Magna on the Danube Christmas - AmaWaterways

Cruise Itinerary

Date	Port	Arrive	Depart
29 Nov 2026	Budapest, Hungary
30 Nov 2026	Budapest, Hungary
1 Dec 2026	Bratislava, Slovakia
2 Dec 2026	Vienna, Austria
3 Dec 2026	Krems, Austria
3 Dec 2026	Spitz, Austria
4 Dec 2026	Linz, Austria
5 Dec 2026	Passau, Germany
5 Dec 2026	Vilshofen, Germany
6 Dec 2026	Vilshofen, Germany

7 Night Cruise sailing from Budapest to Vilshofen aboard AmaMagna.

Day 1 EMBARKATION – BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Board the ultra-luxurious AmaMagna and settle into your stateroom. (B,D)

Day 2 BUDAPEST
Budapest offers an unmatched combination of culture and tradition. Visit the Great Market Hall before going to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river. You’ll see Heroes’ Square and Castle Hill, home to the Fisherman’s Bastion and Mattias Church. As an alternative, hike up to Castle Hill for breathtaking views of the city. During the afternoon, sail out of Budapest, passing through the scenic Danube Bend where you’ll see some of Hungary’s oldest settlements, including Esztergom, Visegrád and Szentendre. (B,L,D)

Day 3 BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA
Host to the crowning ceremonies of 11 Hungarian kings and queens between 1536 and 1830, Bratislava certainly has earned the title “Coronation City of Kings,” as you’ll discover during your walking tour. Or join a special “Tastes of Slovakia” tour. For a more active adventure, hike to Bratislava’s gleaming castle. (B,L,D)

Day 4 VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Vienna offers a wealth of gems and your city tour showcases its regal splendors, including the majestic Opera House and the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. Conclude your tour in Vienna’s historic city center, and then visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral; or discover Vienna by bike. During the afternoon, visit the UNESCO-designated Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. Built in the 18th century as an imperial summer residence, this magnificent 1,441-room Baroque palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in Austria. (B,L,D)

Day 5 KREMS, AUSTRIA – SPITZ, AUSTRIA
Krems, gateway to the UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley, is your starting point for a visit to the lovely Baroque village of Dürnstein. Stroll along Dürnstein’s cobblestone streets to the Baroque Stiftskirche, with its famed church tower on a walking tour. For a more culinary-focused experience in Dürnstein, enjoy a wine tasting and special apricot treats from a local boutique. Those who wish a more active adventure of the area can hike to historic Dürnstein Fortress or cycle from Krems to Spitz and back for lunch. During the afternoon, cruise through the vineyard-rich Wachau Valley—one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe, where some of Austria’s finest white wines are produced—to Spitz. Once in Spitz, you can visit the 900-year-old Melk Abbey situated high atop the granite cliffs of the Danube; or get active with either a Spitz-Melk-Spitz bike tour or hiking adventure. During the evening, be treated to an exclusive wine festival where you’ll enjoy some of the regions famous wines, including Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. (B,L,D)

Day 6 LINZ, AUSTRIA
Join a walking tour through the old city center of Linz and by the Mozart House; or bike along the city’s famed “Cultural Mile” and the Danube. For those who love The Sound of Music, enjoy a full-day excursion to Salzburg and tour the historic center, Mirabell Gardens, Residenz Square and the Old Market. En route to Salzburg, stop at Mondsee, home of the Basilica St. Michael, where the famous wedding scene in the movie was filmed. In the afternoon, you have the choice to visit the charming Czech mountain town of Český Krumlov or enjoy the Austrian Lake District, a popular and stunning resort area. (B,L,D)

Day 7 PASSAU, GERMANY - VILSHOFEN, GERMANY
Join a walking tour and marvel at Passau's Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Or take a guided hike up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress. You can also ride to Wernstein on a guided bike tour. Later in the day, sail to the charming town of Vilshofen, where you’ll be treated to a festive Bavarian Oktoberfest celebration complete with music, beer and pretzels. (B,L,D)

Day 8 VILSHOFEN – DISEMBARKATION
Bid farewell to the ship and prepare for your flight home. (B)

As imagined by AmaWaterways co-owner and president, Rudi Schreiner, the “godfather of river cruising,” the AmaMagna is nearly twice the width of traditional European river ships and offers more choices for leisure and dining on board. Most accommodations are spacious suites measuring 355 to 710 sq. ft. with full balconies. In addition to the Main Restaurant and The Chef’s Table, AmaMagna introduces two enticing new dining venues: Jimmy’s Wine Bar Restaurant, named for AmaWaterways’ late co-owner Jimmy Murphy, and the Al Fresco Restaurant, with retractable windows and outdoor seating. Both a Sun Deck pool and whirlpool invite guests to refresh and enjoy the views. AmaMagna’s Zen Wellness Studio is an expansive space with a fitness center and two massage rooms, and her innovative Water Sports Platform opens to reveal a Sundowner boat upon which intimate river excursions will take place—at no extra charge.

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.