AmaWaterways has announced the release of its Wine Cruises Through Europe 2012 & 2013 brochure, officially launching its newest In Celebration of Wine themed cruises.
Offered shore excursions include visits to local vineyards and wine cellars in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape region, dialogue with acclaimed vintners, select tastings of award-winning vintages including Beaujolais and Cotes du Rhone wines. In addition, there are onboard lectures co-hosted by celebrity food and wine experts from top U.S. wineries and Ama executives.
Itinerary highlights run from a traditional Heruiger tasting of new wine in the Austrian villages of Grinzing and Neustift, to an introduction to Alsatian wines at the Wunsch et Mann winery in Wettolsheim, France and a tour of Lamego and the historic Palacio de Mateus as well as a special Oktoberfest celebration in the charming village of Vilshofen, Germany, held exclusively for Ama guests.
Itineraries include the 15-day Legendary Wine Regions of the Rhone starting with three nights in Barcelona before a seven-night cruise on the AmaDagio, calling in Arles, Les Baux de Provence, Avignon, Viviers, Tournon, Vienne and Trevoux, France, before arriving in Lyon, followed by a high-speed TGV train ride to Paris for a three-night stay. Excursions include tastings at local vintners, visits to Roman ruins and tours of the Provencal shops and marketplaces. Departures are scheduled from Nov. 4 to Nov. 18, 2013.
The 12-day Vineyards of the Rhine & Mosel onboard the AmaDolce offers an experience of centuries-old vineyards along two of Europe’s most renowned rivers. The cruise begins with three nights in Paris, followed by a seven-night cruise from Luxembourg to Amsterdam starting Nov. 3, 2013.
Paris & the Sparkling Seine is an 11-day itinerary with two nights in Paris and a seven-night cruise along the Seine onboard the AmaLegro with wine lectures, samplings and pairings while visiting Vernon, Giverny, Rouen, Les Andelys and Conflans before returning to the City of Light, with departures from April 4 to Nov. 7, 2013.
Castles & Wineries of Germany on the AmaDolce is a14-day itinerary focused on Europe’s medieval era. Beginning with two nights in Prague, the journey includes a seven-night cruise from Nuremberg to Luxembourg, visiting Bamberg, Wurzburg, Wertheim, Rudesheim, Koblenz, Cochem, Zell and Bernkastel. Excursions include vineyard visits and wine tastings, a Bamberg smoked beer, or Rauchbier, tasting; the cruise concludes with a three-night stay in Paris and optional tours of the city. Departures start Oct. 28, 2013.
The 13-day Culture & Wine Legacy of the Rhine embarks in Amsterdam on the AmaCello. Traveling through the Black Forest region en route to Zurich, excursions include a tasting of renowned Kolsch beer, a visit to Heidelberg’s red-walled Castle, scenic lakeside tours and visits to the region’s famous local wineries and markets. The itinerary concludes with a two-night stay in Lucerne, followed by two nights in Zurich, starting Nov. 7 to Nov. 21, 2013.
Portugal’s Classic Port Wines & Charming Quintas are the focus of a 12-day itinerary starting with three nights in Lisbon, before continuing on a seven-night cruise onboard the AmaVida through the Douro River Valley. The cruise begins and ends in Porto, the capital of the North, and includes a visit to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a tour of the Palacio de Mateus, a journey to the Portuguese pilgrimage site Nossa Senhora dos Remedios (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies) and exploration of the 14th-century Alpendurada Monastery from March 29 – Nov. 1, 2013.
The 12-day Great Capitals & Vintages of the Danube begins with a three-night stay in Prague, followed by a seven-night cruise from 2,000-year-old Vilshofen to Budapest. Highlights include a visit to one of Europe’s largest Baroque monasteries, Melk’s Benedictine Abbey; a visit to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and setting of the “Sound of Music” and tours of Krem, a city rich with wine culture and history, with departures from Nov. 3, to Nov. 14, 2013.
The Details
AmaWaterwayswww.amawaterways.com
