As airfares continue to rise, travelers are seeking ways to maximize their experiences by extending their stays in their chosen destination. Award-winning luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways is catering to this trend with its 14-night “Grand River Cruises,” combining some of Europe’s most popular itineraries into a single voyage. The 2025 season sees three new combinations – Grand Seine & Bordeaux, Grand Seine & Rhône and Grand Rhine & Dutch Canals, adding to the existing Magnificent Europe and Grand Danube.
AmaWaterways also offers “Build Your Own Combination Cruise” where travelers can put together their own combinations and enjoy savings of 10% off each consecutive sailing after the first. All of these are combinable with other AmaWaterways offers such as up to 20% cruise savings, Referral Program savings and the line’s Future Cruise Benefit Program, in addition to Loyalty Benefits. Guests must mention promo code B2B10 when booking.
“Grand River Cruises” are attractively priced with some departures offering stateroom savings of up to 20%, include convenient transfers between rivers where applicable, and are offered throughout the 2025 and 2026 seasons. By combining two popular seven-night sailings into one convenient itinerary, these curated extended journeys expand the guest’s opportunities for a more immersive experience, with extra time to explore diverse landscapes, historic cities and charming villages. And for guests looking to dive deeper into some of Europe’s major cities such as Paris, Monaco, Zurich and Amsterdam, can choose to book an optional multi-day pre and post land extension.
The 14-night “Grand River Cruise” itineraries include:
Grand Seine & Bordeaux
The Grand Seine & Bordeaux river cruise takes travelers through four legendary waterways in France including the Seine, Garonne and Dordogne rivers, and the Gironde Estuary. Serving as a combination cruise of two of AmaWaterways’ well-loved itineraries – Paris & Normandy aboard AmaLyra and Taste of Bordeaux aboard AmaDolce – this cruise, with train transfer between Paris and Bordeaux, is ideal for history enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs alike, offering the chance to savor the region’s finest vintages, visit historic castles and immerse in the colorful countryside’s rich culture. The optional land package includes two nights in Paris pre-cruise and three nights in the Loire Valley post-cruise.
Grand Seine & Rhône
The Grand Seine & Rhône river cruise explores the treasures of the Seine and Rhône rivers in France, combining the Paris & Normandy aboard AmaLyra and Essence of Burgundy & Provence aboard AmaCello. This palate-pleasing adventure introduces guests to world-famous monasteries, Normandy’s stunning coastline, and French châteaux’s while immersing them into France’s enchanting blend of history, nature and gastronomy. Convenient train connections are included to ensure seamless transfer from Paris to Dijon. Guests wanting to stay longer can opt for two pre-cruise nights in Paris and three nights along the French Riviera (Nice and Monaco) after the cruise.
Grand Rhine & Dutch Canals
Sailing from Amsterdam to Basel aboard AmaStella, the Grand Rhine & Dutch Canals river cruise is a delightful combination of AmaWaterways’ popular Best of Holland & Belgium, Enchanting Rhine and Captivating Rhine itineraries. This scenic voyage is perfect for those seeking to immerse themselves in the fairytale castles and storybook villages along the Rhine, as well as explore the wonders of Holland and Belgium. Opting for the land extension brings two nights pre-cruise in Amsterdam and post cruise, two nights in Lake Lucerne and two nights in Zurich.
Magnificent Europe
The itinerary between Amsterdam and Budapest follows the footsteps of emperors, kings, and queens and unveils the natural wonders of the Danube, Main, and Rhine rivers and their countless UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Guests can marvel at Cologne’s Gothic Cathedral, wander through the charming Old Towns of Bamberg and Regensburg, take a tour of Nuremberg’s imperial castle, Kaiserburg and hike and bike through stunning scenery in Passau and Vienna. Guests can opt to spend two nights pre-cruise in Amsterdam.
Grand Danube
This curated journey between Vilshofen, Germany and Giurgiu, Romania showcases eight different countries. Guests step back in time to explore the history and millennia-old hillside villages along the Danube and through the Iron Gates. Multiple excursions offered nearly every day allow guests to focus on what they love. The ancient such as the Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo and the Romans’ influence in Pécs, “the city of Mediterranean impressions”; or the food and wine of Croatia, Vienna and Vidin; or the more active opportunities such as hiking the Dürnstein Fortress or biking along Wachau Valley. The extensive optional land package adds three pre-cruise nights in Prague and two nights each in Brasov and Bucharest x or three nights in Istanbul post cruise.
For more information or to reserve an AmaWaterways river cruise and land package, contact your preferred Travel Advisor, call 1.800.626.0126 or visit AmaWaterways.com.
About AmaWaterways
Family-owned and operated for 22 years, AmaWaterways offers unparalleled river cruise experiences with 31 custom-designed ships sailing Europe’s major rivers; 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 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); 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 travelers and families, as well as group and charter options.
This article was originally posted at River Cruise Advisor.
