This Ship Is Almost Twice the Size of Most European River Ship—Which Gives Passengers Twice As Much Room

Danube River cruises have a storybook nature to them. As you sail along, charming little towns appear, places like Dürnstein, with its striking pale blue abbey church. From a ship, you notice stone walls that date back to the Middle Ages, Bavarian monasteries, and vineyards ripe with grüner veltliner and riesling.

I arrived ready for all of the history, culture, and spectacular white wines; I was also looking forward to crisp schnitzels, juicy sausages, and buttery strudels. But I wouldn’t be sailing the Danube and the Wachau Valley in peak summer, as so many often do. Instead, I hopped aboard the first departure of 2025 for the AmaMagna, one of the many river ships operated by AmaWaterways. I wanted to see how an off-season river cruise would compare to my numerous spring and summer trips on this same river.

Built in 2019, AmaMagna is one of the widest—and therefore most spacious—ships on the Danube. It’s particularly suited for active travelers, with an oversize fitness center, spin bikes, and a roster of morning workout options that include resistance bands, core work, and stretching. There’s a full-size pickleball court—the first on any river ship—and yoga mats in every cabin. Then there’s the ship’s fleet of shiny new bikes (and helmets) for cruisers who want to explore ports on their own. The vessel has proven so popular that AmaWaterways expanded its season, which is how I ended up on board in February, well before the arrival of spring in Central Europe.

Once on board, I learned that it’s not all health and wellness all the time: cruisers are free to engage as much or as little as they like with that aspect of the ship. Certainly, there’s plenty of indulgence on offer. Menus highlighted the signature dishes of the countries we were sailing through, with dishes including rich Hungarian goulash, juicy Austrian sausages, and crisp Slovak fried cheese and liptauer, the paprika-laced cheese spread that’s popular in pubs. Local wines were poured at just about every meal. One night, we were even served a Hungarian red that had the country’s famous paprika added during fermentation. (Healthful options, including thoughtful mocktails, were also available.)

Of course, the stars of any sailing are the destinations. AmaMagna often visits Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia, and—depending on the itinerary—places including Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey. Active tours off the ship are balanced with leisurely options, things like horse-drawn carriage rides through Vienna’s Ringstrasse and classical concerts at the House of Strauss, as well as microbrew-soaked afternoons in Bratislava. As for the weather, well, it may have been cold but the Danube was as appealing as ever. In fact, AmaWaterways staff says February is an ideal time to see the sights along the Danube.

“If a guest comes to me in Budapest in July and wants to see the Hungarian Parliament Building, it’s already fully booked,” said Martina Valachova, AmaMagna cruise manager . In February, by contrast, that kind of request is easily accommodated.

Here’s a closer look at the AmaMagna and my thoughts on its amenities and more.

The Staterooms

Because AmaMagna is twice the width of most European river ships, its cabins are particularly spacious. Most range from 355 to 474 square feet, while a small number clock in at 205 square feet. A spacious Owner’s Suite is the biggest option on board.

I stayed in an excellent suite on Deck 3: the bathroom had double sinks, a very large shower, and a fabulous soaking tub; my bedroom had a wall of closets plus a queen-size bed facing a wall of windows and a private terrace. It was very comfortable.

That said, I would’ve been almost as happy in a smaller, more budget-friendly cabin. Given the season, the scenery outside my window wasn’t as spectacular as it might’ve been in summertime. As a result, I didn’t spend that much time in my suite admiring the view.

Bars and Restaurants

AmaMagna has four restaurants, which is more than is typical on European river ships. The main dining room serves three meals a day, while Jimmy’s Restaurant, which is named for a founder of AmaWaterways, serves family-style versions of the same dinner menu in a more intimate setting. There’s also Al Fresco, a venue for lighter meals and smaller portions throughout the day. The Chef’s Table does a set, multi-course meal that I’d definitely recommend—though it’s important to reserve a table early.

Besides the dining, AmaMagna has a central lounge where it seems everyone gathers before and after dinner for drinks and music. As is the case on many river cruises, the vibes are quiet early in the trip and grow increasingly rambunctious as the week progresses.

Where AmaMagna Sails

AmaMagna sails the Danube River, with a mix of 7- and 14-night itineraries, plus a few trips focused on Christmas markets. In 2025, the ship started offering February trips, a time that used to be so off season that the AmaMagna didn’t operate at all.

While late winter can certainly be chilly, guests will find quiet ports, fewer crowds, and easier-to-snag tables everywhere along the river. On my trip, for example, there were no lines at attractions and restaurants, the one exception being Demel, the famed coffee house in Vienna with its marble cafe tables and elaborate confections, which still had people lining up down the block.

Shore Excursions

AmaWaterways offers shore excursions in every port, and almost all of them are included in the fare. All of the tours I took—a carriage ride around Vienna’s Ringstrasse; a walking tour of central Salzburg, where the knowledgeable guide discreetly pointed out the newly elected archbishop—were all well organized and insightful.

My tasting tour of Bratislava, for example, was hosted by a warm and knowledgeable guide who pointed out favorite cafes and restaurants before accompanying our small group to a historic beer hall. It was an admittedly chilly day, so we were thrilled to retreat to a cozy stone-lined beer hall to sample smoked cheeses, cured kielbasa, and a thrice-hopped Sladovna G-max 10, a brew that tasted, to me, like grapefruit.

Even exploring solo was a pleasure, despite the February weather. My fellow passengers commented on the lack of crowds everywhere from Budapest’s thermal spas and “ruin bars” to Vienna’s museums and schnitzel houses. One night in Vienna, another guest and I went to dinner off the ship at Salzamt, a cozy Austrian spot not far from the Schwedenplatz. It was a memorable night, with plump oysters, pierogi served in a rich puddle of butter, crisp schnitzel, and a beautiful local grüner veltliner.

Amenities and Entertainment

In warmer months, life onboard revolves around the sun deck. The AmaMagna has a pool and hot tub as well as shaded lounge chairs and Balinese day beds. There’s also a pickleball court, the first on the Danube, according to the cruise line.

On our cold-weather sailing, most guest were content to be indoors, sipping hot cocoa in the lounge, taking cardio classes in the gym, or enjoying tea time in Al Fresco. My lovely balcony largely went unused, but I enjoyed finishing my book club’s monthly selection in one of the library lounges, in front of the electric fireplace that uses water vapor to simulate flames.

Family-friendly Offerings

AmaWaterways allows kids four and older, but it doesn’t offer any official children’s programming. I spent my whole week patting myself on the back for not bringing my rambunctious five year old, who would have insisted on jumping in the heated pool and charging down the halls as the only little one onboard. Off-season trips on the Danube are not, in my opinion, the best place for younger kids. (One exception might be trips around Christmastime.) More mature tweens and teens might feel more comfortable on board, and kids in that age group are occasionally on board during summer breaks.

Accessibility

AmaMagna has an elevator, but it doesn’t reach the ship’s sun deck. There are no cabins specifically designed for travelers in wheelchairs, but there is a “gentle” walking tour option in every port. Generally speaking, many of these historic ports along the Danube are filled with cobblestones and hills.

AmaWaterways offers additional accessibility information on its website. “Facilities and services for guests with physical limitations may sometimes be limited or non-existent,” the brand explains. It’s also important to note that “throughout your river cruise it is likely the ship will be docked next to one or two other river ships. It is important to note that in these cases, disembarkation/embarkation may include walking up the stairs and through the adjacent ship(s) lobby or Sun Deck to reach the shore. You may also need to embark or disembark via a narrow gangway or occasionally cross an uneven surface to enter or exit the ship. These are typical situations that are beyond the control of AmaWaterways.”