AmaWaterways celebrated its newest ship, AmaSofia, during a christening ceremony on the Rhine attended by more than 1,200 travel advisors at the ASTA River Cruise Expo in Amsterdam, while also launching a new City Escapes program for 2026.
The official ceremony with AmaSofia godmother and US travel agent Sarah Little, who is also the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) Senior Vice President of Business Development, took place on 14 March 2026.
Travel advisors were invited to celebrate the occasion on three of the river cruise line’s luxury ships: AmaPrima, AmaVenita and its 24th and newest for European rivers, AmaSofia.
The 154-passenger AmaSofia is the first river ship with the new AmaWaterways rebranding to sail Europe, beginning her 2026 season early on the Rhine to attend the Expo before repositioning to the Danube in June.
Select Australian and New Zealand travel advisors will also have the chance to cruise on AmaSofia during the August Mega Famil full-ship takeover.
AmaWaterways CEO Catherine Powell said: “Ships come to life through people, from the crew who pour pride into every detail, the guests who celebrate life’s moments on board to the travel advisors who inspire those journeys in the first place.”
“As we continue to grow, our commitment remains the same – to our guests and to our travel partners. [This] christening is not just about welcoming a beautiful new ship to the rivers of Europe, but also about celebrating the shared journey we are on together.”
City Escapes for deeper cultural immersion
AmaWaterways also launched its new City Escapes program, a collection of sailings offering extended stays, fewer crowds and deeper cultural immersion in iconic cities on the Seine, Rhine and Danube rivers.
Starting in 2026 and expanding in 2027, dedicated City Escapes departures will operate in three regions and are intentionally scheduled during quieter travel periods to allow guests to experience each destination at a slower pace.
City Escapes will offer additional overnight stays, more daylight sailing and 24 hours or more in cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Strasbourg and Budapest. In addition, AmaWaterways now offers new pre- and post-cruise extensions in London and Rome.
AmaWaterways ANZ Managing Director Steve Richards said the new program meets growing demand from Australian and New Zealand travellers for longer stays in Europe’s most iconic river cities.
“From an Australian perspective, City Escapes aligns closely with what we are hearing from our guests. Travellers are telling us they want more time to enjoy the places they visit. That could mean an extended visit to one of Paris’ incredible museums or time to wander through La Petite France in Strasbourg before dinner at a traditional Alsatian winstub,” he said.
“February was a record sales month for our Australian office with strong demand for the Danube and Rhine rivers, but also for the French rivers, Portugal and the Mekong with our second ship coming in 2027.
“What’s exciting is programs like City Escapes reflect exactly what our guests are asking for: more time, deeper cultural experiences and the chance to truly connect with each destination.”
