AmaSiena, Enchanting Rhine ex Basel to Amsterdam

7 Night Cruise sailing from Basel to Amsterdam aboard AmaSiena.

Cruise From: Basel to Amsterdam
Grand cities blend in perfect harmony with their historic past and their progressive future. Inspirational towns have given way to great stories, poetry and music, like Heidelberg, where Mark Twain wrote A Tramp Abroad. Timeless traditions remain intact—from the brewing of Germany’s legendary beers, to the making of Rüdesheimer coffee. Take a front-row seat on an enchanting journey that takes you along the Rhine and through its designated UNESCO World Heritage Site with its 40 castles strung like pearls on its river banks and to magnificent cities and charming villages alike.

COUNTRIES: France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland

RIVERS: Rhine

Sister ship to the award-winning AmaLea and AmaKristina, the elegant 156-passenger AmaSiena will be a warm, inviting ship offering plenty of space for guests to unwind when she debuts in 2021. From comfortable staterooms with twin balconies that keep guests well-connected via Entertainment-On-Demand, free high-speed Internet access and Wi-Fi, to the sunny Main Lounge, where delicious tapas will be served throughout the day, guests will have everything they need to enjoy their time spent on board. If an active mood strikes, the sun-deck walking track, pool with swim-up bar, fitness room and complimentary fleet of bikes will be available. Or you can take an invigorating class led by the professionally trained onboard Wellness Host. And, of course, the exquisite cuisine served in the Main Restaurant and at The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant will satisfy your every craving aboard AmaSiena.

Their Story
Proudly celebrating more than 21 years on the river, family-owned and operated AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by three families; however, their river cruise story began well before that. Co-Founder and President Rudi Schreiner was born in Vienna, at the heart of the Danube. His love of design drew him to architecture, but his even greater love of travel drew him to places far and wide. In 1975, he travelled to South America for a journalism assignment on the Amazon. It was here he designed his first ship, using what he could find to build a raft that would take him up and down the river during the next 7 months. Soon thereafter, he started working in travel, creating unique tour experiences in Europe.

A Turning Point
Rudi started the North American operations for many of today’s major river cruise companies, developing itineraries and ships that would become the templates for what we know river cruising to be today. After years of success as a driving force in the industry, Rudi decided to start his own venture — one that would provide guests with a higher standard of luxury travel by river. That’s when he teamed up with Co-Owners and Co-Founders Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy to start AmaWaterways.

In 2016, Rudi was inducted into the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Hall of Fame and was honoured with their Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of devotion to the river cruising industry.

A Team of Pioneers
Kristin was born in Germany and brings extensive experience in travel, river cruising and customer service to the company in her role as Executive Vice President. Jimmy Murphy was a brilliant travel entrepreneur, having built Brendan Vacations, one of the most successful tour operators in the U.S. Jimmy’s son, Gary, who also played a major part at Brendan, took on an executive sales role at AmaWaterways. Together with Rudi, a true team of pioneers emerged.

The Story Continues
From the beginning, their goal was to create a river cruise company that they themselves would enjoy. To then, that meant the highest-quality, locally sourced food and wine; elegantly appointed ships with staterooms offering maximum views to enjoy the ever-changing countryside; and a crew who goes above and beyond, treating every guest like they are part of THEIR family.

With that in mind, for two wonderful decades, they have been building one-of-a-kind ships with added comforts and conveniences ranging from our signature view-enhancing twin balconies to the Chef’s Table specialty restaurant to their award-winning AmaMagna – redefining the river cruise experience. They continue to lead the way in innovation, pioneering the first sailings on Colombia’s Magdalena River in 2025. As they look ahead to the future, they are more committed than ever to offering innovative and sustainable ways for their guests to experience the rich culture and history found along the banks of the world’s most iconic rivers.