AmaWaterways, acclaimed by the Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe guide as having the top river cruise fleet in Europe, already offers complimentary in-depth tours and excursions during all port calls. For 2015, the company has introduced new themed river cruises that enhance the travelling experience by enabling guests to learn, or improve, their knowledge or skill of history, art, culture, food and wine.

Top themed river cruises for 2015 are:-

Art Illumination Cruise NEW for 2015

Art aficionados and aspiring artists alike can channel their inner Monet during a journey through France's legendary Normandy region onboard AmaWaterways' luxury river cruise ship AmaLegro, departing Paris on 13th August 2015. Guests can immerse themselves in northern France's fascinating artistic heritage and create their own masterpieces inspired by the same landscapes that captivated artists like Monet, Renoir, Gauguin and many more. Complimentary painting classes are led by expert instructors on board, with step-by-step guidance and painting materials provided for guest use (easels, canvases, brushes, & paints), as well as art inspired discussions and presentations. The cruise also includes complimentary art-themed excursions ashore, for example Monet's house and garden at Giverny, the picturesque port of Honfleur, a favourite subject of artists such as Courbet, Boudin and Monet, and Auvers-sur-Oise, a town famous for the Impressionist painters who lived there in the 19th century, such as Paul Cézanne and Camille Pissarro, and a visit to the former home of Vincent van Gogh.  

From £1969pp including flights from London and non UK transfers, all meals on board, free flowing wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, all art illuminations shore excursions and tours, on board presentations and art classes, free use of on board bicycles and complimentary wi-fi.

Beer Cruise NEW for 2015

Hosted by beer expert Don 'Joe Sixpack' Russell – author of a weekly beer column in the United States and three books – beer enthusiasts will enjoy beer pairing dinners, unique experiences, visits to breweries and local tastings on two beer-themed cruises in 2015, aboard AmaLyra in March and AmaPrima in December.

The March cruise starts in Amsterdam, with brewery visits in almost every port: the Heineken Experience in Volendam; a Brewery de Hemel visit and tasting in Nijmegen; a trip to the traditional Cantillon Brewery in Brussels, where production methods haven't changed since 1900; the Gruut Brewery in Ghent and De Halve Mann in Bruges. Enthusiasts will taste the beer in each location and back on board, there's a unique, beer-paired dinner. You don't have to be a beer enthusiast to enjoy this cruise, as it sails through the Netherlands in spring, when the bulbfields are coming into bloom, with the regular programme of excursions to markets, windmills and historic cities running alongside the beer tours.

The new Beer Cruise will take place as part of AmaWaterways' March 31st Tulip Time Cruise sailing and December 14th Christmas Time Cruise itinerary (two departures in 2015). From £1779pp cruise only, or £2029pp including flights from London, non UK transfers, all meals on board, free flowing wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, beer tastings, talks and brewery tours, regular excursions, free use of on board bicycles and complimentary wi-fi.

In Celebration of Wine Cruise

AmaWaterways' wine cruises continue to grow in popularity each year and make their return in 2015, with 19 departures on rivers including the Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Danube and Douro. Travelling through Europe's best-known wine regions, these select sailings will feature expert wine hosts, complimentary lectures, wine tastings and excursions to historic vineyards and cellars. AmaSerena's Rhine cruise from Basel to Amsterdam, departing 11th November, is hosted by connoisseur Christopher Silva of the St. Francis Winery & Vineyards in Santa Rosa, California. Activities include a scenic tour from Breisach to the wine village of Riquewihr, with a special tasting opportunity. From Strasbourg, travel along the Alsace Wine Road to Obernai, where you will sample Riesling, Gewurztraminer and other famous wines of this region. As the ship calls at Speyer, there's an on-board lecture and tasting, with a sumptuous Chaîne Des Rôtisseurs wine-paired dinner that night. There's more wine-tasting in Rudesheim, in the heart of the Rhine Gorge, and on board en route to Cologne. The pace changes in Cologne itself, with dinner ashore in a local brewery including regional specialties and Kölsch, the town's distinctive beer.

From £1886 pp, cruise only, or £2119 pp with flights from Basel to Amsterdam, departing 11th November on AmaSerena, including flights from London, non UK transfers, all meals on board, free flowing wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, talks and tastings on board, visits to wineries, regular shore excursions, free use of on board bicycles and complimentary wi-fi.

Jewish Heritage Cruises

These special itineraries dive deep into the legacy of Europe's Jewish history and culture. Complimentary excursions include visits to well-known World War II sites, historic Jewish synagogues and sightseeing spots in some of Europe's most beautiful cities. In Passau, for example, explore the busy Alter Markt, see the façade of the New Synagogue and take a guided tour of the city's Jewish Cemetery. In Vienna, join a guide to explore the Jewish Museum, the Judenplatz, Sigmund Freud's House and the Jewish Quarter in the second district. The Jewish Heritage tour in Bratislava includes a visit to the tomb of Chatam Sofer, the city's most famous Rabbi. Budapest, a highlight of this cruise, includes a stop at Sankt Stephan Park to see the statues of Raoul Wallenberg and Gabor Sztehlo, both credited with saving thousands of Hungarian Jews during WWII. Afterwards, you may take a tour of the Jewish District, where you will visit the Dohany St. Synagogue, the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Tree of Life. Optional extensions in Prague on The Romantic Danube and Lucerne and Zurich on The Enchanting Rhine are also available (four departures in 2015). 

From £1939pp for a cruise from Amsterdam to Basel on the brand new AmaSerena departing 18th November 2015, including return flights from London, transfers, all meals on board, free flowing wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, themed Jewish heritage tours alongside the regular tour programme, free use of on board bicycles and complimentary wi-fi.

Christmas Markets Cruises

AmaWaterways' magical advent and Christmas cruises are a perfect way to spend the festive season, visiting romantic Christmas markets along the Rhine and Danube in places such as Regensburg, Nuremberg and Vienna.

Each of the markets has its own character. On the Christmas on the Rhine cruise, there's a chance to drink gluhwein and shop for handmade decorations in Cologne from a huge range of wooden stalls in front of the cathedral, or visit any of the other of the town's seven markets; the Christmas Market on Rudolfplatz, for instance, is themed around brothers Grimms' fairy tales. In Rudesheim, the market extends all over the medieval centre and the speciality is coffee with local brandy, piled high with whipped cream. More than 120 stands of German delicacies and unique gifts present the perfect shopping opportunity. The market in Strasbourg is the oldest in France, dating back to the 16th century, but with stalls set up all over the city selling Alsatian delicacies, hand-made gifts and decorations against a backdrop of carol singing and traditional music.

Choose between two itineraries: Christmas Time Cruise (13 departures in 2015); and Christmas on the Rhine (11 departures in 2015).

From £1489pp, cruise only, or £1769pp with flights  sailing from Basel to Amsterdam on AmaSerena, departing  25th November, including flights from London, non UK transfers, all meals on board, free flowing wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, tours in each port, free use of on board bicycles and complimentary wi-fi.

Limited Edition tours

In addition to its theme cruises, AmaWaterways offers Limited Edition tours on most itineraries, allowing guests to delve deeper into the local culture. These tours range from a guided cycling tour in Austria's scenic Wachau Valley to a 'Hidden Vienna' walking tour or a cookery lesson in Budapest during which guests will learn to make goulash, the national dish, and come away with an apron, a chef's hat, some paprika to take home and a recipe. These Limited Edition tours are included in the price of any AmaWaterways cruise. Example Limited Edition tours include:-

For more information about AmaWaterways' luxury river cruises contact AmaWaterways on freephone 0808 256 8422, www.amawaterways.co.uk

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About AmaWaterways

Founded in 2002 by river cruise pioneer Rudi Schreiner, river cruise executive Kristin Karst and founder of Brendan Vacations, Jimmy Murphy, AmaWaterways is the premier river cruise line on Europe's Danube, Rhine, Main, Mosel and Rhône rivers. Known for its custom-designed ships, extensive complimentary amenities and personalised service levels, AmaWaterways consistently leads the way in river cruising. Destinations featured include Europe, Vietnam and Cambodia, Myanmar and southern Africa.

The Europe fleet includes the  AmaSerena (2015)  AmaReina and AmaSonata (2014), which launched this year to join sister ships AmaPrima (2013) and AmaCerto (2012); AmaVerde (2011); AmaBella (2010); AmaLyra (2009); AmaDolce (2009); AmaCello (2008), AmaDante (2008); AmaLegro (2007) and the AmaDagio (2006).  In 2012, AmaWaterways introduced an exclusive Twin Balcony design in the majority of staterooms; multiple dining venues; complimentary Internet and Infotainment system, a heated swimming pool or whirlpool on the Sun Deck plus many more unique design elements.

AmaWaterways also boasts the best fleet on Europe's rivers, as rated by the Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe travel guide and was the only cruise line to receive a four star-plus rating. Its European fleet took up all 11 of the guide's top spots, with AmaPrima rated as No1.

In addition to the European destinations, AmaWaterways offers the separate and distinct AmaVoyages to Myanmar on AmaPura (2014); Vietnam and Cambodia via the AmaLotus (2011);  Amadara (2015)  Portugal via the AmaVida (2013); and Africa via the Zambezi Queen (2009).

UK PR Contact:  Mary Stuart-Miller, 01737 306098, mary@mstuart-miller.co.uk