As partners and Co-Founders of AmaWaterways, Rudi and I have a shared passion for travel and wellness. When we are not on board our own ships testing new ideas and mingling with guests, we try to sneak in a bit of time to disconnect and recharge our batteries by exploring a new destination and spending some quiet time together. Many of our guests expressed this same desire to break away from their daily routine and were looking for a convenient way to extend their river cruise experience beyond our traditional 7-night itineraries.
What is special about longer river cruises is the luxury of time and the sense of freedom to just skip a day of excursions and simply enjoy the ship’s amenities. While we offer so many included excursions and experiences on these 14-night itineraries, sometimes it’s that morning just to sleep in and catch a late breakfast or an unexpected afternoon nap following a delicious wine-paired lunch that makes it feel really like a holiday.
With this in mind, we recently announced three new 14-night Grand River Cruise itineraries debuting during our 2025 sailing season. These cruises, often reserved as two 7-night “combination cruises”, will now be available as specially curated “Grand" sailing dates taking the work out of finding the ships and departure dates that seamlessly align, making it so much easier to plan that extended vacation. We take care of ship-to-ship transfers and luggage services when needed, and we are also offering attractive pricing on these longer sailings, in addition to Early Booking Rewards of up to 20% savings on select departures reserved before December 31, 2023.
- 14-night Grand Seine & Bordeaux – Discover the charm of Paris and Normandy and then relax on a short TGV train transfer with luggage services as you join our beautiful AmaDolce ship in Bordeaux for a second week of exceptional food and wine experiences.
- 14-night Grand Seine & Rhône – From the bright lights of Paris and the gentle winding bike paths along the Seine in Normandy, to the lavender fields and truffle hunting in Provence, it’s a two-week recipe of culture and culinary delights made possible by a convenient train transfer from AmaLyra in Paris to AmaCello in the Port of Dijon.
- 14-night Grand Rhine & Dutch Canals – Your comfortable stateroom on board our enchanting AmaStella will be your home for two relaxing weeks as you cruise between Amsterdam and Basel. With up to three castle visits, two awe-inspiring cathedrals, and more than 40 castles to see as you glide through the Rhine Gorge, this is a fairytale vacation come true!
Of course, all three of our new Grand River Cruise itineraries will have a Wellness Host on every departure, leading multiple fitness classes throughout the day – with AmaWaterways’ compliments. Whether an active cardio class makes you feel refreshed or you prefer some light stretching and champagne yoga, you will have ample opportunities to enhance your physical wellbeing during your 14 nights on board our beautiful river cruise ships.
Looking for that longer rejuvenating break in 2024? Then join us for another “grand” experience with our Grand Danube cruises between Vilshofen, Germany, and Giurgiu, Romania.
When one names something “Grand” it should, by definition, be “the most important item of its kind” – and these 14-night itineraries are a “grand” way to ensure you find your way to your best self during your journey. As a passionate wellness enthusiast, it is important to me that everyone finds the precious time to rest and recharge. As we approach a busier time of the year, planning for the holidays and perhaps dealing with logistics of upcoming events, I urge you to take a moment for yourself – and to daydream of your next “grand” vacation!
For a glimpse of what awaits you on our Seine River sailings, watch our all-new video focusing on this idyllic river and its immersive experiences.