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!"
While finger puppets, sock puppets, handheld puppets and the entire Jim Henson family (think Sesame Street, The Muppets and Fraggle Rock) have long been delighting audiences, the Vietnamese have enjoyed their unique water puppetry (called Múa Rối Nước) for centuries. Enjoy a traditional water puppet show in Hanoi after our Charms of the Mekong and Riches of the Mekong itineraries.
Dancing on Water
In English, the literal translation of Múa Rối Nước is “making puppets dance on water.” And that they certainly do – the Vietnamese puppets appear to gracefully glide, dive and swim through water in a spectacular aquatic show.
The water puppets themselves are distinctive works of art, made of wood and then lacquered to remain watertight and endurable. The puppets move about through their stage of waist-deep water with puppeteers hidden behind a screen using large bamboo rods or a pole and string apparatus concealed underneath the water to control them while still seeming invisible. (The puppeteers stand in the waist-deep waters behind the curtain as well). The effect is stunning and seamless, giving the illusion of the puppets virtually coming to life. Puppets pass objects from puppet to puppet with various awe-inspiring coordinated moves – all of which have to be done by instinct rather than sight as the puppeteers are behind the screen.
The Dramatics of Puppetry
Most shows feature music, dialogue and sound effects as well, spoken and played by performers on the side of the stage – and sung and spoken in Vietnamese. But don’t worry about language barriers as the gestures of this style of dynamic puppetry needs no language to be understood.
A Rich and Mysterious History
Water puppetry traces its roots all the way back to the 11th century and is a tradition unique to North Vietnam, originating in the Red River Delta. And while the art form has spread south to other parts of Vietnam, it has retained its original charm and flair. Water puppetry began as a way to entertain villagers when rice paddy fields would flood (and to stave off spirits, keeping them amused so as not to cause mischief!) The first puppeteers would stand in these waist-deep waters and give the hard-working villagers a fun show. To this day, themes continue to concentrate on daily rural life (such as fishing and planting rice) and time-honored folklore.
Many details of these puppet shows remain shrouded in mystery. Their popularity eventually led to competitions amongst villages and puppet societies became extremely exclusive, with members using code words to keep others from discovering their tricks. The puppets themselves can weigh anywhere from 2 to 30 pounds each and range in height from about 12-40 inches. Colored lights and a foggy mist spread over the watery stage, adding to the excitement and mystery.
If traveling with us to Hanoi by adding the land package to your Mekong River cruise, AmaWaterways takes all travelers to a traditional water puppet show in its area of origin. But there are chances to see these shows in other cities throughout the country.
Note: In particular, Ho Chi Minh City has wonderful shows although many suggest booking in advance.