More Than 20 Complimentary Pre- or Post-Cruise Land Packages Extend River Cruise Journeys

20 January, 2025

Sydney, Australia – In line with the start of the 2025 WAVE Season, award-winning luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways is distinguishing itself by enhancing the guest experience, adding days and tours to hundreds of sailings – for free. Designed for those seeking a deeper connection to the destinations they visit, AmaWaterways is offering guests the opportunity to extend their river cruise with a variety of complimentary two-, three- or four-night pre- and post-cruise land packages available on select 2025 and 2026 European sailings. Details can be found at http://www.amawaterways.au/freeland.  

Guests booking a new reservation on select European sailings until 31 March 2025 can choose from more than 20 available land packages (dependent on booked itinerary) on upwards of 69 different itineraries covering more than 230 departure dates in 2025 and doubling to more than 460 departures in 2026. Guests will be able to explore more deeply the iconic cities and fascinating regions surrounding where their river cruise begins or ends, as well as nearby countries.

This WAVE offer is combinable with Loyalty Savings and Benefits, Referral Savings, curated Grand River Cruises and Combination Cruise Savings, and Future Cruise Benefits – all great values on their own but magnified when combined.

Whether travellers choose to extend their journey before or after their river cruise, they will stay at a world-class 4- or 5-star hotel in the heart of the city, enabling them to explore locally during tours as well as shop and dine during their own leisure time. In addition, every AmaWaterways land package includes daily breakfast at the hotel and enriching city tours and excursions, convenient transfers and luggage service between guests' hotel and river cruise ship, as well as the services of an AmaWaterways Cruise Manager who remains with the group throughout their river cruise and land journey.

The list of inspiring pre- and post-cruise destinations includes:

Brittany, France – available on Impressions of the Seine & Paris

Guests can explore the very sought-after (and luxurious) seaside resort town of Dinard on France's Emerald Coast. Tours bring guests to the walled city of Saint-Malo, once a stronghold of privateers, and the magical island monastery of Mont St. Michel, the inspiration for Disney's movie Tangled.

Lisbon, Portugal – available on Enticing Douro and Flavours of Portugal & Spain

The capital and largest city of Portugal, Lisbon has everything an explorer could want from a centuries-old European city - winding cobblestone streets and a skyline dotted with Medieval castles. AmaWaterways guests kick off their three-day pre-cruise with a tour of the “City of Seven Hills”, followed by tastings of typical Portuguese pastry. Before heading to the ship in Porto, guests tour Serra de Sintra, the legendary retreat of the Roman goddess Diana the Huntress, and the nearby 16th-century fairytale castle of Pena Palace.

Prague, Czech Republic – available on several Danube, Main and Moselle itineraries

Considered the “City of a Hundred Spires,” Prague is known for its Old Town Square, the heart of its UNESCO historic core, with colourful baroque buildings, Gothic churches and the medieval Astronomical Clock. Guests can start the three-night pre- or post-cruise adventure with a tour of the city or do a castle hike. The long history of beer in the Czech Republic can only be experienced by sampling some of the world's best beer during a special beer tasting.

Amsterdam, Netherlands – available on several Dutch, Rhine and Moselle itineraries

This two-night pre-cruise land package offers guests the opportunity to learn why Amsterdam offers far more than a stop on a river cruise. Known for its picturesque canals, historic buildings, world-class museums, and vibrant nightlife, a local expert guide leads an in-depth Amsterdam tour showing off much of what makes this one of Europe's most popular cities. And just beyond is the city of Haarlem, where guests enjoy an enchanting cruise along one of its canals, embracing its medieval character, cobblestone streets, gabled houses and iconic windmills.

Cruising with AmaWaterways includes fine dining in multiple venues, including The Chef's Table specialty restaurant, unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, a daily Sip & Sail cocktail hour with wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks, a daily variety of small group excursions, including hiking, biking and special interest tours, high-quality Wi-Fi, a complimentary Wellness Program in Europe and on the Mekong with a variety of host-led fitness classes, and much more.

For more information or to reserve an AmaWaterways river cruise and land package, contact your preferred Travel Advisor, or contact AmaWaterways on 1800 867 126 or visit amawaterways.au

About AmaWaterways

Family-owned and operated for more than 22 years, AmaWaterways offers unparalleled river cruise experiences with 31 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 (2025). Co-founded by pioneering river cruise executives Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy, the company was recently voted “Best River Cruise Line” by the world's leading cruise reviews site Cruise Critic, and 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 that also earned the line a “Best for Active Cruisers” distinction by Cruise Critic); 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.