AmaCello 2008 110.0 m (361 ft) 150 Basel ENI 02329809
AmaCerto 2012 135.0 m (443 ft) 164 Basel ENI 07001949
AmaDahlia 2021 72 m (236 ft) 72 Egypt
AmaDante 2008 110.0 m (361 ft) 150 Basel ENI 02329183
AmaDara 2015 92 m (302 ft) 124 Vietnam
AmaDolce 2009 110.0 m (361 ft) 148 Basel ENI 02331267
AmaDouro 2019 79.3 m 102 Douro Portugal
AmaKristina[11] 2017 135.0 m 156 Basel
AmaLea[11] 2018 135.0 m 156 Basel
AmaLucia[5] 2021[5] 135.0 m 156 Basel ENI 07002142
AmaLyra[11] 2009 109.8 m 144 Basel
AmaMagdalena
AmaMagna[4] 2019[4] 135.0 m 196 Basel
AmaMora[5] 2019 135.0 m 156 Basel
AmaPrima 2013 135.0 m (443 ft) 164 Basel ENI 07001958
AmaReina 2014 135.0 m (443 ft) 162 Basel ENI 02335818
AmaSerena[5] 2015 135.0 m (443 ft) 164 Basel ENI 07002014
AmaSiena 2021 135.0 m 162 Basel
AmaSonata 2014 135.0 m (443 ft) 164 Basel ENI 07001981
AmaStella 2016 135.0 m 156 Basel
AmaVenita 2014 135.0 m (443 ft) 162 Basel ENI 07002005 built as AmaVista
AmaVerde 2011 135.0 m 161 Basel
AmaVida 2013 79.0 m (259 ft) 108 Douro Portugal unknown
AmaViola 2016 135.0 m 156 Basel
Zambezi Queen 2009 45.7 m (150 ft) 28 Kasane Namibia renovated in 2019

References

  1. ^ a b c d "AmaWaterways Announces Retirement of Gary Murphy, Senior Vice President of Sales, Promotes Alex Pinelo" (Press release). Calabasas, CA: AmaWaterways. Hemsworth Communications. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jeannine Williamson. "AmaWaterways vs. Emerald Waterways". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Our Story". AmaWaterways. 2015–2019. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e Daniel McCarthy. "AmaWaterways Unveils Details of Newest Ship, AmaMagna". travelmarket report. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e Jeri Clausing (15 January 2020). "AmaWaterways to debut new ship, new itineraries in 2021". Travel Weekly.
  6. ^ "Taste of Bordeaux". AmaWaterways. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Colors of Provence". AmaWaterways. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  8. ^ a b Kathy Armstrong (25 January 2020). "Down the Danube: What would a 20-something make of a river cruise?". Irish Independent. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  9. ^ Maryn Liles (7 February 2020). "Vacationing With Kids? Here Are 15 of the Best New Family-Friendly Cruises to Take in 2020". Parade.com. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  10. ^ Orlando Sentinel (5 February 2020). "Disney amps up European river cruise options". Texarkana Gazette. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d "AmaWaterways to Offer Solo Traveler Promotion". Luxury Travel Advisor. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Cruise New February: AmaMagna". The Business Travel News. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AmaWaterways.
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