AMAWATERwaYS TM HOLIDAY 2019 THE RIVER BANKS An Exclusive Magazine for Guests INSIDE: CRUISE MANAGERS’ WHICH RIVER OUR 2021 GUIDE TO THE BEST SUITS RIVER CRUISE CHRISTMAS MARKETS YOUR STYLE? COLLECTION Dear Loyal Guest, As our extraordinary crew begin to decorate our ships and prepare for holiday feasts and festivities, we are delighted to focus much of this issue of Beyond the River Banks on how you can enhance your celebrations — both at home, with new wellness tips and delicious recipes, and on board with us in the coming years. The holidays are such a joyous time, and nothing has given our family greater joy than seeing you on board. We were thrilled to welcome many of you on our first Loyalty Appreciation Cruises and look forward to continuing to show you our heartfelt appreciation during the 2020 Loyalty Cruises highlighted in this issue. New surprises and delights await our valued past guests aboard these sailings. Many of our loyal guests have asked for more cruises in France. As a holiday gift to you, we are pleased to announce that AmaKristina is moving to France in 2021, giving you more opportunities to experience the best of French food, lifestyle and culture. Whether you are planning to get together with family or friends for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s or simply a peaceful winter stroll, we wish you and yours a most wonderful time creating memories together this holiday season. Warm regards, RUDI SCHREINER KRISTIN KARST GARY MURPHY Co-Founder and President Co-Founder and EVP Co-Owner and SVP, Sales Kristin and Rudi, Owner’s Suite on board AmaMagna Gary and Daphne Murphy, Vienna Christmas Market, Austria © MICHAEL WOLF/ENAPRESS.COM BEYOND THE RIVER BANKS AmaWaterways.com 1 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A Yuletide Celebration FIND OUT WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN AMAWATERWAYS FOR THE HOLIDAYS PAGE 8 Which River Suits Your Style? Awaken Your Senses PAGE 28 WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND AFRICA PAGE 32 What’s New in 2021 PAGE 30 CRUISE MANAGERS’ TALES OF A LOYALTY GUIDE TO THE SOLO TRAVELER APPRECIATION CHRISTMAS MARKETS PAGE 22 CRUISES PAGE 12 PAGE 24 Cover image: Christmas Market, Vienna, Austria BEYOND THE RIVER BANKS AmaWaterways.com 1 GIRLFRIEND GETAWAY PLANNING A DREAM GETAWAY CYNDI CASHMAN What made you go on a “girlfriend amazed at the new girlfriends who RAVES ABOUT getaway” the first time? join us and the friendships we make. After I was diagnosed with cancer THE GIRLFRIEND for the second time, I decided to Which river cruise was your GETAWAYS make a bucket list. It was time to group’s first with AmaWaterways? PLANNED BY HER kick up my heels with a little less Christmas Markets on the Rhine. TRAVEL ADVISOR responsibility and a little adventure! It was my favorite! I never dreamed My best friend lives in Salt Lake City I would go out of the country, but DEBBIE — BUT and I wanted to meet her in New wow, what a trip it was! I felt so NONE HAVE BEEN York, but my husband said he didn’t relaxed. It was the best thing. I felt MORE MEMORABLE want to go. I found some other catered to, like a queen aboard the THAN THEIR women who wanted to join us, so ship, and I just loved it. AMAWATERWAYS I went to my travel advisor, Debbie, and asked her if she’d ever done What did you enjoy the most RIVER CRUISE! group trips. She said she needed about group river cruising with a ring leader — and that’s how the AmaWaterways? whole thing started. Debbie does We really got to know everyone on the work; I just have the big mouth! the ship. People gravitated to our Now, each trip we make, I am group and everything felt smaller. 2 BEYOND THE RIVER BANKS AmaWaterways.com 3 FPO It was such a friendly getaway. We also loved our Cruise Manager, Betti. Some of us wanted to go out in Amsterdam and she got on the phone and arranged it for us. She was always there to help. We felt like we were among family. What’s the best thing about having your travel advisor cruise with you? It’s like having your mother hold your hand. When we were coming to the ship, we had a three-hour AmaMagna, Passau, Germany layover in Amsterdam — but we got delayed three hours in Minnesota. Debbie was on her KRISTIN’S TOP 5 phone most of our first flight and they held the next one 20 minutes GIRLFRIEND OR GUYS’ GETAWAYS until we got there. We made all of our connections. TREASURES OF MAGNA ON THE DANUBE THE MAIN & RHINE GOLF CRUISE Would you do another girlfriend (May-Sep 2020) (Apr-Oct 2020) getaway with AmaWaterways? TIP: Be among the first to sail Tip: Leave your golf balls and Words can’t describe how blessed aboard our new AmaSiena. shoe bag at home — your welcome Cruise Critic recently rated gift includes both. I have been because of Debbie Bamberg, Würzburg and Cologne With AmaMagna’s exclusive and AmaWaterways. We loved the among its top five European river Concierge Golf Program, you Rhine so much, we already have cruise destinations — this cruise can bring along fellow golfers 19 signed up for a Danube cruise takes you through all three, plus to perfect your swing at up to in April 2020! the Main-Danube Canal. five prestigious championship courses in five European ROMANTIC DANUBE countries as you sail a distinctive (Mar-Dec 2020) Danube River itinerary personally Tip: Enjoy beer? Add 2 nights curated by AmaWaterways’ pre-cruise in Munich to visit the Co-Founder & President, world-famous Hofbräuhaus. Rudi Schreiner. Learn more A great cruise for first-time river at AmaWaterways.com/golf. cruisers. Fans of The Sound of Music will enjoy a full-day TASTE OF BORDEAUX excursion to Salzburg, Austria, (Mar-Nov 2020) while active guests will delight Tip: Make reservations to eat at in castle hikes and bike rides. one of San Sebastián’s 16 Michelin Star restaurants by adding our CHARMS OF THE MEKONG 4-night Spanish Basque Country (Jan-Dec 2020; Jan-Apr 2021) land program. Tip: Cruise during Tet, Vietnam’s Sip wine in beautiful vineyards, Lunar New Year celebration discover architectural wonders (Feb 12, 2021 or Feb 1, 2022). and sample your way through a Fulfill your sense of adventure French country market. with your closest friends. Learn more about this incredible Try exotic Vietnamese and itinerary on the next page. Cambodian cuisine, ride a Above: Cyndi (left) and Debbie celebrate traditional oxcart, be inspired their years of friendship. Left: Cyndi, Debbie and girlfriends capture the fun of their at a Buddhist blessing ceremony Christmas sweater contest. and much more! 2 BEYOND THE RIVER BANKS AmaWaterways.com 3 AUTHENTIC FRENCH EXPERIENCES BORDEAUX, BASQUE COUNTRY AND THE LOIRE VALLEY TASTE OF BORDEAUX A Tantalizing Trio A TRULY AUTHENTIC FRENCH EXPERIENCE 4 BEYOND THE RIVER BANKS AmaWaterways.com 5 here else but on the Garonne and W Dordogne rivers will you see historic wine estates and châteaux, an interactive wine museum and timeless vineyards? These two rivers merge, dividing the Bordeaux region into its Left and Right banks, each offering distinctive wines and gastronomic delights. On our all-encompassing Taste of Bordeaux river cruise and land adventure, you will be captivated by the legendary Spanish Basque Country, the French wine capital and the “Land of Châteaux,” the Loire Valley, while being treated to the delicious flavors that can only be found in this region of the world. Whether you’re planning to travel solo, with your significant other or with a group of girlfriends, you’ll experience the perfect blend of exquisite wine and French culture and lifestyle — with a dash of Basque. For the Wine Connoisseur or Foodie Indulge in a variety of exciting epicurean excursions designed for those who relish the idea of refining their palate. During your pre-cruise land program in Spain, take a stroll and experience the alluring charm of the “City by the Bay of Biscay,” San Sebastián, undoubtedly one Left: Château de Chambord, France. From top: Wine tasting in Bordeaux; San Sebastián, Spain. of the world’s favorite gastronomy cities. With a wealth of restaurants and a culinary heritage few places your post-cruise land program in from French cheese to foie gras. can match, San Sebastián is rife France’s Loire Valley, you can dine While sailing the Garonne, treat with the mouthwatering aromas within the Michelin-starred gourmet your taste buds to delicious wine of pintxos, tasty bite-size morsels restaurant, led by Chef Arnaud tastings with the breathtaking akin to tapas that boast a variety of Philippon, at your luxury hotel, backdrop of a timeless vineyard. toppings, the perfect pairing with a the historic Cháteau de Pray. Throughout your journey, visit crisp glass of wine. In San Sebastián While cruising the Dordogne, famous wine estates — Château alone, restaurants have earned savor tantalizing French flavors Latour, Château Mouton Rothschild a total of 16 prestigious Michelin and divine fragrances of fresh and Château Léoville Poyferré — Stars, and a total of 46 Michelin spices as you wander through where you’ll be able to relish Stars are dotted around the entire open-air markets in Libourne, the bold flavors of Grand Cru Basque Country! In addition, during tasting regional specialties Classè wines. 4 BEYOND THE RIVER BANKS AmaWaterways.com 5 AUTHENTIC FRENCH EXPERIENCES Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain For Architecture and Of course, the Bordeaux region amid historic buildings on the banks Design Enthusiasts offers its own architectural of the Garonne River.