Europe’s largest river ship will have a twin, with AmaWaterways confirming a second AmaMagna will be built for debut in 2027.
AmaWaterways executive vice president and co-founder, Kristin Karst made the surprise announcement at a travel conference in the US last week, according to trade reports.
According to an InsiderTravelReport from the US Travel Leaders Network Edge conference, Karst took to the stage to address delegates after they heard from several AmaWaterways sales executives about the company’s nine new and expected fleet, saying they had forgotten to mention a 10th planned river ship, which she teasingly called AmaRudi, supposedly named after founder Rudi Schreiner.
An AmaMagna Twin to launch
The new vessel will not be named AmaRudi, but it will be ready by 2027 according to Karst and will be the fleet’s second large river ship to sail the Danube, a twin to the popular AmaMagna, but with improved-upon aspects, per the InsiderTravelReport.
AmaMagna currently holds the title of being Europe’s largest river ship at 135 meters long and 22 meters wide, almost double that of other river ships. Featuring ample space, it can accommodate 196 guests but its grand size has its limitations, meaning it can only sail the Danube river.
This latest investment most likely signals that other cruise lines must be watching the growth and demand from the market for larger river ships, or as some would say, a floating boutique hotel.
Australians to benefit from second ship
Choosing to launch a second AmaMagna-type ship can only mean AmaWaterways has seen considerable success with its first. Australian travellers have been part of that success, as it also comes after the company launched and opened a dedicated Sydney office to support sales in the region.
“Our announcement of a second AmaMagna is incredibly exciting news,” Steve Richards, Managing Director Australia & New Zealand told Cruise Passenger exclusively.
“The current AmaMagna, which was launched in 2019, is not only the largest river ship in Europe but also the most spacious and innovative. She is double the width of traditional river ships, but with only 20% more capacity,” he said.
“This sister ship, to launch in 2027, will help take us to another level in delivering the best possible river cruise experiences for our guests.”
AmaWaterways expansion continues
Only last week AmaWaterways announced two new ships for its 2026 river season, AmaSofia will be exploring the Rhine and Danube Rivers in Europe and AmaKaia will be sailing on the Mekong River.
This is in addition to other ships the company has taken delivery on, or are set to join the fleet in the next two years, which are expected to sail across the company’s departures across Europe, Egypt, Vietnam and Cambodia, taking its fleet size to 31 ships.
Family-owned and operated for 22 years, AmaWaterways offers river cruise experiences with its latest highlighted as Colombia’s Magdalena River to launch in 2025.
Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, most AmaWaterways ships welcome an average of just 150 guests and feature onboard amenities such as a Main Lounge, specialty Chef’s Table restaurant, hair and massage salons, Sun Deck walking track and heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars.
The launch of the revolutionary AmaMagna in 2019 has been welcomed by travellers across the world seeking a luxurious way to cruise the Danube. Read our review of AmaMagna here.
