AmaWaterways has opened its 2028 season for sale, giving Australian and New Zealand advisors close to two years of lead time on a programme that adds two European ships, a longer French itinerary and nine new land packages.
Bookings confirmed by 30 September 2026 attract early booking savings of up to AU$3,750 or NZ$4,000 per stateroom, equivalent to roughly AU$1,875 and NZ$2,000 per person twin share. Final payment is not due until 90 days before departure, so clients securing a mid 2028 sailing can hold a confirmed stateroom and preferred deck on deposit for more than a year. Early choice with late payment is the practical selling proposition here.
Two ships join the European fleet. AmaMaria will sail the Rhine with 76 staterooms, following the design and layout of AmaFiora, which enters service in 2027. AmaGaia becomes the line’s fourth Douro ship, joining AmaVida, AmaDouro and AmaSintra and materially widening date choice in a market where limited capacity has been the constraint on selling Portugal. AmaWaterways operates 31 ships and has said it intends to exceed 50 by 2032, so 2028 clients will be sailing a fleet in active renewal.
France gains Elegance of Burgundy & Provence, a 10 and 11 night sailing on the Rhône and Saône operating in July and August. It extends the line’s existing seven night Essence of Burgundy & Provence with longer port stays, which suits clients travelling from this part of the world who want fewer, deeper stops rather than more of them.
The nine new land packages cover Krakow, Nuremberg, Basel, Luxembourg, Brussels, Lyon, Aix-en-Provence, Dijon and Porto. A three night Krakow extension follows the Best of the Danube itinerary, with a city tour taking in Schindler’s Factory and a full day visit to Auschwitz. Two night stays are available in Lyon, Aix-en-Provence and Dijon, and a Porto package supports the expanded Douro programme. For advisors these are the most useful additions, lifting transaction value on a booking already in hand.
Steve Richards, managing director Australia and New Zealand, said clients in this market typically plan international travel well ahead, and that the new ships, itinerary and extensions give advisors fresh reasons to reopen conversations with past river cruise passengers.