Of course, no matter which itinerary you choose to make your travel dreams come true, you will be taken aback by the stunning attention to detail aboard an AmaWaterways river cruise. The luxury, the comfort, the elegance -- all are meticulously planned and executed to ensure the vacation of a lifetime.

From the inspired, world-class cuisine and engaging, thought-provoking tours, it all starts with the exciting journey you’ll take on the ship itself. After all, this will be your floating sanctuary during your stay. But have you ever wondered how these ‘homes-away-from-home’ were created? They may seem to be a dream come true, but it takes quite a bit of hard work, thoughtful planning and inspired ingenuity to bring a ship to life.

Long heralded for its pioneering spirit and breakthrough ideas, AmaWaterways is constantly seeking to push boundaries in its bold designs, having created the concept of twin-balcony staterooms, bicycles on board and our unique offering of The Chef’s Table. The design process is always a fascinating part of the development. And we were thrilled to work once more with a dear friend and celebrated ship designer, Koert Kamphuisen, on his 25th ship milestone. Once plans were approved, the hull of the ship was built by steel specialists at the award-winning Vahali shipyard in Serbia.

Our owners Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst were on hand to celebrate the completion of the newest member of the family. Among friends and team members -- and surrounded by food, wine, music and fireworks – the traditional bottle of champagne was broken across the bow, blessing the ship for its many travels.