AmaWaterways Opens 2028 Season With Four New River Ships in Europe and Africa

November 5, 2026 — AmaWaterways has opened bookings for its 2028 river cruise season, which adds four new ships in Europe and Africa, new itineraries and more land stays before and after cruises.

What was announced

AmaMaria: a new 76-stateroom ship for the Rhine. Debut date TBA.
AmaGaia and one more unnamed ship for Portugal’s Douro River, joining AmaDouro and AmaSintra. The Douro season now runs through November and December.
A new ship on the Chobe River in Africa (name TBA), joining Zambezi Queen.
New “Elegance of Burgundy & Provence” cruises of 10 and 11 nights on AmaCello on the Rhône and Saône, in July and August 2028.
New land packages: three nights in Krakow or Brussels; two nights in Nuremberg, Lyon, Aix-en-Provence, Dijon, Porto, Basel or Luxembourg.

Sister ship AmaFiora debuts in April 2027. CEO Catherine Powell said the line is “always looking ahead.” AmaWaterways aims to have more than 50 ships by 2032.

What it means for airline travelers

Extra nights make standby easier. A two- or three-night pre-cruise stay gives you spare days to get to Europe if your first-choice flight is full.
Douro gateway. Douro cruises usually start and end in Porto (OPO). The longer season adds November and December sailings, outside the summer peak.
Africa takes planning. Chobe River trips involve long-haul flights plus regional connections, so allow extra time.
Rates. The report did not mention travel-industry or interline rates.