AmaWaterways

The second best European river cruises is AmaWaterways. This family-run cruise line, which will mark its 20th anniversary in 2022, is known for its first-rate cuisine and beverages, elegant interior design, stunning staterooms, and cutting-edge technology. All onboard meals, including those at The Chef's Table speciality restaurant, as well as fitness classes and shore excursions are included in the fare. Every year, brand-new vessels are introduced, and the roomy AmaMagna, which debuted in 2019, is nearly twice as wide as typical European cruise ships. Wine enthusiasts should take the seven-night "Taste of Bordeaux" cruise, which includes excursions to well-known chateaux, classic vineyards, and delectable wine tastings. The cruise takes place on the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers. Among the excursions are a visit to a medieval castle with a Sauternes sample, a stop at Pauillac, the entrance to the Medoc wine region, and a tour and tasting of Saint-Emilion. When visitors return to Bordeaux, they will tour this UNESCO World Heritage Site and wine industry center.

Its small, modern ships provide the luxury of personal space while carrying on average 156 passengers, which is fewer than on many conventional river cruise ships. Its award-winning fleet, which is roomy and uncrowded, offers attractively furnished cabins and suites with warm extras like our characteristic twin balconies that enhance the views. Its ground-breaking AmaMagna was named one of the World's Greatest Places by TIME magazine in 2019 for delivering expanded personal space with more than 50% luxury suite accommodations, as well as four distinctive dining options, a stylish onboard cinema, and a sizable Zen Wellness Studio. Two new ships, AmaSiena and AmaLucia, as well as the stunningly redesigned AmaDahlia, which cruises on Egypt's Nile River, were welcomed by AmaWaterways in 2021.