As AmaWaterways starts its 2024 Europe season early, the luxury river cruise line has marked a new milestone with the highest single month of reservations in its history, surpassing the previous record set in January 2023 by 27 percent.  Call volume also hit record levels in January 2024 with an increase of 18 percent over the same month last year with average wait times at a low 11 seconds.

“2024 is off to an amazing start as January marks our most successful month of bookings in our 22 years of history,'' said Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president of AmaWaterways. “We have been able to handle this surge in demand and provide excellent service to our travel advisor partners by hiring and training additional river cruise specialists for the call centre and doubling the size of our dedicated AmaAir team.”

Highlights of AmaWaterways' 2024 and 2025 Seasons Include:

Extended Season on the Danube and Rhine River

On February 11, 2024, AmaWaterways' flagship AmaMagna set sail along the Danube River through the heart of the continent, cruising between Budapest, Hungary and Vilshofen, Germany. Also starting the early 2024 season is the award-winning AmaLucia cruising the Rhine River taking travellers dreaming of a romantic rendezvous on seven-night escapes between Amsterdam, Netherlands and Basel, Switzerland. For 2025, the early February season will also start with AmaLucia on the Rhine River and AmaMagna cruising the Imperial Danube itinerary round trip from Budapest.

Immersive Experiences in France with a Brand-new Itinerary

AmaWaterways adds a sixth French itinerary with the all-new Flavours of Burgundy on the Saône River. Guests can look forward to even more specially curated excursions as this itinerary offers a variety of unforgettable and enriching activities that connect travellers to France's rich history, culture, food, wine and people. Gourmets will love this journey, taking them through charming destinations such as Tournus, Mâcon and Lyon, while savouring exquisite regional cuisine and iconic wines on board and during visits to the history-rich towns and villages along the way.

Two New Ships: AmaMagdalena and AmaLilia

AmaWaterways continues preparations to welcome its first ships on the beautiful Magdalena River in Colombia. AmaMagdalena will launch in November of this year, and her sistership AmaMelodia in June 2025. AmaWaterways is the first major river cruise line to offer cruises on the Magdalena River, sailing between Cartagena and Barranquilla on two curated seven-night itineraries. Both itineraries take travellers down the only river in the Caribbean region to experience remarkable historical villages and cultural traditions that have been recognised by UNESCO for their universal value.

The luxury river cruise line will also welcome its second ship on the Nile, with the beautiful 82-passenger AmaLilia joining the fleet this year.  Specially curated with upscale, regionally inspired décor and 41 staterooms, including 13 suites, AmaLilia will carry guests through Egypt in style with the luxurious amenities and exclusive experiences only AmaWaterways provides. On all 11-night Secrets of Egypt & the Nile itineraries, an expert Egyptologist accompanies guests throughout their journey, starting with the three-night pre-cruise stay in Cairo to visit the last survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza.  

“As an entrepreneurial, family-owned and operated company committed to innovation and guest satisfaction, we are proud to offer our travel partners and their clients new itineraries to discover, new ships to enjoy and new tools and support services to get them started on their river cruise journeys even more quickly,” added Karst. “Our ships are filling up quickly and our wonderful Cruise Managers and crew are eager to welcome our guests on board for a most memorable vacation experience.” 

Australian and New Zealand travel advisors can now reserve river cruise and land packages for their clients for 2025 departures by calling 1800 867 126 (Australia) or +1 818 428 6198 (New Zealand), emailing AmaAU-NZ@amawaterways.com or visiting amawaterways.com.

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About AmaWaterways

Family-owned and -operated for 22 years, AmaWaterways offers unparalleled river cruise experiences with 29 custom-designed ships sailing Europe's Danube, Douro, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhône, Saône, Seine, Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, and Dutch and Belgian Waterways; Southeast Asia's Mekong River; Africa's Chobe River; Egypt's Nile River and Colombia's Magdalena River (from 2024). Co-founded by pioneering river cruise executives Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy, the company is renowned for its warm and welcoming crew; innovative and sustainable ship design; wellness activities (including a wide choice of included small group shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options); and award-winning, locally sourced cuisine paired with complimentary fine wine. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, most AmaWaterways ships welcome an average of just 150 guests and feature onboard amenities such as a stunning Main Lounge, specialty Chef's Table restaurant, hair and massage salons, Sun Deck walking track, and heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation, highlighted by the launch of the revolutionary AmaMagna. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travellers and families, as well as group and charter options. In 2024, AmaWaterways elevated its commitment to the Australian and New Zealand travel trade by establishing a local presence in Sydney to serve the market's burgeoning interest in luxury river cruising.