AmaWaterways has launched its latest French itinerary, "Flavors of Burgundy," featuring a voyage along the Saone River through renowned vineyard regions. In conjunction with this new offering, AmaWaterways announced a lineup of wine experts for its 2025 "Celebration of Wine River Cruises."
These wine-themed cruises, spanning 21 itineraries, cover regions such as Burgundy, Portugal's Douro Valley, Austria's Wachau Valley, and Germany's Moselle. Each cruise is hosted by a wine expert from North America or Europe, including vineyard owners, winemakers, certified sommeliers, and wine educators. These experts enhance the onboard experience with wine tastings and epicurean events, and North American hosts also introduce their own wines for a diverse tasting experience.
A notable example is the "Flavors of Burgundy" 7-night cruise, which includes tastings in scenic locations such as Tournus, Macon, and Lyon. Travelers can further enrich their journey with optional pre- and post-cruise land packages: 3 nights in Paris and 3 nights in Geneva.
Eight sailings of the "Flavors of Burgundy" itinerary are scheduled for March, April, July, October, and November. The March 27 cruise will feature Holly Howell, a certified specialist of wine and sommelier.
Another itinerary, "Enchanting Rhine," between Basel and Amsterdam, offers optional pre-cruise stays of 2 nights in Zurich and 2 nights in Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. This itinerary has 8 departures, including the March 20 sailing hosted by Kathy Joseph, owner and winemaker at Fiddlehead Cellars in California.
The "Romantic Danube" itinerary, with 3 wine-focused departures in March and July, offers extensions with a 2-night pre-cruise package in Munich or a 3-night pre-cruise package in Prague. The July 14 departure will be hosted by Jim Cargill, winemaker at House Family Vineyards in California.