AmaWaterways: AmaMora Review May 2026
May 2026
David Smith
Mangaing Director
These were the questions I hoped to answer when I boarded AmaMora in Budapest for a seven-night sailing along the Melodies of the Danube with AmaWaterways. What I didn't expect was how quickly I'd stop comparing river cruising to anything else entirely.
First impressions of AmaMora
AmaWaterways only recently underwent a complete brand refresh, so I was taken aback when I first saw the ship, sitting in the sun in its new livery.
Another thing that struck me was just how straightforward embarkation was. No sprawling queues, no complicated check-in systems, and no feeling of being processed through an airport-style experience. You simply arrive at the ship, walk the gangway, check in at reception and within minutes, that’s it – you’re done!
I was staying in a Category BB stateroom (room 217) largely because the weather forecast looked favourable, and a balcony lends itself perfectly to those lazy afternoons watching the world go by. The room itself was more than adequate for two people on a seven-night itinerary. The storage, while not ample, was sensible, and nice touches like a Nespresso machine and blankets for use on the balcony gave everything a homey feel.
The entertainment system was slightly bizarre: a Mac-style computer complete with a keyboard. There’s also a window in the bathroom which looks into the living space, and can be opened or closed at the touch of a button, something Ponant does on the Explorer-class ships too. Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t know what circumstances would require you to open it…
Life onboard
Stepping out to explore the ship made it clear that an adjustment of expectations was required. River ships are certainly not floating hotels, and only share certain similarities with their ocean-going counterparts. Of course, river ships are smaller, with AmaMora catering to no more than 156 guests at any one time. As a result, you have one main dining venue, one speciality venue, one lounge, and a small spa and fitness area.
To my mind, the closest comparison in terms of scale and amenities is SeaDream Yacht Club, which, coincidentally, boasts the type of open deck space more commonly associated with a river ship.
The atmosphere onboard AmaMora was relaxed from the outset. Evenings centred around the Lark Lounge & Bar, where local musicians performed, karaoke appeared one evening, and guests gathered for drinks before and after dinner. During the day, the same space became somewhere to sit with a coffee and watch the scenery drift by. This is no doubt one of river cruising’s greatest pleasures.
River cruising moves at a wonderfully unhurried pace. For some people, it might even feel too slow. But for anyone looking to properly disconnect from modern life for a week, it makes perfect sense. There is something very calming about sitting on deck watching vineyards, church spires, tiny riverside towns, and forested hills slowly pass by. It’s about atmosphere rather than entertainment.
Dining on AmaMora
The main dining venue aboard AmaMora is the Journeys Restaurant, where most meals are served throughout the itinerary. Dining follows a fairly traditional structure with multiple courses and several choices for each. One thing AmaWaterways does particularly well is tailoring menus to the regions you are sailing through. In Vienna, for example, schnitzel featured prominently, while other evenings leaned into local specialities from elsewhere along the Danube.
Breakfast and lunch were generally more of a buffet affair, though AmaWaterways does switch things up occasionally, most notably with the barbecue lunch served on the sun deck while docked in Vienna.
Incidentally, the BBQ triggered one of the main observations of the entire trip. While eating outside, I overheard a guest on a neighbouring ship* remark to one of AmaMora’s crew, only half-jokingly:
I wish we had this on our ship.
This made me realise something, and it became more obvious throughout the week: AmaMora consistently stood out. Whether it was the surprisingly large pool with a swim-up bar, the varied seating arrangements, or a large-scale chessboard, AmaMora looked to offer something more modern than its contemporaries. That probably sounds superficial, but on a river cruise, where you spend a lot of time on board during daylight hours, those details genuinely matter.
*This is actually quite common on Europe’s rivers. Ships often dock side-by-side, sometimes so closely that you could almost step from one sun deck to another.
The Chef's Kitchen experience
AmaWaterways makes an effort to ensure every guest experiences The Chef’s Kitchen at least once during a seven-night itinerary. It’s a fixed multi-course tasting menu served in a more intimate setting and intended as a culinary highlight.
Personally, it probably wasn’t the standout dining experience I expected. Having experienced chef-led tasting concepts on larger luxury ships, I think I was hoping for something slightly more elevated or theatrical. That said, dining is incredibly subjective, and many guests on board absolutely loved it.
Outside of dining itself, another thing that stood out was just how sociable the onboard atmosphere became over the course of the week. With fewer guests and only a handful of public spaces, conversations come naturally, and you quickly start recognising familiar faces around the ship.
Almost all-inclusive
Technically, AmaWaterways is not fully all-inclusive, but in practice, it is almost all-inclusive. Wine and beer are included with lunch and dinner, while a complimentary Sip & Sail cocktail hour takes place before dinner each evening, where most alcoholic drinks are included. Outside of those times, you’ll pay for drinks, but honestly, it never really felt restrictive. And the drinks are reasonably priced, which helps.
Gratuities are not included either, except on selected Private Sale fares which appear periodically throughout the year. Guests are expected to tip the crew and cruise manager at the end of the voyage, although the service throughout the week was genuinely excellent, so it never felt unreasonable.
Considering that many shore excursions are also included, it does make me wonder why AmaWaterways has resisted taking the next step – I could easily see guests of ocean operators like Silversea and Seabourn really enjoying the experience, and this would remove a barrier that is important to many luxury travellers.
The app that genuinely surprised me
Humour me for a minute, but I think this is worth mentioning. One of the most unexpected parts of the AmaWaterways experience was their app. Usually, cruise apps promise plenty and deliver little. I’ve been on ships before where the app is downloaded and then never used, and others where it simply lacks the functionality to be anywhere near helpful.
No such frustrations here: Daily schedules, excursion bookings, interactive map, travel documents, itinerary updates, everything worked exactly as it should. It even replaced the traditional printed daily programme pushed under your cabin door each evening.
People who make a difference
I noticed early on in the trip that AmaWaterways makes a LOT of references to ‘family’. In day-to-day life, it’s the type of terminology I find loaded with misgivings. However, on AmaMora, it felt accurate. The crew were warm and approachable, guests naturally interacted with one another, and the entire atmosphere felt communal in a way I hadn’t quite expected.
A huge part of that came down to our cruise manager, Nicoleta, who was exceptional throughout. Unlike cruise directors on larger ships who can sometimes feel slightly distant, she was constantly visible and involved in day-to-day life on board. One moment leading excursions, the next helping guests during disembarkation. It created an atmosphere that felt personal rather than transactional.
Final thoughts: AmaWaterways stands out
Prior to this trip, I understood river cruising intellectually far more than emotionally. But I get it now. Yes, there are similarities between operators from the outside, and yes, many itineraries visit the same rivers and cities. But experiences can differ enormously. Based on my time onboard, I would be genuinely surprised if many operators do river cruising significantly better than AmaWaterways does.
What ultimately makes river cruising special is not just the destinations themselves, but the rhythm of the experience. The simplicity of unpacking once while drifting between historic cities. The ease of stepping directly into the heart of places like Vienna and Bratislava within minutes of docking. The balance between genuine relaxation on board and culturally rich experiences ashore. And after my seven nights with AmaWaterways, it’s safe to say I completely understood the appeal.
If you’re interested in finding out what sailing the Danube is actually like, then read Why the Danube is the perfect introduction to river cruising.
