New Features on AmaWaterways for 2026
Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert
Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist
For 2026, AmaWaterways has added some new features to enhance the experiences you can expect during sailings. It goes along with the new branding colors introduced this year.
We got to experience most of these first-hand during the 2026 River Cruise Expo while staying on the AmaSofia. Most features are either in the stateroom, set up of the lounge area and several centered on the food and beverage areas, so I will organize this blog around these 3 topics.
Stateroom Enhancements.
There are a few nice additions to the staterooms.
In the desk area of the AmaSofia, they have added Nespresso Coffee Machines in each stateroom—great idea! For us coffee drinkers, not having to get dressed just to get a good cup of coffee is an ideal way to start our mornings.
A minor observation—we would have put the cups directly under the Nespresso Coffee maker. You can see this observation in the picture below.
Each guest now receives a refillable blue water bottle. This is another good idea to help save the Earth without hvaing to resort to wasteful plastics or other style water containers.
This is from the AmaSofia. On the left, you can see the new Nespresso coffe machine. On the right are the reusable blue water bottles.
The AmaWaterways refillable bottle. Good idea and you can see we used it.
There are new robes and upgraded linens. The robes are so good, we have heard reports that some disappear from the staterooms, but they can easily be bought in the gift shop. Please be responsible and buy one if you like them as much as Anne did!
The bed made up with the new linens and the now famous AmaWaterways bath robe. This picture is from on of the display rooms on the AmaSofia.
The bathrobes in the storage cabinet. This is how guests will discover them in their stateroom
I have always liked the linens on AmaWaterways, and I slept soundly during our 4-day stay on the AmaSofia, so they must be good.
There are also a new line of cosmetics in each stateroom. The sustainable bathroom amenities are from Marie-Stella-Maris.
The new line of cosmetics are on the right above the sink
There a new partnership with Laura Geller, with skincare and makeup available in the onboard gift shop.
The gift shop on the AmaSofia
The New Lounge Set-Up
There are a couple of good changes in the lounge area. The most important is the table area of the Lark lounge. This is great idea and addition, as they serve a light lunch in the lounge, and it was always awkward to balance plates and drinks.
The Lark dinning room area
There is also snack jars on the center area, so quick treats are always available. The snack jars are stocked with house-made protein balls and muesli bars, dried fruit, nuts and freshly baked cookies. I tried a couple—they were good.
In the Lark Lounge of the AmaSofia, you can see the snack jar on the center island.
For many, the free soft drinks served frre of charge all day, is another welcome change.
Dining Enhancements
The most significant change is the Signature Dinner which has replaced the Chaine des Rotisseurs Dinner.
We got to sample the meal in one of the redesigned wine rooms, hosted by Alex Pinelo, with most of the nominees for river cruise advisor of the year (class act Alex).
I liked the new menu.
Here are some pictures of this experience along with the menus:
The redesigned wine room on the AmaSofia
An explanation of Robert Keller’s Executive Chef Signiture Dinner
The Chef’s Recomendation.
The full menu selections for the Signiture Dinner
The Wine recommendation for the Signiture Dinner
The lobster pasta dish I seleceted. It was very good
The beef fillet from the Signiture Dinner
The second big change is the option now to have an Italian themed lunch in the Chef’s Table. The Chef’s Table Menu has the new Italian Lunch Menu with a pizza and pasta of the day—great idea! It is open seating and an excellent way to provide another meal option for the trip.
The menu board for the new Italian lunch in the Chef’s Table.
A close up of the lunch menu.
There are some other changes in the Journey Dining Room. There are new uniforms for the wait staff.
The waitstaff uniforms
They now offer 4 wines that change each day during lunch and dinner meals. This is a welcome change—now 4 wines (2 whites and 2 reds) during dinner—also champagne and a rose available.
the new 4 bottle wine service
There is a a new bread program with multiple freshly baked varieties daily. While many of our fellow travel agents liked the bread, we were not big fans.
The new bread
Our Final Thoughts
Upgrades are usually good features but a few of us old-timers really liked some old features. I will miss the onboard baker and the ice cream lady at lunch with the 3 special made ice creams of times past.
Moat changes are positive and represent some forward thinking of the AmaWaterways leadership. As long as the quality remains very high, these chnages will be a step forward. Only time will tell and guest reactions from the oldtimers will be the final judges.
We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise specialists, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations.
When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision-making process. We think we have all these qualities.
Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you with high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@visitdd.com . We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!
ANNE has earned a degree from the University of Houston in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Serving as the President of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC, since 2016, she is uniquely experienced professional travel advisor with over 30 years’ experience in the travel industry. Among her numerous certifications, she is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) by the Travel Institute, considered the gold standard in travel agent certification and she is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as well Luxury Cruise Specialist also from CLIA. Having traveled often to Europe since 1989, she has expanded on her certification as a Destination Specialist in Western Europe (DS) with extensive first-hand experience in luxury vacations. She holds numerous other specialty designations from individual vendors. An expert photographer, she delights in capturing the true essence of destinations to share with all.
HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 55 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). His last major certificate is a Verified Travel Advisor (VTA) certificate earned from the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:
AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
CLIA Riverview Certificate
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Riverside Luxury Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Brit Agent
