Is this the most epic river cruise ever? See what 1 line just announced for 2024
How long is too long for a European river cruise? AmaWaterways is about to find out.
The upscale river cruise line just announced its longest itinerary ever for a single vessel — a 49-night routing between Amsterdam and Giurgiu, Romania, that will include travel on seven European waterways.
Dubbed the Seven River Journey, the itinerary includes travel on the Scheldt, Maas and Waal waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium and the Rhine River, which cuts down the center of Europe.
The itinerary also includes several weeks of sailing on the Moselle, Main and Danube rivers, as well as the Main-Danube Canal.
All seven waterways are interconnected.
AmaWaterways is planning two departures of the itinerary, each of which will bring visits to 15 countries in all. Both will take place in 2024.
The first of the departures will be a southbound sailing starting in Amsterdam on April 22, 2024. It ends June 10, 2024. The second of the departures will be a northbound trip starting in Giurgiu on June 10, 2024, and ending in Amsterdam on July 29, 2024.
Related: Best river cruises in Europe
The trip includes stops everywhere from Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Mainz and Nuremberg in Germany to Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary; and Belgrade, Serbia.
The 15 countries on the itinerary range from the Netherlands and Belgium on one end to Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova on the other.
AmaWaterways last year announced plans for similarly long Seven River Journey itineraries to take place in 2023, but the trips were created by stringing together voyages on more than one ship into one long vacation. The new sailings announced for 2024 are the first the line has offered on a single vessel that stretch beyond just a few weeks.
Typical AmaWaterways river cruises in Europe are a week or two long.
"Since the debut of our Seven River Journeys [announced] in 2021, we have received tremendous demand from travelers who are looking to spend extra time immersing themselves in beautiful destinations throughout Europe," AmaWaterways executive vice president and co-founder Kristin Karst said in a statement accompanying the announcement.
The new single-ship itinerary makes it "easy for guests to sit back, relax and enjoy the unparalleled experience of cruising seamlessly between the North Sea and the Black Sea," Karst said.
Related: Everything to know about booking a river cruise
The newly announced itineraries will include a seven-day exploration of the Danube Delta, which isn't visited as often as other river areas in Europe.
Fares for the voyages start at $25,649 per person, based on double occupancy.
As is typical for AmaWaterways sailings, fares include a room, meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, and shore tours in every port. In addition, just for these longer sailings, AmaWaterways is including complimentary gratuities and laundry services in its fares.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.