Originally published May 2024. Updated June 2026.
Key Takeaways (Quick Answer)
- AmaWaterways is a family-owned luxury river cruise line with ships of around 150 passengers, offering a far more intimate experience than both large ocean ships and many other river cruise lines.
- The Rhine and Main River itinerary from Basel to Nuremberg covers Switzerland, France, and Germany in a single week, stopping in towns such as Strasbourg, Rüdesheim, Miltenberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and Bamberg.
- AmaWaterways includes all meals (prepared with locally sourced ingredients), shore excursions, and most beverages in the cruise fare, with multiple excursion options at each port.
- The signature twin-balcony staterooms feature both a traditional outdoor balcony and a French balcony, a design unique to AmaWaterways ships.
- A river cruise is essentially a multi-city European tour where you only have to unpack once.
- AmaWaterways works almost exclusively through travel advisors, meaning the right advisor can help you compare destinations, itineraries, ships, and departure dates.
Back in 2019, I was at Barnes & Noble tutoring an Italian student who I used to meet with weekly (fun fact: I speak Italian and used to teach at a language school and privately here in NYC). My client was a busy and successful businessman, and one of our favorite topics of conversation, aside from Italian grammar, was international travel.
We loved exchanging stories about past trips, upcoming trips, and our long list of “not yet” destinations. However, one day he threw me for a loop by mentioning river cruising, which I had no idea even existed at the time.
My immediate knee-jerk reaction was “…Really??”
He quickly replied, “Oh yeah! River cruising is nothing like ocean cruising. There are maybe 150 people on board. The food is great. It’s one of the best ways to travel.”
My curiosity was piqued.
Cut to today: I’m happy to share that I have seen the light. After my first river cruise, which was along the Rhine and Main rivers, I’m now a huge fan of river cruising.
How Is a River Cruise Different from an Ocean Cruise?
Once the concept of river cruising had been put in my head, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and started to do some research. One of the biggest differences between ocean and river cruises that immediately stood out to me was the destinations you can visit on a river cruise: Ocean cruises take you to a country, but river cruises take you through a country. You can also see land the entire time from your ship, so seasickness is not a concern on river cruises the same way it may be for some travelers on ocean cruises.
Another big difference between the two is the size of the ships. River cruises must be a certain size so they can fit under bridges and in the locks along the rivers. A smaller ship means fewer passengers, which makes for a much more intimate experience than you’ll find on most ocean cruises.
Where Can You Go on a European River Cruise?
From world capitals along the Danube (such as Budapest and Vienna) to jewel towns along the Moselle, river cruises are a great way to visit a variety of destinations on a single trip without having to unpack multiple times. Many of these destinations are more off the beaten path and really give you the opportunity to dive into the heart of a country, its local culture, cuisine, and of course, the people you meet along the way.
While river cruising is a great way to visit many different countries in Europe (such as France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Germany, and Portugal to name a few), there are also lots of river cruise options across the globe in Asia, Africa, and South America as well for travelers to explore. Visiting Egypt and cruising along The Nile is high on many travelers’ wish lists (including mine), as are visiting Vietnam and Cambodia along The Mekong.
Why I Chose AmaWaterways for My First River Cruise
I learned that just like with ocean cruises, there are many different river cruise lines on the market, each offering its own unique selling points. Once I started to learn about the leading players in the industry and what the main differences are from one line to the next, I decided that I wanted my first river cruise to be with the family-owned AmaWaterways.
The next step was choosing which itinerary I wanted to sail on. After a lot of back and forth (each option was more appealing than the next), I chose an itinerary which sailed from Basel to Nuremberg along the Rhine and Main (sounds like “mine”) rivers through Switzerland, France, and Germany.
I truly enjoyed all the ports that we visited, but my favorites were probably Strasbourg, France (the only destination on this itinerary I had previously visited), Rüdesheim, Miltenberg, Rothenburg, and Bamberg, all in Germany. Each town made me feel like I was walking through a classic Disney film, oscillating between Beauty and the Beast and Pinocchio. The time spent in these ports was a great way to get a taste of many different locales that I probably would have never visited independently.
One of my favorite things about sailing with AmaWaterways was that the cruise fare not only included all meals on board (which were delicious and made with local ingredients), but it also included all excursions, offering several options to choose from in each port. There was a wide variety of excursions offered, including walking tours, food tours, wine tastings, active hiking and biking tours, and even a Brezel baking experience at a small bakery in Germany.
What to Expect When You Board an AmaWaterways River Cruise
Many river cruises begin and end in different ports, giving travelers the opportunity to dive a little deeper into multiple destinations before and/or after their cruise. Since your time visiting each port is usually limited to a day or half-day during the cruise, staying in a hotel for a few nights on either end of the cruise is a great way to see more of a city or town as well as enjoy some of its nightlife.
Prior to the cruise, I treated myself to a stay in Basel at Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, a 5-star hotel located directly on The Rhine. I had never been to Basel before and knew I wanted to spend some time in the city before our sailing. The hotel has two incredible restaurants onsite, including Chef Peter Knogl’s Cheval Blanc which has three MICHELIN stars and features a marble table that was at Marie Antoinette’s wedding as its centerpiece. The service and hotel were top-notch and set the tone for the week to come.
After enjoying a delicious lunch at the hotel, I boarded the AmaCerto and checked into one of the signature twin-balcony cabins on board which would be my home for the week ahead. The twin-balcony cabins offer both a traditional outdoor balcony that has a couple of chairs for you to relax on and enjoy the scenery from, and a French balcony, which allows you to enjoy the passing scenery while staying inside your cabin (your nose and toes can be outside the cabin on a French balcony). There was even a blanket for me to use on the balcony, which came in very handy for enjoying the outdoor space on a cool October evening.
Is AmaWaterways Right for You?
One of the biggest takeaways from my incredible week sailing with AmaWaterways was that a river cruise at its core is very much a multi-city tour, but instead of checking in and out of several hotels along the way, you only have to unpack one time, relax, and enjoy the ride.
Lines carrying more passengers on their ships may cost a bit less, but be sure to see what is and isn’t included in your fare. On the flip side, travelers seeking an even more intimate onboard experience may be a better fit for some of the ultra-luxury river cruise lines. AmaWaterways sits firmly in the middle of the road from a cost perspective, offering a luxury experience that is very relaxed and appealing.
If you long for Europe but do not enjoy getting yourself from one destination to the next, then yes, river cruising is probably for you. It’s an excellent way to get an introduction to many different towns and cities, fall in love with some of them, and then plan return visits to your favorites.
On the other hand, if you love large-scale entertainment, casinos, bustling onboard nightlife, and a wide variety of specialty restaurants to choose from, then ocean cruises may be a better fit.
When it comes to choosing which river cruise line is best, that is going to be a matter of preference. As I mentioned earlier, there are many different river cruise lines for you to choose from, so working with a travel advisor with a deep understanding of what differentiates one line from the next is incredibly important.
I enjoyed sailing the Rhine and Main aboard AmaWaterways so much that I’ve already become a repeat client myself. If you’re curious about visiting Lyon (France’s culinary capital), Beaujolais, Provence, and other gems in the heart of France, check out my blog on AmaWaterways’ Colors of Provence itinerary along the Rhône to learn about it.
Frequently Asked Questions About AmaWaterways River Cruises
AmaWaterways includes all meals on board, most beverages, and shore excursions at every port. What I found especially impressive was the variety of excursion options available at each stop, ranging from easy walking tours and food tours to active hiking and biking excursions and hands-on local experiences like a pretzel-baking class in Germany. The food on board was also excellent, made with locally sourced ingredients throughout the journey. The menu is a mix of dishes inspired by the region you’re visiting and familiar favorites (sometimes you just want a burger or pizza).
The biggest difference is scale and intimacy. AmaWaterways ships carry around 150 passengers compared to hundreds or thousands on ocean cruise ships, which creates a different atmosphere on board. River cruises also take you through the heart of a country rather than to its coastal ports, you can see land the entire time, and seasickness is not a factor.
In my experience, yes. The all-inclusive nature of AmaWaterways means you are not nickel-and-dimed throughout the trip, the ships are elegant without being flashy, and the excursion program gave me access to towns and experiences I would not have found on my own. The intimate onboard experience is a great fit for luxury travelers.
The Basel to Nuremberg itinerary along the Rhine and Main Rivers is an excellent starting point, particularly for first-time river cruisers. It covers Switzerland, France, and Germany in a single week, with stops in Strasbourg, Rüdesheim, Miltenberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and Bamberg. Each of these towns is worth a return visit on its own. Itineraries between Amsterdam and Basel are also incredibly popular, and often include the famous Rhine Gorge.
The Rhine is wonderful in both spring and fall. I traveled in October, which offered pleasant temperatures, beautiful foliage, and far fewer crowds than summer sailings. AmaWaterways also runs popular Christmas Markets cruises along the Rhine in November and December, which tend to sell out well in advance, so plan accordingly if that experience is on your list.
AmaWaterways works almost exclusively through travel advisors. Working with a Virtuoso-affiliated advisor, like White Lotus Travel Design, gives you access to exclusive shipboard amenities, expert guidance on itinerary selection, and someone who has actually sailed with AmaWaterways and can answer your questions based on personal experience.
