AmaWaterways Rhine River Cruise

As you might have seen on our social media, we took a trip down the Rhine River with AmaWaterways and it was one of the best experiences! We set off with over 80 people for the adventure of a lifetime! This trip expanded our worldview, our palate, and our connections. Grand European cities blend in perfect harmony with their historic past and their progressive future. Inspirational towns have given way to great stories, poetry and music, like Heidelberg, where Mark Twain wrote A Tramp Abroad. From the brewing of Germany’s legendary beers, to the making of Rüdesheimer coffee. Take a front-row seat on an enchanting journey that takes you along the Rhine and through its designated UNESCO World Heritage Site with its 40 castles strung like pearls on its river banks and to magnificent cities and charming villages alike. We visited France, Germany, Netherlands, and Switzerland all while taking in the sights of the Rhine. Being able to travel through four different countries without having to move to a new hotel each night was a new type of luxury. It allowed us to truly relax and destress. We were able to spend all of our time exploring and experiencing the beauty of Europe. 

Our first destination was Basel, Switzerland when everyone boarded the ship and got ready for the experience of a lifetime. Many people visited the zoo, saw historic sights, and ate wonderful food. We got ready to embark on our adventure. The next day we woke up in Breisach. Breisach is a historic town located on the banks of the Rhine River in southwestern Germany, near the French border. Known for its picturesque setting and rich cultural heritage, Breisach has roots dating back to Roman times and played a significant role throughout medieval history. One of its most striking landmarks is the St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansmünster), perched atop a hill and offering stunning views of the river and surrounding vineyards. Over the centuries, Breisach has been shaped by both German and French influences, reflecting a unique blend of architectural styles and traditions. Today, it is a charming destination for visitors seeking to explore its scenic beauty, historic sites, and vibrant local wine culture. We had the option of taking a walking tour or a bike tour for a more active option. Both versions of the excursions were captivating and awe-inspiring. We headed back to the ship after a day of exploration ready for some much needed cocktails. 

The next morning we woke up in the beautiful city of Strasbourg. Strasbourg is a city in northeastern France, located in the historic region of Alsace, near the border with Germany. After eating a delicious breakfast on the water, we stepped onto land ready for a full day of exploration. This city had a lot to offer. Because of its location on the border, visitors are able to experience the charm of both Germany and France. We enjoyed a panoramic tour past the stunning Parc de l'Orangerie, the European Parliament, and the Place de la République. The general consensus was: absolutely breathtaking! From there we walked through the iconic UNESCO world heritage “ La Petite France” district, which was like being in an actual fairy tale. Being there in person helped me truly appreciate the majesty of those age old tales. We walked past the Cathédral de Nôtre Dame with its famous astronomical clock. This town also has the option of taking a bike tour through the historic streets. We returned to the ship for a lovely dinner with our new found friends. It was so inspiring to see so many people come together and form bonds outside their own country. Getting to experience the wonder of Europe with new people may seem scary at first but I can assure you, we made friends for life!

Overnight we were transported to the beautiful and historic Ludwigshafen. This stop includes three different options for excursions. Each one is sure to show off an exciting part of the city. The first is a visit to Heidleburg, the medieval city nestled in the Neckar Valley along Germany’s castle road. This city is home to the iconic red sandstone Heidleburg castle and Great Vat, an 18th century 49,000 gallon wine cask. Perched on a hillside overlooking the Old Town, the castle is a romantic ruin with elements of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. It draws visitors from all over the world and offers stunning views of the city and the Neckar Valley. For a more active option in Heidelberg, join a guided hike down Philosopher’s Path to enjoy panoramic views of the city. This is a great spot to take photos or just bask in the charm of the entire city at once. There is also an option to ride along the river Nektar to the medieval town of Ladenburg where there is time for shopping at the quaint Marktplatz. If none of this is what you are looking for, you can also visit one of Germany’s oldest cities named Speyar. This city is known for having the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe  which is also a UNESCO world heritage site. It sits gracefully on the west bank of the Rhine River, just a short drive from Heidelberg and Ludwigshafen. Founded by the Romans around 10 BC, Speyer became especially prominent in the Middle Ages when it served as a center of the Holy Roman Empire. It is definitely worth checking out. After exploring and participating in these excursions, we boarded the ship and prepared to sail down the river to Rüdesheim.

 It felt nice to take a midday break. We spent our time relaxing on deck with our new friends. Taking in the sights of the river without having to lift a finger was so relaxing. Not having to worry about travel, walking, or hotels in order to get to our next destination made this trip infinitely better. We just sat back, relaxed, and let the ship do the work. As we cruised down the river, we passed 30 magnificent castles along the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The first castle was the Burg Klopp, an impressive medieval style structure seated on the top of a small hill. It set a high bar for what was to come. We didn’t have to wait long until we passed another one. The Ehrenfels Ruins were also seated on a hill but were much more worn than the previous castle. It was opened in the year 1212 so it had seen its fair share of rain and wind. Just past that was Mousetower and true to its name, it was quite small. It was a quaint single tower that seemed to jet out of the river. The next structure we passed wasn’t a castle but a monument. The Niederwald Monument depicts a woman with long hair triumphantly holding a crown over her head. It was built between 1871 and 1833 to commemorate the unification of Germany. We then passed one of the more impressive castles, Burg Rheinstein, a reconstructed hillside castle on the steep slope of the Bingen Forest to the Rhine Valley. It looks out over the river and is a beautiful display of architecture. With a name very similar to the previous, we passed our next castle, Burg Reichenstein. Separated from the river with several layers of grass, this castle is also seated on a hill. The German word “Burg” actually means mountain so a lot of these castles with the word burg in the front literally means, on a mountain. This castle is no exception as well as its nextdoor neighbor, Burg Sooneck. We then passed two ruins, one on each side of the ship, the Fürstenberg Ruins and the Nolig Ruins. They gave us a glimpse into what once was. We then passed the impressive Burg Stahleck. This castle was different from the others with its tall black cone top. It was an intimidating structure that reminded me of a fort. I would not have wanted to be on the bad side of its inhabitants back in the day! The next castle, Burg Gutenfels, was a smaller square castle that is considered a prime example of Staufer period castle construction and shapes the local landscape. We sailed past that to the unique Pfalzgrafenstein. This structure stands tall and its striking color makes it stand out among the worn brick of most of the other castles. Despite being built in 1326, this castle looks like it could have been built last year. Then we sailed past The Lorelei, a 132-metre-high, steep slate rock on the right bank of the River Rhine in the Rhine Gorge at Sankt Goarshausen in Germany, part of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1801, German author Clemens Brentano composed his ballad Zu Bacharach am Rheine as part of a fragmentary continuation of his novel Godwi oder Das steinerne Bild der Mutter. It first told the story of an enchanting woman associated with the rock. In the poem, the beautiful Lore Lay, betrayed by her sweetheart, is accused of bewitching men and causing their death. Rather than sentence her to death, the bishop consigns her to a nunnery. On the way thereto, accompanied by three knights, she comes to the Lorelei rock. She asks permission to climb it and view the Rhine once again. She does so, and, thinking that she sees her love in the Rhine, falls to her death; the rock ever afterward retains an echo of her name. Sailing past the next castle, Schönburg, was fun because one of the parts of the castle was pink! I really loved the colorful castles. The next castle was low to the ground and didn’t have any towers but it was still really beautiful. Burg Maus was the opposite with a tall tower extending past the square walls. High above the River Rhine near Kamp-Bornhofen stand two mighty castles of close proximity, Burg Sterrenberg and Burg Liebenstein, separated by a stone wall. The story of these two castles is fascinating and way too in depth for this post but I encourage you to look into it, it is really wild. We passed another unique castle, The Electoral Fortress. The color and shape of this castle was unlike the others, with black and white twin spires and a very german style. It was followed by another unique castle, Marksburg. This castle was what I picture when I think of a castle. It felt like a fairytale. It was a sleek white with tall towers and layered walls. Schloss Martinsburg was also white but with a shorter, rounder tower. Burg Lahneck was the opposite with a weathered brown brick. Castle Stolzenfels was like a combination of the two. It had the architecture of Burg Lahneck but with the colors of Marksburg. It was really pretty to see the white of the brick contrast with the green from the trees. The Electoral Residence was also something special. It was a long building with tall greek style columns. It is still used in the German government today. We passed The Ehrenbreitstein which is a fortress that has straight, rigid paths and a somewhat hidden structure. Seeing all these castles in an afternoon was mind blowing. As we sailed down the river we could feel the centuries of history all around us. We were able to experience all of this without having to get off the ship. After our afternoon on the water, we arrived in Rüdesheim. We had enough time to stretch our legs and explore. We tried the local delight of Rüdesheimer coffee, ceremoniously made with brandy. It was a great day full of amazing sights. 

We spent the night in Rüdesheim and woke up with anticipation to continue our visit in this unique city. Rüdesheim am Rhein is a charming town in the Rheingau wine region of Germany, located on the right bank of the Rhine River in the state of Hesse. Known for its vineyards, half-timbered houses, and riverfront beauty, Rüdesheim is a quintessential stop on the famous Rhine Valley tourist route. This stop also has three excursion options that include a gondola ride to a spot with a panoramic view of the city (another great spot for pictures) that ends with a sampling of Riesling wines in the vineyard, a more active hike through Rüdesheim’s vineyards, or a guided bike tour along the Rhine! All three options were so much fun and very delicious! We all reconvened on the ship and embarked on our journey through the Rhine River Gorge with its many castles. We were even able to stop and visit Lahnek castle! We bid Rüdesheim Bis später as we sailed along the Rhine. After our amazing experience in Rüdesheim we wondered if Düsseldorf would offer the same level of wonder (spoiler alert: it did). As the leading hub for German culture, commerce, and architecture, Düsseldorf is a must-visit city. Düsseldorf is known for its seamless blend of old and new. Sleek, avant-garde architecture rises beside historic churches and cobbled alleys. The city is a hub for international trade and technology while maintaining deep cultural roots. There are so many options for exploring the city. Join a walking tour that ends with a tasting of the local specialty called Altbier, brewed with traditional techniques. Take a bike tour for a more active option. If you are feeling really adventurous, take a trip to the neighboring city of Cologne and marvel at one of the world's finest architectural wonders, the Kölner Dom. Here is a tip from us to you: across the Rhine, there is an observation deck for the great cathedral called the Cologne Triangle. This spot allows for the best panoramic pictures of the city and a full scope of the size of the building. After yet another day of tours, tastings, and photo taking, we were ready for another fabulous dinner and night on the water. Watching the sunset on the Rhine with a cocktail in hand accompanied by good friends is something I will remember for years to come. As the sun went down, I smiled, grateful for another day of paradise. 

The Kölner Dom

The final day on the cruise had come. We docked in Amsterdam for one more day of excursions and meals on the water. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is one of Europe’s most vibrant and iconic cities. Despite its modern edge, Amsterdam preserves a deep sense of history, especially in its well-maintained canal houses, cobblestone lanes, and vibrant markets like Albert Cuyp and Bloemenmarkt (floating flower market). We cruised around the city and took in the famous sights before entering one of Amsterdam’s many canals. This gave us an up close view of the city without having to lift a finger! Once we finished we realized that we were starving so we headed to the grand Amsterdam cafe to sample some Dutch specialties. We enjoyed Dutch cheese, pancakes, poffertjes & pastries! Having a food tour after our canal tour was the best way to experience the culture of the city. As we made our way back to the ship, I couldn’t help feeling sad that we would have to say goodbye to so many new, great friends. It was bittersweet because of all the spectacular memories we had made together. We bid our goodbyes and reminisced on the journey we had taken together. We connected outside of our normal lives and got to experience these amazing things together. Myself and a few others decided to stay for a few days extra in the city in order to have the proper time to truly take it in. We visited Anne Frank house which is something I could not recommend enough. This powerful museum preserves the secret annex where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War II. It’s one of the most emotionally moving sites in the city. It was chilling, inspiring, and tragic. This is something I think everyone needs to see once in their life. They didn’t allow pictures but the impact it had is something that will stick with me for life. Some friends also visited the Van Gogh museum, dedicated to the life and work of Vincent van Gogh, this museum displays the world’s largest collection of his art. Just a stone’s throw from the Anne Frank House, we visited The Pancake Bakery which offers a cozy retreat in a historic 17th-century warehouse along the Prinsengracht canal. Since 1973, this charming spot has been delighting guests with over 75 varieties of Dutch-style pancakes, known as pannenkoeken. From savory options like bacon and cheese to sweet creations topped with fruits, syrups, and ice cream, there’s something for every palate. The rustic interior, complete with timber beams and canal views, adds to the authentic Dutch dining experience. The Pancake Bakery provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all and we couldn’t recommend it enough. 

Before we left for home we had one last adventure with a canal cruise with one of the best named companies ever, Those Dam Boat Guys. Their captains are not just knowledgeable; they’re also entertainers, often doubling as comedians or performers when not on the water. This blend of humor and history makes each tour feel like a private conversation with a local friend. We appreciated the relaxed atmosphere, the option to bring their own snacks and drinks, and the flexibility to customize the tour’s tone and route. Whether you’re interested in Amsterdam’s rich history or just want to enjoy the sights with a cold drink in hand, Those Dam Boat Guys deliver an unforgettable experience. With the last tour taken, it was time to board our flight home. 

We had such a fantastic time on this trip. We met amazing people and made unforgettable memories. We highly recommend taking a Rhine river cruise with AmaWaterways. This trip was truly unforgettable and we want to say a huge thank you to the lovely people who booked this trip with us. We had so much fun with you all! We hope you enjoyed our first blog post. Keep a lookout, there is so much more to come. Get ready to see the world through Irish eyes! Happy traveling! 

Sincerely, 

The classy lassies