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Strong demand pushes AmaWaterways to open 2026 sales early

Propelled by strong demand for its 2024 and 2025 seasons, AmaWaterways opened reservations earlier than planned for all its 2026 cruises and tours.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

June 27, 2024

3 Min Read
CRUISE AmaMagdalena
AmaMagdalena is scheduled to begin sailing on Colombia's Magdalena River in January 2025RENDERING: AMAWATERWAYS

This spans sailings in Europe, Egypt, Asia, Colombia and Africa safaris and wildlife cruises.

With nine new river vessels coming over the next three years, and more than 40 different itineraries on four continents, AmaWaterways' selection is greater than ever. The choices will be detailed in a new '2026 Heart of the River' brochure, available digitally at www.amawaterways.com/river-cruise-brochures in mid-July.

AmaSofia and AmaMaya coming in 2026

After announcing plans to launch seven new vessels in Portugal, Egypt, Colombia and Europe in 2024 and 2025, AmaWaterways will add two more in 2026. AmaSofia is scheduled to sail the Danube beginning May 24, 2026, on the 14-night 'Magnificent Europe' itinerary between Amsterdam and Budapest.

And AmaMaya (announced as AmaKaia) is to join AmaDara on the Mekong in August 2026, cruising the seven-night 'Charms of the Mekong' and 'Riches of the Mekong' itineraries, which are combinable with pre- and post-cruise land packages to Angkor Wat near Siem Reap, Cambodia, or Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, or Bangkok, Thailand.

New Europe land packages

Two new land packages are being added as part of the the seven-night 'Taste of Bordeaux' sailings in 2026. A new four-night pre-cruise option gives two nights in Madrid before heading to San Sebastián, with its Old Town. The other package provides three nights in Paris.

New excursions

New excursions are planned for Rhine and Moselle sailings in 2026. Utrecht has been added to the 'Captivating Rhine,' 'Enchanting Rhine' and 'Christmas Markets on the Rhine' itineraries. This medieval Netherlands city has tree-lined canals and a venerable university. Passengers will be able to choose between a beer tasting and a walking tour.

The stop in Strasbourg during Christmas season sailings brings two more excursion choices, a walking tour of the famous spa resort town of Baden-Baden and a visit to France’s oldest Christmas market in Strasbourg, started in 1570.

On the seven-night 'Vineyard of the Rhine & Moselle' cruise, passengers will be able to explore Wiesbaden, famous for its sekt (champagne) and Kochbrunnen, a thermal hot spring dating back to Roman times.

Colombia

Originally planned to start in late 2023, AmaWaterways now expects to begin sailing Colombia's Magdalena River in January 2025 using two new custom-designed vessels, the 60-passenger AmaMagdalena and, in June, the 64-passenger AmaMelodia.

Two seven-night itineraries, 'Magic of Colombia' and 'Wonders of Colombia,' sail between Cartagena and Barranquilla. Pre- and post-cruise optional land packages take in Medellín and Panama City.

Egypt

The 11-night 'Secrets of Egypt & the Nile' program pairs a seven-night roundtrip Luxor cruise on AmaDahlia and AmaLilia with a three-night pre-cruise and one-night post-cruise stay in Cairo. Optional land packages explore Dubai and Jordan.

Southern Africa

AmaWaterways also operates on Africa's Chobe River with the luxurious 28-passenger Zambezi Queen. A choice of five different itineraries pair a four-night cruise with wildlife land safaris, city stays or cross-country rail travel.

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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