This Ship Is Almost Twice the Size of Most European River Ship—Which Gives Passengers Twice As Much Room

Danube River Cruises are like a fairytale. As you sail along, charming little towns appear, places like Dürnstein, with its striking pale blue abbey church. From a ship, you notice stone walls that date back to the Middle Ages, Bavarian monasteries, and vineyards ripe with grüner veltliner and riesling.

I came to Vienna expecting not only the white wines, but also all the history, culture and delicious food. I looked forward to schnitzels and sausages that were crisp and juicy, as well as buttery strudels. It was not the summer that I would be sailing along the Danube or the Wachau Valley. Instead, I took the first departure for 2025. AmaMagna, AmaWaterways has a wide range of river cruise ships. I wanted to compare a river cruise in the off-season to my many trips to this river during spring and summer.

Built in 2019 AmaMagna is one of the widest—and therefore most spacious—ships on the Danube. The ship is geared towards active travelers with its oversize fitness centre, spin bikes and morning workouts that include resistance band work, core work and stretching. There’s a full-size pickleball court—the first on any river ship—and yoga mats in every cabin. There’s also a fleet of brand new bikes and helmets for those who wish to explore the ports independently. AmaWaterways has extended its season because the vessel is so popular. That’s how I found myself on board before spring arrived in Central Europe.

On board, I discovered that the cruise ship is not just about health and wellness. Cruisers can choose to be as involved or as inactive as they want. The ship offers plenty of indulgence. Menus featured the most popular dishes from the countries we visited, including goulash (a rich Hungarian dish), sausages (from Austria), and fried cheeses of Slovakia and Liptauer, a paprika-laced spread cheese that is very popular in pubs. Almost every meal was accompanied by local wines. We were served Hungarian red wine that was fermented with the famous paprika of Hungary. There were healthy options available, as well as mocktails.

The destinations are always the main stars of any cruise. AmaMagna often visits Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia, and—depending on the itinerary—places including Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey. The active tours are balanced by leisurely excursions, such as horse-drawn carriages through Vienna’s Ringstrasse, classical concerts at House of Strauss and microbrew-soaked afternoons. Although it was cold outside, the Danube still looked beautiful. AmaWaterways’ staff has said that February is a great time to visit the Danube.

If a guest is coming to visit me in Budapest, July, and they want to see the Hungarian Parliament BuildingIt’s already full booked,” said Martina Valachova. AmaMagna Cruise manager This request can be easily accommodated in February.

Take a look at the AmaMagna My thoughts on the amenities, and much more.

The Staterooms

Because AmaMagna Its cabins are especially spacious, as they are double the width of many European river cruise ships. The majority of cabins range between 355 and 474 square foot, with a few smaller ones measuring 205 square foot. The largest option is a spacious Owner’s suite.

I stayed at an excellent suite located on Deck 3: my bathroom featured double sinks, large showers, and a soaking tub. My bedroom included a wall full of closets as well as a queen-size mattress facing a wall with windows and a terrace. It was very comfortable.

I’d have been just as happy with a smaller cabin that was more affordable. Due to the time of year, the view outside my window was not as breathtaking as in the summer. In the end, I did not spend much time admiring my view from my suite.

Bars and restaurants

AmaMagna There are four restaurants on board, which is more that is common for European river boats. The main dining room offers three meals a week, while Jimmy’s Restaurant – named after a founding member of AmaWaterways – serves the same menus but in a family style. Al Fresco is a place where you can get lighter meals or smaller portions all day. The Chef’s Table does a set, multi-course meal that I’d definitely recommend—though it’s important to reserve a table early.

The dining experience is not limited to the restaurant. AmaMagna The central lounge is where people gather for drinks and music before and after meals. Like many river cruises the atmosphere is quiet at the beginning of the trip, but becomes more raucous as the week goes on.

AmaMagna Sails

AmaMagna The ship sails on the Danube River with 7-night and 14-night trips, as well as a few trips that focus on Christmas markets. The ship began offering trips in February 2025. This was a period that was so off-season that the AmaMagna didn’t operate at all.

While it can be cold in the late winter, you will find that there are fewer people and more tables available along the river. There were no queues at restaurants and attractions on my trip. The only exception was Demel, Vienna’s famous coffee house with its marble tables and elaborate desserts.

Shore Excursions

AmaWaterways includes shore excursions at almost every port. All of the tours I took—a carriage ride around Vienna’s Ringstrasse; a walking tour of central Salzburg, where the knowledgeable guide discreetly pointed out the newly elected archbishop—were all well organized and insightful.

A warm and knowledgeable guide led my small group on a tasting tour in Bratislava. She pointed out her favorite restaurants and cafes before taking us to an historic beer hall. We were able to enjoy a thrice hopped Sladovna beer, which tasted like grapefruit, in a cozy, stone-lined pub.

Even solo exploration was a joy, despite the cold weather in February. The lack of crowds was noted by my fellow passengers everywhere, from Budapest’s “ruin bars”, to Vienna’s museums, and even the schnitzel restaurants. A guest and I ate dinner at Salzamt in Vienna one night, a cozy Austrian restaurant not far from Schwedenplatz. It was a memorable night, with plump oysters, pierogi served in a rich puddle of butter, crisp schnitzel, and a beautiful local grüner veltliner.

Amenities and Entertainment

The sun deck is the focal point of life on board during warmer months. The sun deck is the focal point of life onboard in warmer months. AmaMagna There is a heated pool, a sun-shaded lounge chair and Balinese daybeds. According to the cruise line, there’s also the first pickleball court on the Danube.

Most guests on our cruise were indoors enjoying hot chocolate in the lounge or taking cardio in the fitness center. Others enjoyed tea in Al Fresco. I didn’t use my balcony much, but enjoyed reading the book for my book group in one of our library lounges.

Offers Family Friendly

AmaWaterways accepts children four years old and older. However, it does not offer any formal programming for kids. I spent my entire week patting myself back for not bringing along my rambunctious 5-year-old who would have insisted that he jump in the heated pools and charge down the halls, as the only child onboard. I don’t think that off-season Danube trips are the best for young children. One exception could be trips around the Christmas season. Tweens and teenagers who are more mature may feel more comfortable aboard. Kids in this age range sometimes board the ship during summer vacations.

Accessibility

AmaMagna There is an elevator on the ship, but it cannot reach the sundeck. No cabins are designed specifically for wheelchair users, but every port offers a “gentle walking tour”. Many of the historic ports on the Danube have cobblestones, hills and steep slopes.

AmaWaterways offers additional accessibility information on its website. The brand says that “sometimes, facilities and services are limited or even non-existent for guests with physical disabilities.” It is also important to remember that during your river cruise the ship may dock alongside one or more other river ships. It is important to note that in these cases, disembarkation/embarkation may include walking up the stairs and through the adjacent ship(s) lobby or Sun Deck to reach the shore. You may need to enter the ship via a narrow passageway or sometimes cross an uneven surface. AmaWaterways cannot control these situations.