AmaWaterways River Cruises

What AmaWaterways River Cruises does

AmaWaterways River Cruises is a privately held, luxury river cruise operator founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst, headquartered in Calabasas, California, and operating a fleet of more than 20 custom-built river ships across 32 countries spanning Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. The company differentiates through first-to-market onboard innovations (complimentary bicycles since 2006, twin-balcony staterooms since 2010, first Chef's Table restaurant on the rivers in 2012) and an average of just 156 guests per ship, which is materially smaller than ocean cruise scale. Its core product is all-inclusive river cruise itineraries of typically 7-14 nights with up to eight daily excursion choices, farm-to-table dining, complimentary wine and beer with meals, wellness programs, and themed verticals including Smithsonian Journeys, Soulful Experience heritage cruises, and Wine/Holiday/Music/Golf departures. A mobile app (myAmaCruise) supports booking and check-in; newbuilds include AmaMagna (Danube), AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia (Colombia), and forthcoming AmaNubia (Nile, September 2026) and AmaRudi (Danube, April 2027).

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time cruise package bookings (with port charges and select beverages included) priced by itinerary, stateroom category, and season, augmented by AirPlus fixed-rate airfare bundles ($999-$4,299+), pre- and post-cruise land extensions (with exclusive Mandarin Oriental hotel accommodations in eight European cities from 2026), onboard credit and stateroom upgrades, and group/charter bookings. Distribution is travel-advisor-led (with a proprietary co-branded marketing platform built with Approach Guides) alongside direct-to-consumer booking through amawaterways.com, a dedicated phone reservations line, and mobile app check-in.

Customer concentration is low and diversified across affluent luxury travelers, multi-generational families, solo travelers, and interest-based segments such as culinary and educational travelers. Geographic and product expansion is the dominant operating theme: Colombia expansion (2024-2026), Nile entry (2026), Danube refresh with AmaRudi (2027), and a new CMO mandate to accelerate entry into Australia and New Zealand. Offsetting risks include a March 2026 suspension of Egypt and Jordan sailings due to Middle East conflict and intermittent reservation system payment processing issues for 2027 bookings. The company holds no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or M&A history and remains independently owned by its co-founders.

Name

AmaWaterways River Cruises

Legal name

AmaWaterways

Website

https://amawaterways.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

AmaWaterways operates a fleet of more than 20 luxury river cruise ships across 32 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America, selling all-inclusive 7-14 night itineraries to affluent individuals, multi-generational families, solo travelers, and interest-based segments through travel advisors and direct booking channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

River Cruise Vacations

NAICS

Inland Water Passenger Transportation (483212), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury River Cruise Operators (THAEACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury River Cruise Lines (THAEABAC), River Cruise + Land Tour Packages (Cruisetours) (THAEACAK), River Shore Excursions & Onshore Programs (THAEACAG)

Keywords

• Luxury river cruises
• European river vacations
• River cruise itineraries
• All-inclusive cruises
• Small-ship river cruising

Headquarters

HQ city

Calabasas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. River Cruise Packages: Core revenue from all-inclusive river cruise bookings across Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Pricing varies by itinerary, stateroom category, and season. Includes port charges, meals, excursions, and select beverages.
2. Land Packages: Pre- and post-cruise land extensions offered in destinations including Paris, Prague, Budapest, Lake Como, Barcelona, Rome, London, and more. Complimentary on select departures or available as paid add-ons.
3. AirPlus Airfare Program: Fixed-rate airfare packages including economy ($999-$2,299), premium economy, and business class ($4,299+) options. Limited-time $599 AirPlus for eligible departures.
4. Onboard Credit & Upgrades: Revenue from stateroom upgrades beyond base category, onboard credit purchases, and optional experiences not included in base cruise fare.
5. Group & Charter Bookings: Tour operator and group reservations with special pricing arrangements. Tour operators eligible for various promotions and packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AmaWaterways operates a fleet of more than 20 custom-designed river cruise ships offering all-inclusive 7-14 night voyages across European rivers (Danube, Rhine, Douro, Rhône, Seine, Moselle), African rivers (Nile, Chobe), the Mekong in Asia, and the Magdalena in Colombia. Cruise packages include port charges, meals, daily guided excursions with up to eight options per day, select beverages, and wellness amenities. The company also sells pre- and post-cruise land packages, fixed-rate airfare through AirPlus, and themed experiences such as Smithsonian Journeys, Soulful Experiences, wine, and holiday cruises.

Product overview

AmaWaterways operates a fleet of over 20 luxury river cruise ships offering voyages across European rivers (Danube, Rhine, Douro, Rhône, Seine, Moselle, Main, Dutch & Belgian waterways), Africa (Nile, Chobe), Asia (Mekong), and South America (Magdalena in Colombia). The core product includes river cruise itineraries of 7-14 nights with all-inclusive amenities such as daily guided excursions, farm-to-table dining, wine and beer with meals, and wellness programs. The fleet includes flagship vessels AmaRudi (launching April 2027) and AmaMagna on the Danube, AmaNubia (launching September 2026) on the Nile, and AmaMagdalena on Colombia's Magdalena River. Specialty experiences include Soulful Experiences (heritage cruises), Smithsonian Journeys, Wine Cruises, Holiday Cruises, Golf, Music, and Beer-themed sailings. Land packages extending stays in European cities and the Mandarin Oriental partnership provide pre/post-cruise luxury accommodations. The myAmaCruise mobile app and travel advisor marketing tool (via Approach Guides) support the booking and planning experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• River Cruises Luxury river cruises on rivers across Europe (Danube, Rhine, Douro, Rhône, Seine, Moselle, Main, Dutch & Belgian waterways), Africa (Nile, Chobe), Asia (Mekong), and South America (Magdalena in Colombia). Average 156 guests per ship with included daily excursions, farm-to-table dining, and wellness programs.
• AmaRudi Next-generation 443ft Danube River ship with 196 passengers, 98 staterooms, 70 crew, full-balcony suites, heated sun-deck pool and whirlpool, four unique restaurants, fitness center, spa services, and Owner Suite category.
• AmaMagna 443ft Danube River ship with 196 passengers, 98 staterooms, 70 crew, largest and most luxurious suites on the Danube (355-710 sq ft with full balconies), four unique restaurants, Zen Wellness Studio, pickleball court, and expansive Sun Deck with pool and whirlpool.
• AmaNubia 236ft Nile River ship with 76 passengers, 38 staterooms, 65 crew, upscale comfort, locally inspired décor, Sun Deck, and regionally inspired multi-course meals at The Chef's Table specialty restaurant.
• AmaMagdalena 223ft Colombia Magdalena River ship with 60 guests, 30 staterooms, 30 crew, sailing Colombia's Magdalena River with regionally inspired cuisine, cultural immersion, Main Restaurant, and luxury staterooms.
• AmaMelodia 64-guest river cruise ship on Colombia's Magdalena River, designed with Colombian architect Camilo Restrepo, sailing 'Magic of Colombia' and 'Wonders of Colombia' itineraries.
• Soulful Experiences Heritage-focused river cruise experiences celebrating Black history and culture along rivers in Colombia, France, Egypt, Asia, and Europe with curated excursions, educational components, and entertainment highlighting African diaspora culture, history and cuisine.
• Smithsonian Journeys Cruises Enhanced river cruises through Europe and Asia with onboard lectures by two Smithsonian Journeys Experts per departure and exclusive shore excursions not available on standard itineraries.
• Holiday Cruises Seasonal river cruises through Europe during the Christmas season featuring Christmas markets, festive décor, and seasonal activities.
• Wine Cruises Wine-themed river cruises featuring vineyard visits, tastings, regional cuisine, and dedicated wine-themed excursions with wine-focused dining experiences.
• Land Packages Pre- and post-cruise land extensions in major cities including Paris, Prague, Budapest, Lake Como, Lucerne, Zurich, Barcelona, Lisbon, Rome, London, Basel, and Bangkok, featuring hand-selected 5-star hotels, guided tours, daily breakfast, and seamless Cruise Manager accompaniment.
• Mandarin Oriental Land Packages Exclusive pre- and post-cruise luxury hotel experiences through Mandarin Oriental in select European cities featuring 5-star accommodations, private drivers, expert guides, and culinary demonstrations with lunch at selected restaurants.
• myAmaCruise App Mobile application for cruise preparation and management available on iOS App Store and Google Play, helping guests prepare with booking details, itinerary information, and pre-cruise guidance.
• AirPlus Airfare Program Fixed-rate roundtrip airfare program offering economy from $999, premium economy from $2,299, and business class from $4,299, with complimentary airport-to-ship transfers and limited-time $599 AirPlus on select departures.
• On-Shore Excursions Included daily guided tours with up to eight options per day including walking tours, bike rides, hiking tours, wine tastings, culinary experiences, and exclusive encounters with local culture, with three activity levels including gentle walker options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 8 guided tour choices available daily
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Approach GuidescoreTechnology or Integration · 21 March 2026Marketing technology partnership enabling travel advisors to create personalized, co-branded promotional pages with custom branding and contact information. Platform requires no technical expertise or login, supporting expansion of river cruise tourism and enhancing AmaWaterways' global presence through trade partnerships.
• Mandarin OrientalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2025Exclusive pre- and post-cruise experiences in major European cities including Barcelona, Paris, Prague, Vienna, Amsterdam, Geneva, Madrid, and Zurich. Features world-class 5-star hotel accommodations, private guides, drivers, and culinary activities. Launching from 2026, aligning with AmaWaterways' commitment to personalized luxury travel.
• TravelOnlyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 August 2025AI-powered lead generation platform partnership providing pre-qualified leads to travel advisors and connecting them with ideal clients. AmaWaterways is among travel partners including Air Canada Vacations, Club Med, and Princess Cruises in this Canadian initiative.
• Travel Meet Asia 2025minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 June 2025B2B travel industry event participation facilitating networking with over 1000 travel trade professionals. Event featured 100+ sellers, 5,215 pre-scheduled business appointments, and conference sessions covering market trends, travel tech, and sustainability.
• Smithsonian JourneyscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational travel partnership bringing Smithsonian experts onboard select river cruises through Europe and Asia. Each departure offers engagement with two Smithsonian Journeys Experts with onboard lectures and exclusive shore experiences not available on standard itineraries. This alliance positions AmaWaterways as a leader in educational luxury travel experiences.
• Mat McLachlan Battlefield ToursminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership offering guided tours and river cruises to Anzac-related historical sites including Gallipoli, Western Front, Hellfire Pass, and Vietnam. Tours operate year-round with focus on Anzac Day ceremonies, combining historical exploration with cultural activities.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/amawaterways
• Facebookfacebook.com/amawaterways
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amawaterways

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AmaWaterways River Cruises