AmaPrima

AmaPrima at a glance

Built in 2013 and carrying up to 162 guests with a crew of 51, AmaPrima is an intimate river ship where the ratio of staff to guests makes itself felt from the first day. With 81 cabins spread across her 135-metre length, she sails for AmaWaterways — a line whose river ships are purpose-built for European waterways. Key facts worth knowing before you read further:

• Built 2013; 135 m in length
• 162 guests, 81 cabins, 51 crew
• Sails the Rhine, Main and Ijssel rivers
• Departure ports include Amsterdam, Basel, Luxembourg City and Nuremberg
• All sailings operated by AmaWaterways

Cruises currently on sale depart from late September 2026 onwards, running up to 13 nights. Amsterdam and Basel each feature as starting points for the majority of itineraries, with Luxembourg City and Nuremberg rounding out the options. All sailings require a flight from Australia — something Cruise1st handles as part of a complete holiday package.

Dining on AmaPrima

AmaPrima offers two distinct dining experiences, both included in your cruise fare and open to every guest.

The Main Restaurant is the culinary heart of the ship. Seating is open — you choose when you sit and who you join — and the menu draws on regional cuisine from the rivers and countries you're passing through. River views come as standard. For something more theatrical, The Chef's Table seats guests in an intimate setting while a dedicated chef crafts a multi-course tasting menu right in front of you. It's a genuinely different evening, and like the Main Restaurant, there is no additional charge.

Complimentary speciality coffees and teas are available throughout the day from the Specialty Coffee & Tea Station — self-service, with no limit on visits.

On-board spaces and activities

The Main Lounge is where most of the ship's social life happens. Cocktails at the fully stocked bar, informative talks about upcoming ports and live entertainment in the evenings — drinks and food carry a charge here unless covered by a beverage package, but the space itself is always open.

Up on the Sun Deck, the ship opens up entirely. The deck is unobstructed, ideal for watching the riverbanks pass at close range, and it's occasionally used for open-air dining. The Heated Sun-Deck Pool sits here too, with an integrated swim-up bar so you can stay in the water and still be served. A Walking Track runs around the same deck for anyone who wants to keep their morning routine going on the water.

The Fitness Centre carries modern cardio and strength equipment at no charge; specialist classes are billed separately. For something quieter, the Library offers books and games in a calm setting away from the deck. The Massage & Hair Salon is on board for those who want to add a treatment — the space is included, though services themselves carry a charge. A Gift Shop rounds out the amenities for anyone after souvenirs or essentials.

One facility worth singling out: every guest has access to the ship's Complimentary Bicycle Fleet. At each port of call you can take a bike and explore at your own pace — no guide, no extra cost.

Cabins on AmaPrima

AmaPrima carries three cabin grades, and the differences between them are real. The full layout and deck plans are on the AmaPrima cabins and deck plans page.

The entry point is the Outside Cabin D at 14.9 m², sleeping two. Twin fixed windows keep natural light and river views in the room throughout the day — a meaningful advantage on a river cruise where the scenery is the destination.

Step up to the Suite SS – French Balcony & Outside Balcony and you get 27.9 m² — the largest cabin on board — with a separate seating area and the choice between a French balcony (floor-to-ceiling sliding doors) and an outside balcony. If space and access to fresh air matter to you, this is the grade to consider.

Between those two sits the Balcony Cabin AA+ at 26.9 m², the largest balcony cabin grade available. At that size it comfortably accommodates two guests with room to spare, and the balcony means you can watch river life from your own private space.

Where AmaPrima sails

Current itineraries span three river systems in central and western Europe. The cruises departing Amsterdam are among the most popular starting points on the Rhine, threading south through the Netherlands and into Germany. Basel, on the Swiss end of the Rhine, anchors the southward-departing sailings. Luxembourg City adds itineraries that follow the Moselle, a Rhine tributary, and Nuremberg sits at the head of the Main river routes.

The Rhine River is the backbone of AmaPrima's programme, with the widest range of itineraries and departure dates. The Main River offers a compact selection for guests who want to combine Bavarian landscapes with the wider Rhine network. The Ijssel adds a Dutch waterway option for shorter, more intimate sailings through the Netherlands.

Every sailing departs from Europe, so Australian guests will need to fly. Cruise1st books the cruise, the flights, any hotel nights either side and all transfers as a single holiday — the cruise becomes the middle of a complete trip rather than something you have to piece together yourself.

Why book AmaPrima with Cruise1st

Cruise1st covers every AmaPrima sailing under our Best Price Guarantee, and our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week — you can pick up the phone before you book, speak to someone who knows these itineraries, and get the cabin grade and fare inclusions right first time.

Because all departures require a flight from Australia, a Cruise1st Package is the most practical way to book: flights, hotel stays before or after the cruise, and transfers are all arranged alongside the cruise in a single booking. Nothing is left to chance and nothing is left for you to arrange separately.

Common questions about AmaPrima

Which cabin grade is best value on AmaPrima?

That depends on what matters most to you. The Outside Cabin D at 14.9 m² gives river views through fixed windows and is the most accessible entry point. If you want private outdoor access, the Balcony Cabin AA+ at 26.9 m² or the Suite SS at 27.9 m² both offer balconies — the Suite adds a separate seating area and is the largest space on the ship. See all options on the AmaPrima cabins and deck plans page.

Do I need to book flights separately?

Not if you book a Cruise1st Package. Every AmaPrima sailing departs from Europe — Amsterdam, Basel, Luxembourg City or Nuremberg — so Australian guests need international flights. Cruise1st can bundle those flights, any hotel nights and transfers into one booking alongside the cruise, so you have a single itinerary and a single point of contact.

What is included in the cruise fare?

Dining in the Main Restaurant and The Chef's Table is included for all guests, as are speciality coffees and teas, the Sun Deck, the heated pool, the walking track, the fitness centre, the library and use of the complimentary bicycle fleet at ports of call. The Massage & Hair Salon is on board but treatments carry a charge, and drinks in the Main Lounge are billed separately unless you hold a beverage package.

Which river does AmaPrima sail most often?

The Rhine accounts for the majority of AmaPrima's current sailings, with itineraries running between Amsterdam in the north and Basel in the south. The Main River and the Ijssel each feature in a smaller number of departures.

Are there other AmaWaterways ships I can compare?

Yes — AmaCello, AmaReina and AmaVerde are other ships in the AmaWaterways fleet also available through Cruise1st. The AmaWaterways cruise line page lists the full fleet and all available sailings if you want to weigh up your options before deciding.