AmaWaterways wine cruises add a unique epicurean dimension to a variety of itineraries at no additional cost. Join one of these wine cruises with a special wine host and be treated to a menu of exclusive wine and culinary experiences designed to delve deeper into the wonderful flavors and tastes of Europe.
European cities transform into majestic winter wonderlands for the holiday season – and we invite you to experience all their splendor with us. In addition to our variety of daily excursions, you will also have the opportunity to visit festive Christmas Markets in select destinations and participate in nostalgic traditions.
Maximize your Christmas experience by embarking at the height of the holiday market season with daily or near-daily visits to Christmas Markets.
Get "just a taste" of the holidays in mid-November or late December with visits to one or two Christmas Markets during your river cruise.
We are pleased to offer guests the opportunity to experience Floriade in 2022 while sailing along the Rhine River and Dutch and Belgian Waterways between April 14 and October 9. Right outside Amsterdam, this rare experience calls for its visitors to “explore, touch and change” as part of their journey into Floriade – which is set to feature stunning gardens, innovative sustainable gardening exhibits, live entertainment, talk shows, souvenirs and food stalls.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Rhône with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Explore the rich history of classical music along the Danube River where famous composers lived, worked and performed. Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever “Soulful Experience” on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2024.
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through four countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
Join Chef Joanne Weir, award-winning cookbook author, restaurant owner and host of PBS television series “Plates & Places” as she hosts a special 7-night Flavors of Burgundy river cruise.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Danube with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever “Soulful Experience” on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2025
Explore the rich history of classical and folkloric music along the Danube River where famous composers lived, worked and performed. Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey.
Countries Visited: Austria, Hungary, Slovakia
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through five countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
We invite our loyal past guests to join us once again on these special Loyalty Cruises, offering unique experiences in multiple ports, commemorative gifts, and many more surprises and delights.
Imagine if there was a way to combine luxury river cruising on the iconic Danube with the opportunity to indulge your passion and play golf. We have created the perfect package to enable you to do just that with our Exclusive Concierge Golf Program. Discover Europe, complete with award winning cuisine, incredible service and a choice of excursions in every port, as well as up to 5 rounds of golf at some of the leading championship courses on the continent.
AmaWaterways’ Exclusive Concierge Golf Program is available on select Magna on the Danube cruises sailing aboard the AmaMagna.
Hello! "I'm Kristin Karst, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of AmaWaterways and I'm passionate about river cruising. Each month, I love to share with you my thoughts, personal stories, travel tips and latest news on the people and places that help turn every mile of our guests' river cruise experience into one of their most cherished memories!"
Halloween vs. Erntedankfeste
You won’t find quite as many jack-o-lanterns in Austria, however. Catholic Austrians instead focus their energy on celebrating All Souls’ Week beginning the night before Halloween, during which they honor loved ones who have passed. On October 31st, some Austrians leave out bread, water and a lighted lamp to welcome the dead back to earth.
Conversely, pumpkins are met with fanfare at Austria’s Erntedankfeste, or harvest festivals. There you’ll find everything from roasted seeds to breads, casseroles and cakes, as well as Austria’s main pumpkin product: pumpkinseed oil, a regional delicacy primarily harvested in the Styria region.
Pumpkinseed Oil: A National Treasure
Cooking with pumpkinseed oil is somewhat rare in Austria. Most home cooks have instead followed in the footsteps of renowned chefs like Austrian-born Wolfgang Puck, who uses the nutty-flavored oil to dress salads, drizzle over fish and even as a substitute to sesame oil in sushi. 90% of all pumpkinseed oil produced is consumed in Austria and it takes about five pumpkins to make one cup of oil, which explains why there are so many pumpkins growing in the countryside – and demand continues to rise outside the country as well.
Hokkaido Pumpkins
The pumpkin soup recipe that follows specifically mentions the Hokkaido variety, also known as the red kuri squash. As its name suggests, Hokkaido pumpkins have been cultivated in Japan, and particularly on the island of Hokkaido, where they grow in volcanic soil, since the late 19th century – although it is believed that all squash originated in MesoAmerica.
Hokkaido pumpkins arrived in Europe just two decades ago and have been favored by Austrians and Germans ever since. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, the Hokkaido is also a good source of fiber, iron and potassium and is easy to cook with. In fact, its thin skin softens during cooking and can be eaten safely, so there is no need to peel or pre-roast before scooping out the flesh, making the warm, seasonal recipe below a cinch!
Ingredients
Approximately 1 lb. pumpkin, seeded and diced (Hokkaido preferably) 32 oz. chicken or vegetable stock 1 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves 1/2 tsp paprika 1 bay leaf 1 tbsp pumpkin seed oil 2.5 tbsp butter Approximately 5 tbsp. pumpkin seeds 1 C heavy cream
Preparation
1. In a large pan, fry onion and garlic in the butter until fragrant. 2. Add the paprika, bay leaf, stock, pumpkin, salt and pepper. Simmer until the pumpkin is very soft. 3. Remove bay leaf and blend the soup. Add the cream and pumpkin seed oil and check the seasoning for taste. 4. Serve piping hot and sprinkle some pumpkin seeds to garnish.
Makes 8 servings.
Visit Austrian cities and villages such as Vienna, Linz and Dürnstein to try more of the country's culinary delights, including Wiener schnitzel and sacher torte on our Danube River itineraries!