We recently welcomed a new member to the AmaWaterways family and her name is AmaLilia. Along with the elegant AmaDahlia, AmaLilia is gracefully cruising down the Nile taking our guests on a mesmerizing journey between Luxor and Aswan as they discover the ancient treasures that lie along the banks of this life-giving river.
Since starting AmaWaterways 22 years ago, there have been so many remarkable travel moments and incredible memories but one that stands out was September 6, 2021, when Rudi Schreiner and I were in Cairo to welcome the first 72 guests on AmaDahlia’s maiden voyage on the Nile. Almost instantly, the ship was fully booked and for almost two years, AmaDahlia cruised at 100% occupancy. We heard from many of our loyal guests who were disappointed when they weren’t able to reserve early enough to secure their preferred travel date. We knew we just had to add a second ship on the Nile to meet the demand and started almost immediately on constructing a ship to cruise alongside AmaDahlia. We are thrilled that the 82-passenger AmaLilia is now also welcoming our guests with 28 staterooms, 13 spacious suites, unique décor, well equipped gym and laidback elegance of The Chef’s Table restaurant.
The comfortable Sun Decks on both ships offer 360-degree views of the ever-changing vistas on the Nile. The refreshing sun-deck swimming pools and shaded lounge areas are a perfect place to cool off after a full day of exploring under the careful guidance of our knowledgeable Egyptologists.
Departing on different days of the week, AmaLilia and AmaDahlia are both part of our 11-day Egyptian cruise and land package filled with exclusive experiences and included curated guided tours. We enjoy private docking arrangements in Luxor and Aswan and guests can rest at ease knowing that we collaborate with wonderful local partners to ensure that safety and security always remain a top priority throughout the journey. All guests are met at the Cairo airport by our tour director who takes care of every detail starting with three nights in Cairo pre-cruise before flying down to Luxor for the 7-night round trip cruise between Luxor and Aswan, and returning for one night in Cairo post-cruise. AmaLilia guests enjoy their Cairo stay at The St. Regis while AmaDahlia guests relax at the equally beautiful The Nile Ritz-Carlton.
While it’s hard to pick favorite experiences, three highlights for me were the majestic Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, the ancient tombs visited at The Valley of Kings and Queens in Luxor and felucca sailing with lunch at the Nubian village of Hessa.
While AmaDahlia and AmaLilia are on their summer break for July and August, cruising will resume at the beginning of September which is a wonderful time to visit this iconic destination with fewer crowds. I highly recommend sharing this lifechanging, educational experience with children and grandchildren and if time permits, also adding Jordan as a fascinating post-cruise extension.
Whichever ship you choose, it will be an unforgettable journey. The thrill of discovering the vibrant colors on the walls of long forgotten tombs is only matched by the spectacular sunsets that take your breath away each evening and the kindness and attentive service provided by our Egyptian crew.
As July 1 marks our 22nd anniversary, we take pride in remembering and celebrating the many remarkable past events, long term partnerships, wonderful employees and loyal guests that have helped us grow into the company we are today but I am most excited about our future projects. We have finalized plans for introducing nine more ships over the next 3 years cruising on the Magdalena River in Colombia and Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as in Europe on the Douro, Danube and Rhine rivers – including a sister ship for AmaMagna. I can promise that more details will be coming soon!