The AmaBella is a stunning river ship, unique in her own right. A classic design palette of black and white in the Main Lounge allows your conversations to provide the color. The intimate marbled bar is an inviting place to grab a cocktail and the Sun Deck putting green, featured only on select AmaWaterways ships, lures both regular golfers and newcomers alike. Most staterooms feature signature twin balconies so you can enjoy the views however you wish, as well as Entertainment on Demand and marble bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads. Suites feature added enhancements, including a larger sitting area and an expansive bathroom complete with a bathtub and separate shower. You will also find a massage and hair salon on board, as well as a fitness room, specialty coffee station and gift shop. Mealtimes are a feast for the senses in the Main Restaurant and at The Chef’s Table.
Day 1 Istanbul
This centuries old capital guards the slender waterway between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and is the doorway between the East and West. Visitors can explore remnants of Byzantine Constantinople in the Sultanahmet district, where you will have the chance to see ancient splendors, such as the Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. At night the city boast a lively nightclub scene and excellent Turkish dining options that may include cultural entertainment and dancing. Istanbul also features splendid shopping malls, boutiques, and hand crafted items can be found all over the city.
Day 2 Istanbul
This centuries old capital guards the slender waterway between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and is the doorway between the East and West. Visitors can explore remnants of Byzantine Constantinople in the Sultanahmet district, where you will have the chance to see ancient splendors, such as the Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. At night the city boast a lively nightclub scene and excellent Turkish dining options that may include cultural entertainment and dancing. Istanbul also features splendid shopping malls, boutiques, and hand crafted items can be found all over the city.
Day 3 Istanbul
This centuries old capital guards the slender waterway between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and is the doorway between the East and West. Visitors can explore remnants of Byzantine Constantinople in the Sultanahmet district, where you will have the chance to see ancient splendors, such as the Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. At night the city boast a lively nightclub scene and excellent Turkish dining options that may include cultural entertainment and dancing. Istanbul also features splendid shopping malls, boutiques, and hand crafted items can be found all over the city.
Day 4 Istanbul
This centuries old capital guards the slender waterway between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and is the doorway between the East and West. Visitors can explore remnants of Byzantine Constantinople in the Sultanahmet district, where you will have the chance to see ancient splendors, such as the Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. At night the city boast a lively nightclub scene and excellent Turkish dining options that may include cultural entertainment and dancing. Istanbul also features splendid shopping malls, boutiques, and hand crafted items can be found all over the city.
Day 4 Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital and largest city in Romania and is located in the southern part of the country. Referred to as the ‘Paris of the Balkans’, Bucharest has ornate buildings, wide boulevards and gardens fashioned after French architecture and city planning. In the name of progress and modernization, North Korean style buildings began being erected – many of which still stand unfinished today. Sights to see in Bucharest range from the stately to the heavenly. The Palace of Parliament should not be missed while in Bucharest – and it’s hard not to. It’s the second largest building in the world behind the Pentagon. Containing over 1,000 rooms, restaurants, conference areas and an art gallery, it houses the Romanian Parliament. There are several museums in the city, such as the National Art Museum and the Village Museum - an open–air museum containing over 300 houses, churches and mills from all over Romania and displays of some of the best folk architecture in the region. The Antim Monastery and Patriarchate Church are among Bucharest's outstanding religious structures.
Day 4 Giurgiu
The Giurgiu County is situated in the Southern part of Romania, on the middle course of the Danube River, as a part of the Romanian Plain. The Southern border of the county washed by the Danube on a length of 72 km gives it the possibility to have river connections (including the way to the Black Sea) with the Danubian countries from the Central and Eastern Europe. Since 1993 when the Rhin-Main-Danube was finished, an opening to the West-European countries was created being possible to reach the North Sea via Rotterdam. The Giurgiu-Ruse road and railway bridge, the only permanent cross over the Danube to Bulgaria, offers also connections to the countries of Central Europe, from and to the Balkan Peninsula and Middle Asia. The Giurgiu county has a diversified industrial production, but being situated in a predominant agricol region its main wealth consists in agricultural activities (cereals, vegetables and vine). The opening of the Free Zone of Giurgiu, the short distance to Bucharest and Bulgaria will offer new opportunities in the development of this county. The natural landscape, interesting historic places offer to tourists some points of attraction. For example, in the village of Comana, on the bank of the Neajlov River, there is a monastery built by ruler Vlad Tepes which is documentary dated back from 1461. The Monuments from Calugareni, placed on the road between Bucharest and Giurgiu, are dedicated to the Romanian army led by Mihai the Brave who fought here in 1594-1595 and was admired by the whole Europe after drove away over the Danube the numberless Ottoman army of Sinan Pasha. The capital city of this county is Giurgiu which is documentary dated back from 1395. Among the monuments of Giurgiu the Clock Tower has to be mentioned. Also the "Teohari Antonescu" History Museum is an important and interesting cultural place in Giurgiu.
Day 5 Rousse
Rousse is an ancient Bulgarian port on the Danube River. People originally settled there because the river produced a living. Today the municipality enjoys a rich cultural lifestyle, hosting an Arts and Culture club, the Rousse Art Gallery, a community art center for children, and the Sava Ognyanov Drama Theatre, one of the most successful professional theatre companies in Bulgaria.
Day 6 Vidin
The town is situated at 199 km north-west of Sofia, on the right bank of Dunabe it is linked with Kalafat town (in Romania) by a ferry. A major factor making the city a resort is the availability of mineral water.
Vidin is one of the oldest towns along the Bulgarian Danube bank. It appears as the Roman fortress of Bononia on the foundations of a Thracian settlement. During the First Bulgarian Kingdom it is known as Budin (Bdin). Bishop's centre. During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom it is a strong fortress and after 1371 a capital of the Vidin Kingdom under Tsar Ivan Sratsimir.
To this day the following sites have been preserved: Baba Vida fortress, built in the 9th-10th centuries on the ruins of a Roman fortress (rebuilt many times, its present appearance dating back to the 18th C.), the Turkish konak (the second half of the 18th C.), the mosque and library of Osman Nuri Pasha, the cruciform barracks of 1798, old Renaissance buildings, a synagogue.
Day 7 Iron Gates (Cruising)
This scenic passage is truly a spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Iron Gates are a narrow gorge between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains. The gorge, one of the most dramatic sights in Europe, forms a natural border between Serbia and Romania.
Day 8 Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital of Serbia with about 1.6 million inhabitants. It is located in southeast Europe, in the Balkan Peninsula, at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe and since ancient times it has been an important traffic focal point, an intersection of the roads of Eastern and Western Europe. Belgrade is the capital of Serbian culture, education, science and economy. As a result of its tumultuous history, many nations live in Belgrade for centuries, and the majority of the population make Serbs (86%) of Orthodox persuasion.
Day 9 Vukovar
Located in eastern Croatia, the city of Vukovaris located at the confluence of the Vuka River into the Danube. It is the largest Croatian town and river port on the Danube, with an economy based on farming, livestock breeding, textiles and food-processing.
The most interesting of its attractive buildings are the 18th century Eltz family castle, the town center's Baroque buildings, the Franciscan monastery, the parish church of St. James, and the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas.
Day 10 Mohacs
The town of Mohacs, located in southern Hungary, is an important river port and railroad terminus. It was also the site of 1526's Battle of Mohacs, where Louis II of Hungary suffered a crushing defeat by the Turkish army. The defeat brought with it more than 150 years of Ottoman domination. There are monuments commemorating the famous battle, of which the slain have ever since been regarded as martyrs to Christianity and Hungarian independence.
Day 11 Budapest
Caught between eastern and western Europe, Budapest has a character uniquely its own. It's also the last cheap, civilised city in Europe. Budapest can seem like one big sight, with each phase in its history, from the Ottoman period until the Communist days and from renaissance to revolution, leaving its mark on the city. For the tourist, a trip to Hungary's capital is dominated by the majestic sights of Buda. In the summer, there are open-air festivals at Szeged, Diosgyor Castle in Miskolc, Gyor and Pecs. Visit the former Royal Palace complex, the Matyas templom and the Belvaros. Margaret Island is a giant recreational park and feels pleasantly separated from the city bustle. Hungarian National Gallery houses Hungarian art since the birth of the nation. Although Esztergom is Hungary's most sacred city, home of the Archbishop and the nation's biggest church, it has a real-life edge. The first-time visitor to Szeged is invariably struck by its space and grandeur. One's immediate impressions of Hungary's third largest provincial city are of greenery and plazas, of broad.
Day 12 Budapest
Caught between eastern and western Europe, Budapest has a character uniquely its own. It's also the last cheap, civilised city in Europe. Budapest can seem like one big sight, with each phase in its history, from the Ottoman period until the Communist days and from renaissance to revolution, leaving its mark on the city. For the tourist, a trip to Hungary's capital is dominated by the majestic sights of Buda. In the summer, there are open-air festivals at Szeged, Diosgyor Castle in Miskolc, Gyor and Pecs. Visit the former Royal Palace complex, the Matyas templom and the Belvaros. Margaret Island is a giant recreational park and feels pleasantly separated from the city bustle. Hungarian National Gallery houses Hungarian art since the birth of the nation. Although Esztergom is Hungary's most sacred city, home of the Archbishop and the nation's biggest church, it has a real-life edge. The first-time visitor to Szeged is invariably struck by its space and grandeur. One's immediate impressions of Hungary's third largest provincial city are of greenery and plazas, of broad.
Day 13 Bratislava
Bratislava is Slovakia's capital and largest city. The Carpathian Mountains, which begin at the Iron Gate of Romania, finally come to an end here. Vineyards on the slopes of the Little Carpathian Mountains meet the Danube River. The Austrian border is almost within sight of the city and Hungary is less than 15 miles away. Many beautiful monuments survive in the old town to tell of its past under Hungarian rule, and Bratislava's numerous museums are surprisingly rich. Franz Lizst visited Bratislava 15 times, and the opera productions of Slovak National Theatre rival anything in Europe. The old city, which is packed with museums and palaces, and the castle are the best parts of Bratislava - the rest of the city is pretty drab. Climb up the castle for great views and to check out the very interesting Museum of Folk Music within. The Slovak National Museum and the Slovak National Gallery on the river are also worth a visit. Hviezdoslavovo námestie (square) is a convenient orientation point, with the old town to the north, the Danube to the south, and Bratislava Castle to the west.
Day 14 Vienna
Vienna is dominated by imperial castles and places: Schonbrunn, the magnificent summer residence, the Imperial Coach Collection, the Palm House, the Butterfly House, Belvedere Palace, magnificent state rooms in Hofburg, and the imperial crown in the Treasury. Stop by Ringstraße - the showplace of the monarchy built where Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the demolition of city walls. Important buildings include the State Opera, the Museums of Fine Arts and Natural History, Parliament, City Hall and Vienna University. The world capital of music. A long line of great composers Johann Strauss, Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, Mahler and Schonberg all worked here. A city with splendid concert halls, such as the Golden Hall, from which the Philharmonic's New Year's Day concert is broadcast annually. International stars love to appear here in the State Opera, Volksoper, Konzerthaus, and at festivals like the Vienna Festival, the Klangbogen concerts during the Musical Summer, the Jazz Festval and the Haydn, Mozart and Schubert festivals.
Day 15 Weissenkirchen
Weissenkirchen, or "White Church", is a charming town sprawled along the banks and the hills of the Danube River. Like other villages in the Wauchau Valley, you can see terraced vineyards, off-set by the red roofs of the town proper. View the white church the town is named for, which in its long history has served both as sacred space and protection from invaders in the the 16th century. You will find the inside designed in the traditional Gothic and Baroque style. Visit the Wachaumuseum, housed in a 16th century building, to learn more about Weissenkirchen's role in wine production, as well as the importance of the salt trade in the town's development and art by Krems painter Kremser Schmidt. Nearby villages include Krems and Dürnstein, while further up stream you can visit the Göttweig Abbey and Melk.
Day 15 Scenic Cruising
Day 15 Grein
With its 2,800 inhabitants Grein is one of the smallest towns in Austria. All Gothic buildings were destroyed in a fire in the 15th century. The houses around the city square mostly date back to a time between 1550 and 1600. The city hall houses a magnificent rococo theater. It has largely remained unchanged. It now features summer plays and concerts. On the west side of the town, you will find the Castle Greinburg on the Hohenstein Peak. In 1597, a Renaissance courtyard was added to the building, which is now used for annual concerts and operas in the months of August and September. Grein’s history is closely tied to the Danube River. The city became very wealthy over the centuries, which is evident in its elaborate and beautiful architecture.
Day 16 Linz
This Roman-built capital city is an important trade town along the Danube. For people interested in its past, it has an impressive list of important historical figures who have passed through or made Linz their home. Friedrich III, the Hapsburg Emperor, spent his last days in Linz, and for a time it was the most important city in the empire. Adolph Hitler went to school here for a brief period of time before moving on. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote his Symphony No. 36 in Linz, and today it is called the Linz Symphony. Sights to see include the Dreifaltigkeitssäule - a monument constructed in memorial of the people who died in the plague epidemics. There are several museums and castles in the area as well. Once in Linz, you'll understand why it was such a place of historical significance.
Day 17 Passau
In the third millennium, Passau was considerably enlarged by the prince bishops of Passau, who made it their royal residence and capital of the largest Danube diocese. The wonderful Baroque buildings dominating the city today were built after a fire of 1662. One of the most striking is cathedral of St. Stephan, with the world's biggest church organ. One of the best ways to enjoy the magic of Passau is with a sightseeing tour. Other sights to see include: Neue Residenz - an Episcopal palace; Veste Oberhaus - Citadel of the prince bishops with the best view of the Old Town and confluence of the three rivers; Town Hall, which is lavishly decorated halls with monumental paintings; Niedernburg Abbey - tomb of Gisela, first queen of Hungary; Maria Hilf - an abbey and place of pilgrimage overlooking the town center; Dreiflusse-Eck - the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz; and St. Nikolai - a University church with Romanesque crypt.
Day 17 Vilshofen
Vilshofen is a small town on the banks of the Danube, and it has a welcome blend of modernity and history along its city streets. The old city center with its tower and St. John cathedral, antiquated narrow streets, monuments, and Baroque architecture. In the old tower, view rotating art exhibitations at the City Gallery, or visit the African Museum within the Benedectine Abbey Schweiklberg, as well as other sculpture parks that give Vilshofen its modern flare. Nearby, for exploring the region's outdoors, hike and bike through Vilsengtal, a nature reserve.
Day 18 Vilshofen
Vilshofen is a small town on the banks of the Danube, and it has a welcome blend of modernity and history along its city streets. The old city center with its tower and St. John cathedral, antiquated narrow streets, monuments, and Baroque architecture. In the old tower, view rotating art exhibitations at the City Gallery, or visit the African Museum within the Benedectine Abbey Schweiklberg, as well as other sculpture parks that give Vilshofen its modern flare. Nearby, for exploring the region's outdoors, hike and bike through Vilsengtal, a nature reserve.
Day 18 Regensburg
Regensburg is located in Bavaria, one of the most distinctive regions of the entire nation. It is an ancient city. Settled first by the Celts in prehistoric times, it was a Roman center for centuries and the site of an important bishopric in the Middle Ages and after. Regensburg is now a thriving city of approximately 150,000 and is a major port on the Danube with beautiful and well-preserved architecture as well as striking, modern buildings. It is only a short distance from both Munich and Nuremberg and within easy access of Vienna, Prague, and other major centers of Central Europe.
Day 18 Prague
Amid Prague's cobblestone streets and gold-tip spires, galleries, cafes, and clubs teem with young Czechs and "expatriates." New shops and restaurants have opened, expanding the city's culinary reach beyond the traditional roast pork and dumplings. The arts and theater also thrive in Prague. Young playwrights regularly stage their works, weekly poetry readings are standing room only, and classical music maintains famous standards, while the clubs are jammed. The arts - nonverbal theater, "installation" art, world music - are as trendy in Prague as in any European capital but possess distinctive Czech flavor. All of this is set against a stunning backdrop of towering churches and centuries-old bridges and alleyways. Prague achieved much of its glory in the 14th century, during the long reign of Charles IV, king of Bohemia and Moravia and Holy Roman Emperor. Charles established a university in the city and laid out the New Town, charting Prague's growth. Prague Castle is the most popular sight and is the largest ancient castle in the world with three courtyards.
Day 19 Prague
Amid Prague's cobblestone streets and gold-tip spires, galleries, cafes, and clubs teem with young Czechs and "expatriates." New shops and restaurants have opened, expanding the city's culinary reach beyond the traditional roast pork and dumplings. The arts and theater also thrive in Prague. Young playwrights regularly stage their works, weekly poetry readings are standing room only, and classical music maintains famous standards, while the clubs are jammed. The arts - nonverbal theater, "installation" art, world music - are as trendy in Prague as in any European capital but possess distinctive Czech flavor. All of this is set against a stunning backdrop of towering churches and centuries-old bridges and alleyways. Prague achieved much of its glory in the 14th century, during the long reign of Charles IV, king of Bohemia and Moravia and Holy Roman Emperor. Charles established a university in the city and laid out the New Town, charting Prague's growth. Prague Castle is the most popular sight and is the largest ancient castle in the world with three courtyards.
Day 20 Prague
Amid Prague's cobblestone streets and gold-tip spires, galleries, cafes, and clubs teem with young Czechs and "expatriates." New shops and restaurants have opened, expanding the city's culinary reach beyond the traditional roast pork and dumplings. The arts and theater also thrive in Prague. Young playwrights regularly stage their works, weekly poetry readings are standing room only, and classical music maintains famous standards, while the clubs are jammed. The arts - nonverbal theater, "installation" art, world music - are as trendy in Prague as in any European capital but possess distinctive Czech flavor. All of this is set against a stunning backdrop of towering churches and centuries-old bridges and alleyways. Prague achieved much of its glory in the 14th century, during the long reign of Charles IV, king of Bohemia and Moravia and Holy Roman Emperor. Charles established a university in the city and laid out the New Town, charting Prague's growth. Prague Castle is the most popular sight and is the largest ancient castle in the world with three courtyards.
Day 21 Prague
Amid Prague's cobblestone streets and gold-tip spires, galleries, cafes, and clubs teem with young Czechs and "expatriates." New shops and restaurants have opened, expanding the city's culinary reach beyond the traditional roast pork and dumplings. The arts and theater also thrive in Prague. Young playwrights regularly stage their works, weekly poetry readings are standing room only, and classical music maintains famous standards, while the clubs are jammed. The arts - nonverbal theater, "installation" art, world music - are as trendy in Prague as in any European capital but possess distinctive Czech flavor. All of this is set against a stunning backdrop of towering churches and centuries-old bridges and alleyways. Prague achieved much of its glory in the 14th century, during the long reign of Charles IV, king of Bohemia and Moravia and Holy Roman Emperor. Charles established a university in the city and laid out the New Town, charting Prague's growth. Prague Castle is the most popular sight and is the largest ancient castle in the world with three courtyards.