AmaVenita

AmaVenita at a Glance

AmaVenita is an AmaWaterways river ship sailing the waterways of northwest Europe, with departures from Amsterdam and Basel. Current sailings focus on the Rhine, Ijssel, Benelux and Waal rivers, with itineraries of up to 16 nights and fares from £1,699pp*. Here is what to size her up by:

• Operated exclusively by AmaWaterways
• Sails the Rhine, Ijssel and Benelux waterways
• Departs from Amsterdam and Basel
• Heated sun-deck pool with swim-up bar, complimentary bicycle fleet, and two included dining venues
• All current sailings depart from the Netherlands or Switzerland — flights required from the UK

Dining on AmaVenita

AmaVenita has two included dining venues, both open to all guests at no extra charge. The Main Restaurant operates with open seating, so you choose when you sit and who you join. Regional cuisine takes centre stage, served with river views — a fitting frame for a voyage through northwest Europe. Menus draw on the landscapes and produce you are sailing through, and the open format encourages relaxed conversation rather than fixed-table formality.

For something more theatrical, The Chef’s Table offers a multi-course tasting menu prepared in front of you in an intimate setting. A dedicated chef crafts each course with personalised attention — all still included in your cruise fare. It is the kind of refined experience that, on many ships, carries a surcharge; here it does not.

A Specialty Coffee & Tea Station operates on a self-service basis throughout the day, also complimentary. The Main Lounge serves as the social heart of the ship in the evenings — cocktails, live entertainment and informative port talks all in one space. Drinks are charged separately unless covered by a beverage package.

Things to Do on AmaVenita

The Sun Deck is the broadest open space on board, offering unobstructed views as the riverbanks unfold — it doubles as an occasional outdoor dining spot on fine days. The Heated Sun-Deck Pool is the centrepiece, with an integrated swim-up bar so guests can order a drink without leaving the water. A Walking Track circles the upper deck for anyone who wants to keep up a jogging or walking routine while under way.

The Fitness Center is equipped with cardio and strength-training equipment, free to use; specialist fitness classes carry a charge. The Massage & Hair Salon is a quieter retreat — treatments and hairdressing services are charged separately. When you want to slow down completely, the Library offers books and games in a peaceful setting at no extra cost.

Away from the ship, one of AmaVenita’s standout features is the Complimentary Bicycle Fleet. Bikes are available to all guests at no charge, so you can peel off and explore each port town at your own pace — without signing up for a guided excursion. Along rivers like the Rhine and Ijssel, the cycling infrastructure ashore is exceptional.

A Gift Shop rounds out the onboard offer with souvenirs, regional keepsakes and practical essentials.

Cabins and Suites on AmaVenita

AmaVenita offers three cabin grades, each sleeping two guests. Full deck plans and grade-by-grade detail are on the AmaVenita cabins and deck plans page.

• Suite SS – Largest Suite On Board (27.9 m², balcony): The most generous accommodation aboard. At 27.9 m², this suite offers more than five square metres of additional living space compared with other suite categories — the choice if space and comfort are priorities.
• Balcony Cabin AA (21.8 m², suite): The roomiest balcony cabin grade in the range, at 21.8 m² — two to three square metres more than standard balcony cabins, giving a noticeably more relaxed feel for the same cabin type.
• Minisuite D (14.9 m², outside): An outside cabin with meaningful extra space over a standard river-view cabin — four to five square metres more, which is a tangible difference on a river ship.

Where AmaVenita Sails

All current AmaVenita sailings operate on the rivers of northwest Europe, with departures from two ports. The majority of itineraries begin in Amsterdam, threading through the Netherlands and into Belgium, Germany or Switzerland. A further group departs from Basel, Switzerland, typically heading north along the Rhine.

The Ijssel and Benelux waterways also feature in the sailing programme, opening up routes through the Dutch and Belgian hinterland that differ from the classic Rhine corridor. All sailings depart from either the Netherlands or Switzerland, so UK guests will need to fly — see the booking section below for how we handle that.

Booking AmaVenita with Cruise1st

Because every AmaVenita sailing currently departs from Amsterdam or Basel, the cruise is the middle of a longer trip for UK guests — Cruise1st can book the flights, the hotel either side and the transfers, as one holiday. That is exactly what Cruise1st Packages are built for: one booking, one point of contact, no separate airline reservations to juggle.

Our cruise experts are available by phone before you book, if you want to talk through cabin grades, itinerary lengths or fare inclusions. As one of the UK’s leading cruise specialists, Cruise1st has specialist knowledge of AmaWaterways — not a general travel agent picking from a brochure.

Common Questions About AmaVenita

Are Meals Included in an AmaVenita Cruise Fare?

Yes. Both the Main Restaurant and The Chef’s Table are included in your cruise fare, with no dining surcharge for either. The Specialty Coffee & Tea Station is also complimentary. Drinks in the Main Lounge are charged separately unless you have a beverage package.

Can I Explore Ports Independently on AmaVenita?

Yes, and AmaVenita makes it particularly easy. The complimentary bicycle fleet means you can ride into a port town without booking a guided excursion. The bikes are free for all guests to use.

Which Cabin Grade Should I Book on AmaVenita?

If space is the priority, the Suite SS at 27.9 m² is the largest accommodation on board. The Balcony Cabin AA at 21.8 m² is the roomiest balcony grade. For guests wanting an outside cabin with more room than standard, the Minisuite D at 14.9 m² offers a meaningful step up. The AmaVenita cabins and deck plans page has full layouts to help you choose.

Do I Need to Fly to Join an AmaVenita Cruise?

All current sailings depart from Amsterdam in the Netherlands or Basel in Switzerland, so yes — UK guests will need to fly to join the ship. Cruise1st can arrange flights, pre- or post-cruise hotels and transfers alongside your cruise booking, packaging everything together so nothing is left to sort separately.

Which AmaWaterways Ships Might I Also Consider?

AmaWaterways operates several ships you can compare directly: AmaMagna and AmaVerde are two other ships in the fleet, as are AmaLea, AmaLucia, AmaDahlia and the Africa-based Zambezi Queen. The full line-up is on the AmaWaterways cruise line page.