SPOTLIGHT ON AMAWATERWAYS' AMAMAGNA
The river mega-ships are coming!

We’ve all heard the mantra — “Bigger is better!"
It seems as though every industry undergoes a period of spectacular growth every few years thanks to new technology and innovative ideas. The cruise industry is no stranger to this occurence. Think about ocean cruising which has evolved from the “Love Boat” era of relatively small, intimate ships, to the monstrous-sized “city-ships” such as Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, the largest ship every build. Symphony carries an astounding 5518 guests and over 2500 crew! Well, river cruising is no different. As river cruising evolves so, too, do the ships that ply the waterways of Europe. However, unlike ocean ships, river ships have distinct size restrictions. Typical European river cruise ships are either 361 or 443 feet long and just 37-1/2 feet wide. These maximum sizes are done to accommodate the numerous, varied-style locks found on most waterways of mainland Europe, principally the Rhine, Main, Danube, and Moselle rivers. The wider sections of the Danube (between Passau, Germany and Budapest, Hungary), which have much wider locks, can accommodate ships up to 75 feet wide.

Will bigger river ships translate to better river ships?
To answer that question in part, we have but to look at Crystal. Crystal Cruises started the mega-trend in 2016, when they completely rebuilt an older ship into what many feel is a remarkably elegant and spacious river boat in the image of Crystal’s ocean going fleet. With the renovation completed, the Crystal Mozart was launched for the 2017 season. At 395 ft. and 75 ft. wide, passengers enjoy more spacious and elaborate public interior and exterior spaces, far larger staterooms, several dining venues, and much more.

Acknowledging Crystal’s successful launch, AmaWaterways decided to throw their hat — that is, their own megaship — into the ring. And, for good reason! AmaWaterways and its ships have led the river cruise industry in design innovations for a number of years now and garner almost every top consumer award for design, service and, of course, for their incredible cuisine.

A vision becomes a reality.
The AmaMagna is the brainchild of Rudi Schreiner, Co-owner and Founder of AmaWaterways. From his days as Vice-President at Uniworld to his tenure heading Viking Cruises, Rudi has always been an innovator. At AmaWaterways, his vision for river cruising has seen its full flowering with the creation of AmaMagna. According to Rudi, “I’ve had this unique ship on my mind for many years and am confident that now is the time to introduce my vision.”

Premier thinks Rudi’s newest vision is certainly going to be a great one! And, credit must be given to Ama for their confidence in naming her the AmaMagna. If you recall your high school Latin, magna means great, and by all accounts this vision is going to be one great lady! (View video of AmaMagna being built.)

Debuting in May 2019, the AmaMagna will be 443 ft. long and 72 ft. wide.
But, lest you think that megaships mean megapassengers, think again! Despite her size, the AmaMagna will carry a maximum of just 196 guests in 98 superbly appointed staterooms and suites. As a quick comparison, that’s only about 30 passengers more than Ama’s newer Danube or Rhine ships, but each fortunate guest will enjoy almost double the space (View Deck Plan). Wow!

The onboard experience will leave you bedazzled.
With more dining options, more spacious staterooms and suites, expanded spa, health and wellness facilities, more active sightseeing opportunities, enhanced nightly entertainment, all coupled with Ama’s incomparable onboard customer service – well you get the picture. Every facet of the ship and its crew and staff has been carefully considered and designed to take river cruising and their guests’ experiences to incredible new heights.

First and foremost this ship is about size. That is evident in the spacious staterooms and suites. Guests on the lower deck will enjoy cabins (there are 11) that are 205 square feet in size with 2 fixed windows. Most lower deck cabins on river ships are 160-172 sqft in size – just think of what you can do with all that extra space! All other cabins on the middle and upper deck have full — yes, you heard me — FULL outside balconies! There are 34 cabins at 252 sqft, 46 cabins at 355 sqft, 6 cabins at 474 sqft, and one spectacular Owner’s Suite at 710 sqft. (Experience a 360° video tour of an AmaMagna stateroom!) Every cabin offers similar amenities including very spacious bathrooms with multi-jet showerheads, large wardrobes, a flat screen TV that also functions as a computer, complimentary internet and Wi-Fi, and the list goes on. (View Floor Plans)

A first... family-focused staterooms.
One of the many benefits of her size is that the AmaMagna will have a number of "family-focused" staterooms. Unlike many traditional ships that can only accommodate two in a stateroom, the AmaMagna will have a number of spacious staterooms that will very comfortably hold up to five guests. She'll also have a number of cabins that connect, making the ship really outstanding for families to more easily travel together, and have even more fun when celebrating a special occasion.

As if the cabin sizes were not a good enough reason to book, consider the other onboard amenities: For those who enjoy health and wellness, the Magna will offer every guest state-of-the-art spa, fitness, and massage facilities along with a complete, fully staffed wellness center — also a first-of-its-kind on river ships. There is also a beautiful pool on the sundeck, and yet another river ship first: a stern water sports platform! Then, of course, their multiple dining venues - read more about these features below.

Let’s talk now a bit about the reason many people
take a cruise — that’s right, the food!
As we mentioned above, AmaMagna will feature multiple dining venues: the elegant main dining room; a unique, first-of-its-kind wine-bar themed restaurant, al fresco dining; and, their signature, award-winning Chef’s Table specialty restaurant. The Chef’s Table draws its guests into becoming part of the overall dining experience as the open kitchen becomes part of the actual restaurant and dining experience.

One of the many reasons AmaWaterways has won so many awards for their impeccable cuisine is that Ama is also a long-time member of the exclusive "La Chaine des Rotisseurs." This exclusive, internationally renowned culinary society guarantees that all food guests eat onboard is absolutely fresh, top-quality, and locally sourced as are also the wines served as wine pairings at dinner. And, best of all, unlike many ocean cruise programs, all — yes, ALL — dining venues are included in the price! Bon appetite!

Let's take a sneak peek at AmaMagna’s 2019 Danube itineraries.
By now you’re probably wondering what cruises the AmaMagna will be doing and which one you’d first like to experience (Remember, she will only sail the Danube between Passau and Budapest.). Upon her launch in May 2019, you’ll be able select from two of Ama’s most successful and enjoyable 7-night cruises: Melodies of the Danube and the Romantic Danube. Both allow for optional extra time in Prague or Budapest should you choose (And, you really should… they are both fantastic cities!). Some departures will feature Ama’s widely acclaimed wine-themed cruises as well as enchanting, magical Christmas Market cruises in late November and December. On these cruises, where else in the world can you visit four world famous capital cities — Bratislava, Budapest, Prague, and Vienna — on a 7-night vacation? During these cruises, you’ll also delight in excursions to classic and beloved places such as Durnstein, Melk, and Salzburg where you can see many of the sights made famous in the movie, “The Sound of Music.”

— 2019 Sailing Dates — Weekly; May through December 7-NT Cruise | Budapest to Vilshofen 8 Days from per person $ 3099		— 2019 Sailing Dates — Weekly; May through December 7-NT Cruise | Vilshofen to Budapest 8 Days from per person $ 3299		— 2019 Sailing Dates — Nov 24; Dec 1, 8, 15, 22 7-NT Cruise | Vilshofen to Budapest 8 Days from per person $ 2549		— 2019 Sailing Dates — May 17; Aug 4; Nov 3, 10 7-NT Cruise | Budapest to Vilshofen 8 Days from per person $ 3299

Now, you’re probably wondering… Is this megaship costing me megabucks?
As you can already see from the lead offers above... for everything that guests receive and enjoy, prices are pretty darn affordable! Sailing aboard an AmaWaterways river ship, and now particularly the new AmaMagna, guests will discover the promise — and delivery — of more. More space. More luxury. More amenities. More excursions. More options. In fact, simply put, more ways to indulge their inner travel being! As a baseline guide: Early Booking entry-level Magna prices start at just $200 per person more than Ama’s current fleet for similar itineraries. That means prices for a very spacious river view (window), begin at only $2595pp* when you book and deposit by May 31, 2018. Not too bad for a new, already in high-demand river ship.

Premier Insider’s Tip.
New ships, especially state-of-the-art ships like the Magna are not heavily discounted. Most 2019 Magna sailings only offer a $250pp early booking discount. However, if you look at some of her shoulder season wine-themed cruises or Christmas Markets cruises, the discounts can be as much as $750pp.

Premier has AmaMagna savings perks for early bookers!
While great things never come cheap, Premier wants you to really enjoy an incredible experience when you book the new AmaMagna for 2019. With that desire in mind, we’ll pay all of your shipboard gratuities, provide you with a $100 a cabin spa credit, and guarantee you at least a $500 per cabin savings on any AmaMagna cruise when you book and deposit your cabin by May 31, 2018. Remember, new ships always sell out quickly, and 2019 looks to be another strong year for river cruising — especially for the AmaMagna. Plan your 2019 river cruise now by calling the river cruise experts at Premier for details and a free quote.

UPDATE — What's happening with the AmaMagna right now.
As of the publication of Premier's second quarter 2018 Inside Scoop Bulletin, the AmaMagna finished her voyage to a shipyard in Ghent, Holland. After Magna's structural construction was completed by the renowned Vahali Shipyard in Serbia, the Magna was launched into the Danube where she cruised down to the Black Sea delta. Upon being guided out by tugboats to the main harbor, she was craned onto an immense container ship to begin her incredible journey across the mediterranean and the Atlantic to the North Sea and port in Rotterdam, Germany.

AmaMagna is currently sailing the Dutch waterways from Rotterdam to Ghendt, Holland. There she will dry dock and be outfitted with contemporary elegant décor under the guidance of co-owners Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst who will stay involved in the design process to the very last detail. Magna's official launching, christening, and maiden voyage is scheduled to occur in May 2019.