AmaWaterways wine cruises add a unique epicurean dimension to a variety of itineraries at no additional cost. Join one of these wine cruises with a special wine host and be treated to a menu of exclusive wine and culinary experiences designed to delve deeper into the wonderful flavors and tastes of Europe.
European cities transform into majestic winter wonderlands for the holiday season – and we invite you to experience all their splendor with us. In addition to our variety of daily excursions, you will also have the opportunity to visit festive Christmas Markets in select destinations and participate in nostalgic traditions.
Maximize your Christmas experience by embarking at the height of the holiday market season with daily or near-daily visits to Christmas Markets.
Get "just a taste" of the holidays in mid-November or late December with visits to one or two Christmas Markets during your river cruise.
We are pleased to offer guests the opportunity to experience Floriade in 2022 while sailing along the Rhine River and Dutch and Belgian Waterways between April 14 and October 9. Right outside Amsterdam, this rare experience calls for its visitors to “explore, touch and change” as part of their journey into Floriade – which is set to feature stunning gardens, innovative sustainable gardening exhibits, live entertainment, talk shows, souvenirs and food stalls.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Rhône with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Explore the rich history of classical music along the Danube River where famous composers lived, worked and performed. Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever “Soulful Experience” on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2024.
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through four countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
Join Chef Joanne Weir, award-winning cookbook author, restaurant owner and host of PBS television series “Plates & Places” as she hosts a special 7-night Flavors of Burgundy river cruise.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Danube with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever “Soulful Experience” on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2025
Explore the rich history of classical and folkloric music along the Danube River where famous composers lived, worked and performed. Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey.
Countries Visited: Austria, Hungary, Slovakia
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through five countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
We invite our loyal past guests to join us once again on these special Loyalty Cruises, offering unique experiences in multiple ports, commemorative gifts, and many more surprises and delights.
Imagine if there was a way to combine luxury river cruising on the iconic Danube with the opportunity to indulge your passion and play golf. We have created the perfect package to enable you to do just that with our Exclusive Concierge Golf Program. Discover Europe, complete with award winning cuisine, incredible service and a choice of excursions in every port, as well as up to 5 rounds of golf at some of the leading championship courses on the continent.
AmaWaterways’ Exclusive Concierge Golf Program is available on select Magna on the Danube cruises sailing aboard the AmaMagna.
Hello! "I'm Kristin Karst, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of AmaWaterways and I'm passionate about river cruising. Each month, I love to share with you my thoughts, personal stories, travel tips and latest news on the people and places that help turn every mile of our guests' river cruise experience into one of their most cherished memories!"
Nestled on the Vistula River, Kraków served as Poland’s capital for five centuries and is the country’s leading tourist attraction today. It is home to Poland’s largest castle, Wawel Royal Castle, one of the very first UNESCO World Heritage Sites designated in 1978. Coincidentally, this was the same year the city’s archbishop, Karol Wojtyla, was elevated to the papacy as Pope John Paul II, making him the first-ever Slavic pope.
But the city’s history reaches far past these noteworthy facts and the Second World War it survived. What is it, then, that is so fascinating about Kraków? In short: everything.
A Fire-Breathing Dragon and the Cobbler Who Became King
Ever wonder where Kraków got its name? Some attribute it to a cobbler named Krak, who, in a feat of bravery, tried his hand at slaying a beast who tortured the city. You see, legend has it that a ravenous dragon once lived beneath the city’s castle. When his demands for cattle were not met, the dragon wreaked havoc and feasted upon the townspeople instead.
In his desperate attempts to save lives, the king of the castle decreed that whoever defeated the dragon could marry his daughter, Princess Wanda, and take over his royal throne. Many stepped up to the plate, but it was the lowly shoemaker Krak who ultimately took down the reptilian terrorist with a sheepskin he’d stuffed with hay and sulfur as a sacrificial meal. The dragon, as expected, satiated his appetite with the faux sheep but was quickly overcome by an unquenchable thirst. He flew to the Vistula River where he drank and drank until his body could take no more – and he exploded into dust.
The elated king kept true to his word, offering his blessing for Krak to marry the princess. The newly anointed King Krak built a castle atop the dragon’s lair and named the city in his honor. Now, others believe the cobbler’s name was Skuba, so whether or not you believe this story is up to you. However, you can visit the 20-foot-tall Wawel Dragon Statue who goes by the name of Smok Wawelski, near the river, which, by the way, breathes real fire. You can also find the dragon’s likeness in many a souvenir shop, a testament to this historic legend.
St. Mary's Trumpet Call: An Hourly Tradition
From the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages on cobblestone to the whooshing spray of fountains scattered throughout the city, Kraków is filled with auditory pleasures, but none is more distinctive than St. Mary’s Trumpet Call.
Originally constructed in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 14th-century in the Gothic style, St. Mary’s Church itself is the towering landmark of Old Town Square, but do not let its understated brick façade deceive you. Inside is a flamboyant display of frescoes and ornate decorations that lead the eye to the largest Gothic altarpiece in the world, intricately carved from wood.
However, you’ll want to be outside for the highlight of St. Mary’s, where, every hour on the hour within the tower, a trumpeter plays the Hejnal Mariacki, a five-note hymn-turned-anthem of the city, commemorating an event that occurred nearly 900 years ago. It is said that when Kraków came under siege in 1241, a Polish soldier saw a cloud of dust in the distance. Recognizing that it was enemy Tatar troops, he took to the church tower and played the song to warn inhabitants of the impending attack. While the citizens were able to close the gates to the city and were saved, tragedy struck when an arrow pierced the sentry’s throat in the middle of playing the melody.
Today, St. Mary’s bugler is an icon of the city. The tune, just as the soldier’s life, is abruptly cut short, and is played in each cardinal direction – a not-to-be-missed and moving spectacle that brings history to life… through music to your ears.
Brave Mr. Schindler
Of course, those familiar with the darker pages of Kraków’s past will remember it well for its connection to the tragic events of the Holocaust during World War II. But push past the darkness and there you’ll find the city’s light in Oskar Schindler. The somewhat controversial hero of the Oscar-winning film, Schindler’s List, the businessman was a member of the Nazi Party who clearly disagreed with much of their politics.
Schindler operated three factories in Kraków. Among them was the Emalia factory where he employed Jewish workers. In addition to improving these workers’ living conditions and saving them from much harsher treatment, the factory owner pulled a fast one on his Nazi counterparts. He produced a work order for a new munitions “factory” where he would employ 1,200 Jewish prisoners, while in reality, he was transporting and rescuing these souls who would have otherwise been deported to Auschwitz, the largest and most infamous of Europe’s labor and death camps.
Beginning in 2023, you can visit Kraków’s Jewish Quarter and see Schindler’s famed factory during our optional land package as part of your Celebration of Classical Music: The Danube and Majestic Capitals of the Danube journeys. You will also experience a deeply moving visit to Auschwitz. The main gate, barbed wire fences, buildings and barracks look much the same today as they did during the Holocaust, when 1.1 million lives were taken within the camp. It was liberated from January 17-21, 1945, saving 58,000 from further horrors. Though not for the feint of heart, this once-in-a-lifetime excursion will honor the memory of those who perished and promises to be one you won’t soon forget.
Why Reserve This Land Package
Add a bonus country to your journey: Poland! Make the most of your international airfare and indulge your wanderlust by spending more time in Europe and exploring this fascinating city. Whether connecting with your Polish or Jewish heritage, or simply interested in the great legends of this incredible place, you will be inspired by your experiences during this 3-night land package, which includes a moving visit to Auschwitz.
What’s Included in Your Optional Land Package
Extend your journey courtesy of AmaWaterways!
Receive a complimentary 2-, 3- or 4-night Land Package when you reserve select 2024 and 2025 Europe river cruises. Click here for offer details or contact your preferred travel advisor. Offer available through June 30, 2024.