In September, we featured AmaWaterways’ Christmas Time Cruise as our River Cruise of the Week.  Operated this year aboard AmaLegro, AmaLyra andAmaDolce, this classic weeklong voyage whisks guests on a magical cruise along the beautiful blue Danube River from Nuremberg to Budapest.

The Amacello sports a striking profile guaranteed to turn heads on the waterways of Europe. Photo courtesy of AmaWaterways.

But that’s not the only holiday voyage AmaWaterways offers, which is why we’ve chosen the company’s Rhine Winter Voyage as our River Cruise of the Week.

Available with an optional two nights in Zurich and two nights in Lucerne, this weeklong voyage takes passengers on a storybook sailing along a snow-covered Rhine River.  Beginning in Basel, guests will sail aboard the elegant AmaCello as it calls on Breisach, Strasbourg, Speyer, Rudesheim, Koblenz and Cologne before arriving for an overnight stay in the final port of call, Amsterdam.

Departures are available between November 16 to December 10, 2011, and November 29 to December 27, 2012.

Enjoy a piping cup of Gluhwein, or hot mulled cider. Many markets have unique cups, like these in Koblenz. Photo courtesy of Weihnachtsmarkt Koblenz.

Along the way, the fortunate guests aboard AmaCello will have the pleasure of visiting and exploring some of the most popular Christmas Markets in all of Europe. With their historic roots firmly anchored in Germany, these markets continue a tradition that spans hundreds of years as places where people congregate to shop for original hand-crafted gifts while nursing an invigorating cup of mulled cider to ward off the chill. It’s the ultimate Christmas tradition, and one that will immediately capture your imagination and holiday spirit.

The elaborate and festive decorations that adorn the Christmas Market in Strasbourg, France. Photo courtesy of the City of Strasbourg.

There also opportunities to venture further afar. In Breisach, guests can participate in an optional overland excursion into Germany’s legendary Black Forest; while in Speyer they can choose to join in a tour of Heidelberg. If you’ve seen enough Christmas Markets, you can also elect to participate in a wine tasting in Breisach and Rudesheim.

The full itinerary:

Of course, all of this comes with AmaWaterways’ trademark service. Dedicated to providing an onboard experience that consistently exceeds guest expectations, every AmaWaterways ship in Europe boasts features like complimentary wines and beer with dinner; complimentary coffee, tea and hot chocolate served around the clock; complimentary internet access; and a variety of included shore excursions and guided tours, all of which are equipped with wireless headsets to ensure guides never have to yell, and guests never have to strain to hear them.

If you’ve never taken a river cruise, or have never explored Europe during the winter months, give this exciting itinerary a shot.  After all, sometimes the best Christmas traditions are the ones that have yet to be created.

For more information on AmaWaterways and the elegant AmaCello, be sure to read our complete line and ship profiles here on River Cruise Advisor.

A wine-lovers dream cruise! AMAWATERWAYS will cruise along the Wine, er, make that Rhine and Mosel rivers on a wine cruise this coming November. In Bernkastel, pictured, visit the castle ruin overlooking the city center of half-timbered buildings and cobblestone streets.

AMAWATERWAYS will offer a “Vineyards of the Rhine and Mosel” cruise this fall, departing November 12, 2010, on the luxurious MS AMALEGRO.

The special 7-night itinerary includes visits to world-famous wineries, off-site dinners hosted by renowned winemakers, onboard lectures and more.  Hosted by AMAWATERWAYS President Rudi Schreiner, the 7-night cruise will travel from Amsterdam to Trier, Germany, followed by three nights in Paris.

Accompanying the cruise will be winemaker Jim Clendenen, owner of the internationally-acclaimed Au Bon Climat winery in Santa Maria, California and Archie McLaren, founder and chairman of the Central Coast Wine Classic.  A portion of the cruise proceeds will be donated to charities supported by the Central Coast Wine Classic, one of the country’s preeminent wine auctions.

Moselle River cruises offer wine tastings in such wine villages as Cochem, settled by the Celts and later by Romans before being granted a town charter in 1332.

Cruise Highlights Include Dinners & Wine Tastings

Highlights of the “Vineyards of the Rhine and Mosel” itinerary include a dinner and wine tasting with a representative from the renown Georg Breuer winery at the Ruedesheimer Schloss in Rudesheim, Germany.  The scenic Rhine Gorge town of Rudesheim is famous for its quaint wine taverns and surrounding vineyards, including the family-owned Breuer estate.

In Koblenz, guests will discover a 2,000-year old wine town at the confluence of the Mosel and Rhine Rivers.

Mosying Along The Mosel

Continuing through the Mosel river valley, the world’s steepest vineyards and certainly one of the world’s most beautiful rivers, picturesque villages and charming wine towns appear at every turn. During the cruise from Koblenz to the riverside wine town of Winnigen, guests will enjoy an exceptional luncheon, with menu items paired with wines from the Heymann-Lowenstein winery.

In Cochem, guests will discover perfectly preserved timber-framed homes, medieval squares and the spectacular Reichsburg Castle perched above the Mosel.  A welcoming wine fest awaits in the Mosel town of Zell, famous for its “Zeller Schwarze Katz” (Black Cat) wine.

An evening wine tasting in a local underground wine cellar showcases the area’s famous varietals.  In Bernkastel, guests will enjoy a walking tour followed by a wine tasting at the Wine Museum hosted by Michael Stahlmann from the famous Dr. Loosen winery.   Strategically located in the heart of the Mosel wine-producing region, Bernkastel boasts more than 500 years of documented wine history, and is known as “the international town of vine and wine.”

Situated on the Moselle River is the Romanesque city of Trier, Germany’s oldest city and also one that claims to be 1,300 years older than Rome itself. Trier's Porta Nigra (Black Gate) dates from the 2nd century, when Trier was a Roman city.

Of course, throughout the cruise, guests will enjoy gourmet dining accompanied by complimentary local wines (plus beer and soft drinks) at dinner.  Additional AMAWATERWAYS amenities include French Balconies, complimentary 3G high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi; complimentary first-run Hollywood films; complimentary specialty coffees and bottled water, a fleet of bicycles on board plus much more.

After the 7-night cruise, guests will head to Luxembourg for a city tour of the Grand Duchy, followed by a high-speed TGV transfer to Paris.  The three-night stay in the City of Lights includes a guided city tour, plus an exclusive excursion to the Champagne region.