What's Your Pleasure? Explore Itineraries to Match Your Interests on AmaWaterways River Cruises

Jim Gladstone READ TIME: 4 MIN. SPONSORED

Have you ever wanted to go on a cruise where you felt free to be queer without being in an atmosphere dominated by "cruising?"

That's a wish shared by lots of LGBTQ+ travelers, including many couples, queer folks traveling with straight friends or family, and gay vacationers who want their holidays to incorporate more cultural sophistication than raucous recreation.

And you'll find it's a wish come true when you experience a rewarding, relaxing river cruise with AmaWaterways.

Celebrate Your Curiosity

The 26 elegant ships in the AmaWaterways fleet carry as few as 28 and an average of only 156 guests, which allows their remarkably diverse, multicultural crews to help each guest enjoy a vacation experience that's uniquely tailored to their personal interests.

And AmaWaterways understands that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is just one of your many interests!

In addition to providing amazing opportunities to discover great rivers and sites of Europe, Asia, Africa, and soon Latin America, AmaWaterways offers cruises featuring enhanced opportunities to explore subjects from food and wine to cultural heritage that guests have noted as important parts of their lives and identities.

Spirited Adventures

For passionate oenophiles, as well as casual wine drinkers curious about the intimate connections between a region's culture, agriculture, history and cuisine, AmaWaterways' Celebration of Wine River Cruises offer unforgettable experiences.

Over 70 of these immersive journeys a year feature itineraries that cruise leisurely through Europe's iconic winemaking regions.

Do you fancy the rosés of Provence? A fine Bordeaux? Maybe you'd like to raise a few glasses of something Portuguese? Or Viennese?

On whichever AmaWaterways specialty Wine Cruise you and your traveling companions choose, you'll have the opportunity to tour great vineyards and cellars with an English-speaking wine professional who will travel onboard the ship, sharing their expertise, leading tastings, and joining guests for nightly dinners built around revelatory food and wine pairings.

Immersed in Music

Among AmaWaterways' newest itineraries is the seven-night Celebration of Music: Imperial Danube, which travels roundtrip from Budapest visiting sites in Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria that inspired legendary compositions by Mozart, Strauss, and others.

Live concerts on shore, including a romantic evening in Vienna, tours of famed venues, and other musically themed excursions, are all included in a single cruise fare.

This harmonious journey is available beginning in 2025, so start tuning up your travel plans to be among the first to experience it.

Exploring the African Diaspora

A special focus on Black history adds a unique richness to AmaWaterways' Soulful Experience cruises. The trips' curated excursions to heritage sites showcase compelling stories guests might never hear on another cruise. Onboard entertainment highlights the artistry of Black composers and performers.

Delving into the Black culture and history in France, the first-ever Soulful Experience itinerary in 2023 was resoundingly well-received by guests. Even more dates and destinations, including Portugal, Colombia, and both northern and southern Africa have been added for 2024 and 2025, so start planning ahead.

The Onboard Experience

No matter which AmaWaterways river cruise you choose, you'll enjoy the uncommonly warm hospitality and relaxing, uncrowdedness of a luxurious, elegantly designed fleet. When you're not spending time taking in the view from your stateroom balcony, you can socialize in one the Main Lounge.

Small group exercise classes, a fitness room, and either a pool with swim-up bar or a whirlpool and 365o views are among the onboard amenities. Three meals a day feature the culinary specialties of your itinerary's region, with unlimited beer and wine at lunch and dinner.

Musicians, dancers and storytellers from towns and cities along each itinerary offer evening performances. And a resident piano player is happy to take requests – after all, an AmaWaterways vacation is meant for pursuing your own special interests!

Plan Your Next Great Adventure

Whether you're traveling with a partner, friends, or family, AmaWaterways river cruises offer destinations and experiences that will provide a one-of-a-kind vacation and memories to last a lifetime.

Learn more at www.amawaterways.com.


by Jim Gladstone

Jim Gladstone is a San Francisco-based writer and creative strategist.

Read These Next