Imagine stepping off your ship in Austria and hearing the crunch of fallen leaves beneath your feet as you follow your guide on a hike to Dürnstein’s ancient hilltop fortress. Picture yourself pedaling through charming city squares in perfect jacket weather, tasting Normandy’s famed apples at peak harvest or taking in the aroma of roasted chestnuts while strolling along cobblestone streets. Autumn is filled with delights on European rivers, and with up to eight included daily excursions and generous onboard amenities, AmaWaterways offers the best fall river cruise experience. Here are six reasons why.

1. Ideal Weather for Hiking and Biking
With the weather growing cooler from late September through November, autumn is the quintessential time of year for outdoor enthusiasts to embark on a river cruise with AmaWaterways. Select 7-night itineraries in Europe offer up to five guided hikes, enabling guests to commune with nature in small groups and experience cities such as Passau, Heidelberg, Arles and more from a unique perspective. Cyclists also delight in the opportunity to venture further along the riverbanks and cover more ground on included bike tours in Strasbourg, the Bordeaux countryside or fascinating cities such as Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent on AmaWaterways’ 7-night Best of Holland & Belgium itinerary. All these active excursions are offered courtesy of AmaWaterways, as is the usage of their fleet of state-of-the-art bicycles for independent exploration. 

AmaWaterways’ complimentary Wellness Program also provides guests with host-led “drop-in” fitness classes throughout the day. Wake up in the morning with a stretching class, take a digestive walk on the sun-deck track following lunch and even participate in dance classes in the afternoon. Inhale the crisp, fresh air of autumn with classes offered on the Sun Deck when weather permits or inside the ship’s Main Lounge or fitness room.

2. Unique Excursions and Exclusive Experiences
Although most of AmaWaterways’ included daily excursions are offered year-round, some are perhaps more fitting in autumn, particularly when experienced in the days leading up to October 31st. For example, head out on an immersive ghost walk through Viviers after the sun sets, watching the 21st century vanish into thin air as history unfolds before you during your cruise through Provence. Alternatively, learn the legend of the Hexenturm, or “Witches Tower,” while being led through the impressive Reichsburg Castle in Cochem as part of your cruise along Germany’s breathtaking Moselle River. 

For a truly exclusive experience offered on select Rhine River sailings, including AmaWaterways’ unforgettable 7-night Swiss Alps & Rhine Castles cruise from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, Netherlands, join a special tour of Germany’s Burg Lahneck. Within the castle, your guide will regale you with the tale of Idilia Dubb, a Scottish girl who was believed to have fallen from a tower stairwell in the mid-19th century, never to be heard from again. For added ambience, evening tours are illuminated solely by candlelight, shadows flickering against the medieval walls.

AmaWaterways’ optional pre- and post-cruise land packages, which include hotel stays, daily breakfast, excursions, ship transfers and portage service, also offer unique experiences. Perhaps the most fitting in late October is the line’s 4-night Transylvania land package, which provides guided excursions to Romania’s Bran Castle (otherwise known as Dracula’s Castle) and Sighisoara, known as “Dracula’s Birthplace.” This value-rich experience can be added to your 7-night Gems of Southeast Europe or 14-night Grand Danube Cruise. 

3. Surprises and Delights On Board
If your river cruise happens to encompass October 31st, you are in for a treat as AmaWaterways’ crew transforms the ship into a delightful “haunted” home away from home with costumes and Halloween-themed delights. From mid-November, select sailings are designated “A Taste of Christmas Markets” and feature elegant onboard decorations with tree trimming parties, cookie decorating and caroling amongst the festivities. Guests on board during Thanksgiving are also pampered from stem to stern. This time of year is perfect for inviting family and friends to join you; or travel solo with peace of mind, knowing you will be introduced to fellow guests and fully embraced by your AmaWaterways family.

If you’ve been wanting to experience the world-renowned unmatched festivities of Europe in December but prefer to celebrate the actual holidays at home, “A Taste of Christmas Markets” itineraries beginning in November are a wonderful way to get in the spirit while avoiding peak winter season crowds. Plus, putting your comfort first, AmaWaterways’ wonderful crew welcomes you back to the warmth of your ship following your excursions with hot towels, lemon tea and mulled wine. 

4. Seasonal Farm-to-Table Gastronomy
AmaWaterways has long been committed to sourcing their fresh produce, herbs and more from local farmers, many of whose families have been cultivating the soil along the riverbanks for generations. Guaranteeing fresh and flavorful ingredients while reducing the distance each item travels to their ships, the onboard culinary teams work tirelessly to incorporate such autumn specialties as apples from the Ulz Family orchard in Austria, baking them within the flaky layers of traditional apple strudel during Danube River cruises. Root vegetables such as the Wentruba and Neumiester families’ deep red beets make appearances in appetizers and salads while fresh carrots are cooked and pureed into the line’s cherished carrot ginger soup. And fresh organic berries adorn the line’s energy-boosting breakfast bowls and yogurt parfaits, brought in from the Altenreiderer family farm in Austria’s Wachau Valley.

AmaWaterways’ chefs are proud to bring the taste of the country from the fields, orchards, farms and docks to your plate at every meal, and this is highlighted by their memberships in renowned culinary society La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and Tables et Auberges de France. The cherry on top is that all fine dining is included on board, even at The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant with its multi-course tasting menu and ultra-intimate venue. Lunch and dinner are accompanied by a wonderful selection of complimentary European wines, such as Grüner Veltliner on the Danube River, Rieslings along the Rhine and Moselle and even November’s new wines, the Beaujolais Nouveau, while cruising through Burgundy.

5. Autumn River Cruises are Co-Founder Kristin Karst’s Favorite
Co-Founder and Executive Vice President Kristin Karst was born in Germany along the Elbe River and has admitted that she prefers cruising in autumn to any other season. Said Kristin back in 2022, “Fall is my favorite season. The weather is perfect for our hiking and biking tours when the vineyards are turning into their vibrant orange, red and yellow colors and the scenery is very authentic with less crowds.” 
Kristin’s European heritage, as well as Co-Founder and President Rudi Schreiner’s, ensures AmaWaterways shares the region’s timeless traditions and immersive experiences year-round. This includes an Oktoberfest celebration held in the Bavarian town of Vilshofen, featuring live musicians in traditional clothing, fresh-baked pretzels and local beer in a special area near where their ships dock on the Danube River. Exclusively offered for AmaWaterways guests, these Oktoberfest gatherings are particularly appropriate when surrounded by fall scenery.

6. Savings Abound
With airfare typically reduced and some of AmaWaterways’ lowest cruise fares appearing in October and November, you can reserve your stateroom with peace of mind knowing you are getting an incredible deal on your vacation. Best of all, AmaWaterways is offering up to 20% cruise savings on select autumn river cruises departing in 2024 and 2025 when you reserve before December 31, 2024. This offer is combinable with their special AirPlus fixed rates on airfare to Europe starting at just $899 per person – and past AmaWaterways guests also receive $100 per person cruise savings. 
Contact your preferred travel advisor or visit AmaWaterways.com to reserve your fall river cruise through Europe today!