AmaMagna Ship AmaWaterways River Cruise: Is Double-Wide More Fun?
We left our room on deck two to head upstairs to AmaMagna's spacious lounge. Dan took the staircase on the right, and I chose the one on the left. With extra width on the nearly double-wide river cruise ship, we had options aplenty on this singular AmaWaterways vessel.
This unique AmaWaterways cruise ship sailing on the Danube River delivers the perfect spacious experience for travelers seeking more room to roam without sacrificing the intimate river cruising atmosphere.
Disclosure: This page may have affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase at no cost to you. We recommend cruises, experiences, products, and services we personally use. We thank AmaWaterways for hosting. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
A Spacious, Double-Wide River Cruise Ship
This unique vessel is 72 feet wide, whereas “single” wide river cruise ships on the Danube are usually 38 feet wide. The 34-foot difference allows AmaWaterways to offer significantly more options on AmaMagna, including additional cabin categories, generous space, and diverse dining venues.
The top deck is extra special, offering guests the opportunity to play pickleball. This is a rarity in river cruising, yet a vacation amenity many active cruisers look for these days. In addition to a pool, it also features a hot tub, walking/jogging track, herb garden, an oversized chessboard, putting green, and various seating and lounging options. Even the bridge area is double the size of a usual river cruise ship on the Danube River, allowing for enhanced navigation and guest viewing opportunities.
AmaMagna Ship Specifications and Capacity
AmaMagna accommodates 196 guests across 98 staterooms, which is only slightly more than traditional river cruise ships despite being nearly twice as wide. This means more space per passenger—a luxury that's immediately noticeable from the moment you step aboard. The ship spans four decks and measures 443 feet in length, creating an impressive presence on the Danube.
Who is AmaMagna Good For?
Cruisers Who Typically Enjoy Big Ships but Want to Try River Cruising
For travelers who are used to ocean cruises on large ships, a cruise on AmaMagna would be the perfect transition to river cruising. While no river cruise ship will give you the options on a mega-ship, like casinos, elaborate evening stage shows, and multiple bars, the additional space and amenities on AmaMagna bridge the large gap between ocean and river cruise experiences; it offers some of the best things about both worlds, like a hot tub and multiple restaurants.
Seasoned River Cruisers
It's also a wonderful ship to experience if you're a seasoned river cruiser, like us, and want to try something new to add variety to your typical river cruise vacations. We loved our AmaWaterways experience on the Rhône River in Provence, France, on AmaKristina, and on the Mekong River in Cambodia and Vietnam on AmaDara. We knew we'd enjoy the AmaMagna experience, yet our anticipation of this trip was multiplied due to the ship's impressive size.
Thanks to the ship's width, you have more onboard options than a typical river cruise vessel. There are more restaurants, lounges, and onboard amenities like a larger wellness area and a cinema room. The cabins are more spacious, yet the passenger capacity is only slightly more than a single-wide river cruise ship, creating a more luxurious experience overall.
Active Travelers
Additionally, if you like to stay active on vacation and you enjoy a fitness routine, you’ll appreciate the notable workout room in the Zen Wellness Studio area of the ship. The fitness programming on AmaMagna was phenomenal—the wellness manager led various workout classes throughout our week cruising the Danube River, including sessions on stationary bikes, yoga, and stretching classes.
Cruisers Who Have Been to the Same Cities in the Past
Another reason this trip interested us was that we had been to most of the cities the ship was stopping at. We knew we could do something we’ve almost never done before: stay onboard when everyone else was off the ship. This was very exciting and meant more time enjoying the ship, which we love to do.
If you’ve been to many of the cities on this itinerary (Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava, Durnstein, etc.), don’t let that deter you from trying an AmaMagna cruise. In fact, let that be your reason to give yourself permission to enjoy the ship more fully. If this is the case, perhaps spring for an upgraded category stateroom or be sure to bring a book and a bathing suit and cruise during summer when you can enjoy the outdoor pool and hot tub.
Standout Features of River Cruising on AmaMagna
Multiple Dining Venues
One of the immediate highlights that comes to mind when reviewing our week-long cruise on AmaMagna is the restaurants. Having four restaurants provided a welcome change of scenery from the sole restaurant on most river cruise ships. In addition to AmaWaterways' main dining room and signature Chef's Table experience, there was Al Fresco at the bow of the ship and Jimmy's Restaurant next to the Chef's Table downstairs, each offering distinct atmospheres and menu selections.
Guest Self-Service Onboard Laundry
Dan and I pack light for vacations. Which is why any time there’s a guest laundry area, we gush over the cruise ship. If you pack light, like us, and tend to travel with carry-on luggage only, you’ll agree that the laundry area on AmaMagna is a huge help in minimizing the amount of clothes you need to bring.
This was especially true during our winter cruise from late February to early March, when the cool temperatures required packing bulkier clothing and shoes, like long sleeves, sweaters, boots, and additional layers. Knowing we would be able to do laundry enabled us to maintain our preference of packing in carry-on bags.
Onboard Shopping
The store on AmaMagna is big when compared to smaller river cruise ships. In the sizeable shop, you’ll find a curated selection of local goods, AmaWaterways-branded items like apparel, and travel essentials. During our river cruise on the Danube, which sailed through Hungary and Austria, we thought having beer steins in the shop was a nice localized touch!
The expanded retail space means more variety and improved offerings for guests looking to purchase souvenirs or pick up forgotten necessities.
AmaMagna Food and Beverages
The food on AmaWaterways is consistently good. Some dishes are more memorable than others, but overall, it's incredibly rare that we have a bad-tasting meal. Almost never, in fact. The food on AmaDara in Southeast Asia was outstanding, and the food on AmaMagna was equally impressive, showcasing both international cuisine and regional specialties from countries along our Danube River itinerary.
Onboard Restaurants
Main Dining Room
The primary restaurant serves three meals a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—with a rotating menu featuring international and regional cuisine. It has a combination of booths and stand-alone tables and chairs, which helps add character to the venue.
Chef's Table*
An intimate fine-dining experience with wine pairings and multi-course tasting menus. As with any AmaWaterways cruise, dining at the Chef’s Table is included with your cruise fare. All you need to do is make a reservation for your preferred night. Going to the Chef’s Table is a highlight on any AmaWaterways cruise! And though you don’t have to dress up for the evening, most people elevate their outfits on the night they’re dining here.
Jimmy's Restaurant*
Jimmy’s is a casual alternative dining venue that honors the memory of the late Jimmy Murphy, the third co-founder of AmaWaterways. Jimmy’s Irish roots loosely inspire the restaurant decor, and old photographs of him and his family adorn one wall, which was a nice touch!
Yet the menu is the same as the menu at the main dining room, with one twist: the dishes are served family style. The tables are long and rectangular and can fit up to 12 guests per table. You’ll likely dine with other guests.
Dan and I didn’t understand why they don’t serve their own here (even fish and chips to go with the Irish theme would be great) because most of the food at the main dining venue didn’t warrant family-style service. However, we can understand if it’s because of kitchen logistics.
We liked the atmosphere at Jimmy’s but weren’t huge fans of the overall experience. If you dine there, let us know what you think!
Al Fresco Dining*
Located at the bow, this outdoor/indoor area provides scenic views while you dine. In the morning and afternoon, it’s a restaurant option with a slightly different menu from the main restaurant. At night, it’s a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with a set multi-course menu. On some late nights, it’s a place where evening snacks are served. We enjoyed late-night snacks here after the evening concert in Vienna.
*Reservations are required, though the experiences are included in your cruise fare.
Additional Dining Opportunities
Tapas: Tapas service in the lounge areas provides small plates and social dining. There’s a small chalkboard indicating tapas are available; ask a server if you’re noshy and want some!
Late-night snacks: Available for guests with late-night cravings or those returning from evening excursions.
Two breakfast options: Choose between the main dining room's full breakfast or a continental option in Al Fresco. Al Fresco also has a menu where you can order made-to-order breakfast plates, as you can in the main dining room.
Afternoon Tea: Afternoon tea is hosted on select afternoons in Al Fresco.
Coffee and Tea Stations
There were more coffee and tea stations aboard AmaMagna than any other river cruise ship we've been on. Two stations are next to the main lounge area, and there’s another in the Al Fresco area. We never had to wait for our caffeine fix, and the quality was consistently high with premium beans and loose-leaf teas.
Additionally, suite guests can request morning coffee delivery to their cabin via hanging door tags you put out the night before—a thoughtful touch that starts the day perfectly.
Surprise Culinary Standouts During Our Cruise
When we sailed on AmaDara with AmaWaterways in Cambodia and Vietnam on the Mekong River, one of the highlights was the morning broth and noodle soups that were available. So when we had lunch one day in Budapest and there was a surprise Vietnamese pho soup station, we were thrilled! This ended up being a fun treat that connected our river cruising experiences across continents.
As we were visiting Austria during this cruise, another standout was authentic Austrian dishes like schnitzel. We received a tip from another passenger not to miss the wedge potato fries—and they were divine! These crispy, seasoned wedges became a daily indulgence.
Beverages
Sip & Sail Happy Hour
One of the best things about AmaWaterways, in our opinion, is the Sip & Sail hours. Consider it a sophisticated happy hour. One hour before dinner, guests are welcomed to the lounge to enjoy complimentary cocktails. There's a special menu for what's offered during this time, including mixed drinks, premium spirits served neat or on the rocks, and delicious mocktails for non-drinkers.
Included Alcohol During Meals
As is common with river cruises, AmaWaterways offers complimentary beer and wine during lunch and dinner. The selections are always good and well-chosen to complement the cuisine. While we've never felt the need to upgrade what we're drinking, we've seen passengers order bottles of wine à la carte when they want something particular.
Affordable Drinks
Drinks on AmaWaterways outside of complimentary times (Sip & Sail and lunch/dinner) are reasonably priced. Expect to pay between €5-10 per drink depending on whether you're ordering a beer versus a premium spirit cocktail—significantly less than what you'd pay on ocean cruise ships.
Staterooms and Suites
The increased width of AmaMagna allows for more spacious accommodations across all categories. Standard staterooms feel more like junior suites, while the actual suites are genuinely expansive by river cruise standards.
Most staterooms feature:
- French balconies or full step-out balconies
- Generous bathroom space with premium amenities
- Ample storage and seating areas
- Enhanced soundproofing due to the ship's construction
- Twin beds that convert to queen-size
- Complimentary Wi-Fi and flat-screen entertainment systems
Eight categories of staterooms on AmaMagna range in square footage, from 710 sq. ft. for the only Owners Suite, to a Category E room at 205 sq. ft. We were in a Category SB suite with an outside balcony. At 355 sq. ft., it was incredibly spacious and luxurious. It had a queen-size bed, a small couch and coffee tables, space for a desk and chair, and a little foyer entrance where the bathroom shower and sinks were separate from the toilet. The closet was huge and had a safe, with plenty of drawers and additional areas to store our shoes and clothing.
Entertainment and Activities
Beyond the dining and relaxation options, AmaMagna offers enhanced entertainment programming. The ship features a dedicated cinema if we wanted to tune into a movie or television on the big screen TV there, expanded lounge spaces that provided quiet areas to read or converse, and the main lounge area where live music and performances took place.
The unique pickleball court on the Sun Deck is where the oversized chessboard can be found. Additionally is the walking track, outdoor pool and hot tub.
The onboard enrichment program includes cooking demonstrations (like how to make Apple Strudel on the Danube River itinerary) and cultural presentations that enhance the overall river cruise experience. If there wasn’t a specialty act brought onboard in a port, we could rely on pianist Richard and singer Anna for entertainment. They were a great duo!
Excursions and Destinations
While the ship itself is impressive, the destinations along the Danube remain the true stars. AmaMagna's itineraries typically include stops in Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, and various charming riverside towns. The ship's size doesn't limit its ability to dock in city centers, maintaining one of river cruising's greatest advantages over ocean cruising.
Though due to the size of AmaMagna, it’s unlikely you’ll see the ship sail other rivers in Europe, and certainly not the Douro River, which requires ships to be smaller than even a single-wide river cruise ship on the Danube or Rhone Rivers, for example.
Final Recommendation: We Highly Recommend AmaMagna
As we hopped from our spacious suite to the upstairs lounge via the double-sided staircase, through the upper lounge to the lower lounge, past the cinema and onto the sun deck to watch Budapest's Parliament come into view on a sunny, blue-sky day, we reflected on our week aboard AmaMagna.
This wasn't just a wonderful vacation—it was a revelation of what river cruising could be when space constraints are expanded. The ship's size offered us more room to breathe, more amenities to enjoy, and more opportunities to truly relax than any river cruise ship we'd previously experienced.
AmaMagna successfully answers the question posed in our title: yes, more width does indeed double the fun. The additional space enhances every aspect of the river cruise experience without diminishing the intimate, personalized service that makes AmaWaterways special.
Whether you're new to river cruising or a seasoned veteran looking for something different, AmaMagna delivers an experience that feels familiar and refreshingly new.
For travelers seeking the perfect blend of river cruising's scenic intimacy with resort-style space and amenities, AmaMagna isn't just recommended—it's essential.
