Christmas Markets on the Rhine (Wine Cruise)
Basel to Amsterdam Cruise
- Christmas Markets
- Festivals and Events
- Wine
About AmaCerto
Day 1
Basel
EMBARKATION
Day 2
Breisach
Colmar Excursion and Christmas markets
OR Freiburg Excursion & Christmas markets
OR Breisach bike tour
Day 3
Strasbourg
Strasbourg city tour and Christmas markets
OR Guided bike tour
Gengenbach Advent Calendar
Day 4
Ludwigshafen
Heidelberg tour and Christmas Markets
OR Medieval Speyer and Christmas Markets
OR Philosopher's Path Hike
OR Ladenburg bike tour
Rüdesheim
Rüdesheimer wine tasting
OR Rüdesheimer coffee
Day 5
Rüdesheim
Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet and Christmas Markets
OR Gondola ride and Christmas Market
OR Rüdesheim vineyards hike
OR Guided bike tour of the Rheingau
Rhine Gorge
Castles along the Rhine scenic cruising
Lahnstein
Exclusive Burg Lahneck Tour
Day 6
Cologne
Cologne walking tour and Christmas Market
OR Düsseldorf walking tour with Altbier tasting and Christmas Markets
Düsseldorf
OR Guided bike tour
Day 7
Amsterdam
Scenic Cruising into Amsterdam
Amsterdam canal cruise
OR A Taste of Amsterdam*
Day 8
Amsterdam
DISEMBARKATION
Return flight home
Why River Cruise with AmaWaterways
THE HEART OF THE RIVER™
With over two decades of experience on the world’s rivers, our family-owned and operated company has remained focused on what we do best: providing our guests with innovative and unforgettable travel experiences. When you step aboard AmaWaterways, each day brings a genuine smile that warms the heart, every river a new culture that inspires, and each course a moment to savor and share.
UNPACK ONCE: A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE
Step aboard and unpack once aboard one of our luxury ships that transport you from one destination to the next. With AmaWaterways, every day is a “see” day as we cruise through grand capitals and charming towns. Our ships dock near city centers, meaning you can step right off the ship and explore.
ALL EXCURSIONS INCLUDED – CHOOSE FROM UP TO EIGHT EACH DAY
AmaWaterways has curated a diverse menu of shore excursions included as part of your cruise fare. Our roster of options caters to a range of interest and activity levels, including tours for gentle and active walkers as well as late risers. Enjoy city tours, guided hikes, exhilarating bike rides, and tastings of local specialties—all on one itinerary!
AWARD-WINNING INCLUDED DINING EXPERIENCES
With membership in the internationally recognized La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, and Tables et Auberges de France, AmaWaterways takes pride in preparing exquisite, regionally inspired cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. You can also enjoy complimentary hand-selected wines and local beers during every lunch and dinner on board.
THE LUXURY OF SPACE - FEWER GUESTS ON BOARD
Spacious and uncrowded, our award-winning fleet offers elegantly appointed staterooms and suites and welcomes fewer guests than many traditional river cruise ships. Our innovative AmaMagna offers enhanced personal space with more than 50% luxury suite accommodations as well as four unique dining venues, a chic onboard cinema and an expansive Zen Wellness Studio.
ENHANCE YOUR BEST SELF
Join our dedicated Wellness Hosts for complimentary small-group fitness classes on board your ship. For a gentler approach to wellness, we invite you to take a dip in the sun-deck pool or indulge in a spa treatment. Healthy cuisine prepared with seasonal ingredients is always available, as are vegetarian, gluten-free and low-sodium choices.
UNPARALLELED PERSONALIZED SERVICE
Our extraordinary Cruise Managers and crew continuously go above and beyond to enhance the onboard experience, surprising and delighting our guests with thoughtful details, getting to know you personally and anticipating your needs before you ever have to ask. Our people are the main reason more guests return to cruise with us than with any other river cruise line - a testament to their passion and unrivaled service.
EXTRAORDINARY CRUISE MANAGERS
AmaWaterways’ extraordinary Cruise Managers are the best in the industry: destination experts with extensive experience in providing exceptional levels of personalized service. Warm-hearted, genuine and knowledgeable, they are there for you every step of your journey, including during our optional land packages before and after your river cruise.
LEADERS IN INNOVATION
Continuously innovating the river cruise experience, we were the first to offer twin-balcony staterooms, complimentary bikes, a full-sized pickleball court, and a complimentary multi-course specialty restaurant, The Chef's Table. As industry leaders, we work to minimize our impact on the world’s rivers, reducing single-use plastics across our fleet and installing solar panels on AmaMagna.
STAY CONNECTED
Stay in touch with our high-quality complimentary Wi-Fi, available on board throughout our fleet. In addition, our easy-to-use myAmaCruise app allows you view and share an interactive map that follows your river cruise itinerary, share photos with friends and family, learn about each port of call, find available excursions and even access your electronic travel documents.
Day 1
Basel
EMBARKATION
Day 2
Breisach
Colmar Excursion and Christmas markets
OR Freiburg Excursion & Christmas markets
OR Breisach bike tour
Day 3
Strasbourg
Strasbourg city tour and Christmas markets
OR Guided bike tour
Gengenbach Advent Calendar
Day 4
Ludwigshafen
Heidelberg tour and Christmas Markets
OR Medieval Speyer and Christmas Markets
OR Philosopher's Path Hike
OR Ladenburg bike tour
Rüdesheim
Rüdesheimer wine tasting
OR Rüdesheimer coffee
Day 5
Rüdesheim
Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet and Christmas Markets
OR Gondola ride and Christmas Market
OR Rüdesheim vineyards hike
OR Guided bike tour of the Rheingau
Rhine Gorge
Castles along the Rhine scenic cruising
Lahnstein
Exclusive Burg Lahneck Tour
Day 6
Cologne
Cologne walking tour and Christmas Market
OR Düsseldorf walking tour with Altbier tasting and Christmas Markets
Düsseldorf
OR Guided bike tour
Day 7
Amsterdam
Scenic Cruising into Amsterdam
Amsterdam canal cruise
OR A Taste of Amsterdam*
Day 8
Amsterdam
DISEMBARKATION
Return flight home
Why River Cruise with AmaWaterways
THE HEART OF THE RIVER™
With over two decades of experience on the world’s rivers, our family-owned and operated company has remained focused on what we do best: providing our guests with innovative and unforgettable travel experiences. When you step aboard AmaWaterways, each day brings a genuine smile that warms the heart, every river a new culture that inspires, and each course a moment to savor and share.
UNPACK ONCE: A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE
Step aboard and unpack once aboard one of our luxury ships that transport you from one destination to the next. With AmaWaterways, every day is a “see” day as we cruise through grand capitals and charming towns. Our ships dock near city centers, meaning you can step right off the ship and explore.
ALL EXCURSIONS INCLUDED – CHOOSE FROM UP TO EIGHT EACH DAY
AmaWaterways has curated a diverse menu of shore excursions included as part of your cruise fare. Our roster of options caters to a range of interest and activity levels, including tours for gentle and active walkers as well as late risers. Enjoy city tours, guided hikes, exhilarating bike rides, and tastings of local specialties—all on one itinerary!
AWARD-WINNING INCLUDED DINING EXPERIENCES
With membership in the internationally recognized La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, and Tables et Auberges de France, AmaWaterways takes pride in preparing exquisite, regionally inspired cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. You can also enjoy complimentary hand-selected wines and local beers during every lunch and dinner on board.
THE LUXURY OF SPACE - FEWER GUESTS ON BOARD
Spacious and uncrowded, our award-winning fleet offers elegantly appointed staterooms and suites and welcomes fewer guests than many traditional river cruise ships. Our innovative AmaMagna offers enhanced personal space with more than 50% luxury suite accommodations as well as four unique dining venues, a chic onboard cinema and an expansive Zen Wellness Studio.
ENHANCE YOUR BEST SELF
Join our dedicated Wellness Hosts for complimentary small-group fitness classes on board your ship. For a gentler approach to wellness, we invite you to take a dip in the sun-deck pool or indulge in a spa treatment. Healthy cuisine prepared with seasonal ingredients is always available, as are vegetarian, gluten-free and low-sodium choices.
UNPARALLELED PERSONALIZED SERVICE
Our extraordinary Cruise Managers and crew continuously go above and beyond to enhance the onboard experience, surprising and delighting our guests with thoughtful details, getting to know you personally and anticipating your needs before you ever have to ask. Our people are the main reason more guests return to cruise with us than with any other river cruise line - a testament to their passion and unrivaled service.
EXTRAORDINARY CRUISE MANAGERS
AmaWaterways’ extraordinary Cruise Managers are the best in the industry: destination experts with extensive experience in providing exceptional levels of personalized service. Warm-hearted, genuine and knowledgeable, they are there for you every step of your journey, including during our optional land packages before and after your river cruise.
LEADERS IN INNOVATION
Continuously innovating the river cruise experience, we were the first to offer twin-balcony staterooms, complimentary bikes, a full-sized pickleball court, and a complimentary multi-course specialty restaurant, The Chef's Table. As industry leaders, we work to minimize our impact on the world’s rivers, reducing single-use plastics across our fleet and installing solar panels on AmaMagna.
STAY CONNECTED
Stay in touch with our high-quality complimentary Wi-Fi, available on board throughout our fleet. In addition, our easy-to-use myAmaCruise app allows you view and share an interactive map that follows your river cruise itinerary, share photos with friends and family, learn about each port of call, find available excursions and even access your electronic travel documents.
About AmaWaterways
Family-owned and operated for 22 years, AmaWaterways offers unparalleled river cruise experiences with 29 custom-designed ships sailing Europe’s major rivers; Southeast Asia’s Mekong River; Africa’s Chobe River; Egypt’s Nile River and Colombia’s Magdalena River (2025). Co-founded by pioneering river cruise executives Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy, the company is renowned for its warm and welcoming crew; innovative and sustainable?ship design; wellness activities (including a wide choice of included small group shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options); and award-winning, locally sourced cuisine paired with complimentary fine wine. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, most AmaWaterways ships welcome an average of just 150 guests and feature onboard amenities such as a stunning Main Lounge, specialty Chef’s Table restaurant, hair and massage salons, Sun Deck walking track and heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation, highlighted by the launch of the revolutionary AmaMagna. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travelers and families, as well as group and charter options.
About AmaWaterways
Family-owned and operated for 22 years, AmaWaterways offers unparalleled river cruise experiences with 29 custom-designed ships sailing Europe’s major rivers; Southeast Asia’s Mekong River; Africa’s Chobe River; Egypt’s Nile River and Colombia’s Magdalena River (2025). Co-founded by pioneering river cruise executives Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy, the company is renowned for its warm and welcoming crew; innovative and sustainable?ship design; wellness activities (including a wide choice of included small group shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options); and award-winning, locally sourced cuisine paired with complimentary fine wine. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, most AmaWaterways ships welcome an average of just 150 guests and feature onboard amenities such as a stunning Main Lounge, specialty Chef’s Table restaurant, hair and massage salons, Sun Deck walking track and heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation, highlighted by the launch of the revolutionary AmaMagna. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travelers and families, as well as group and charter options.