AmaWaterways holiday cruises: Save up to $2,500, extra nights on select New Year's sailings
AmaWaterways still has space on select 2025 holiday cruises, and travelers who book by October 31 can save up to $2,500 per stateroom. The Christmas markets program spans classic routes on the Danube and Rhine alongside Festive Delights departures in the Netherlands, France, Portugal, and Belgium. Select New Year's Cruises add an uncommon perk this season: up to two complimentary extra nights in Europe split between a pre-cruise hotel stay and a post-cruise night on board, subject to availability and terms. Inventory is capacity-controlled.
Key points
- Why it matters: Holiday cabins remain for 2025, with savings up to $2,500 per stateroom.
- Travel impact: Select New Year's sailings include up to two extra nights in Europe at no added cost.
- What's next: Offers end October 31, 2025; space is limited and varies by departure.
- Christmas markets cruises focus on shore-time at Europe's most storied markets.
- Festive Delights sailings run mid-November through early January in multiple countries.
Snapshot
AmaWaterways' holiday portfolio includes dedicated Christmas markets cruises on the Danube and Rhine with long evening calls for illuminated market visits, plus Festive Delights departures emphasizing onboard traditions like tree-trimming and caroling. Destinations include Vienna, Amsterdam, Bordeaux, and more, with country coverage across Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium in addition to Germany and Austria. Travelers who book by October 31 can access savings of up to $2,500 per stateroom on many 2025 holiday departures. New this season, select New Year's Cruises feature up to two complimentary extra nights: a one-night pre-cruise stay at a 4- or 5-star hotel with next-day ship transfer, and either a New Year's Eve overnight or a January 1 sleep-in with an extra night on board, including meals.
Background
AmaWaterways positions the holidays as an onboard-and-ashore celebration that begins in mid-November and runs through the New Year. Christmas markets cruises prioritize time at Europe's historic markets, highlighting handcrafted gifts and seasonal specialties like glühwein. Festive Delights itineraries broaden the canvas with local holiday events, enhanced onboard programming, and, on select departures, a formal New Year's Eve gala. For 2025, the line confirms availability across marquee river corridors, including the Danube, Rhine, and Douro, plus Dutch and Belgian waterways and French rivers. Terms note that savings and complimentary-night eligibility vary by sailing, are capacity-controlled, and can be combined with certain programs per the offer page.
Latest developments
Extra nights and stateroom savings on 2025 New Year's Cruises
This year's standout incentive pairs fare savings with time. On eligible New Year's departures, guests may add up to two complimentary nights in Europe when booked by October 31, 2025: one pre-cruise hotel night with breakfast and included transfer to the ship, plus one post-cruise night on board. Depending on itinerary timing, the post-cruise component is either an added New Year's Eve overnight to join shoreside fireworks where available, or a relaxed January 1 with all meals and an additional night aboard. The complimentary-nights offer is combinable with savings of up to $2,500 per stateroom on many holiday sailings, applies to new bookings, and remains space-limited. Travelers should review terms for transfer inclusions when air is booked through the line and for combinability with other promotions.
Analysis
For travelers eyeing Europe's markets and river towns at their festive best, the 2025 calendar still offers meaningful choice across dates and regions. Two levers strengthen the value proposition. First, the headline savings up to $2,500 per stateroom on many holiday departures materially offsets inflation-era air and lodging costs. Second, the complimentary extra-nights mechanic reduces peak-day travel friction, letting guests avoid December 24-25 flights with a hosted hotel night, and then extend celebrations around New Year's without additional room charges. Because inventory and eligibility are itinerary-specific, advisors should filter by region and date, confirm whether fireworks-adjacent dockings are expected, and note inclusions like port charges and transfer rules. As Europe rolls out new border tech this fall, North American travelers should also budget extra time for first-use biometric enrollment at Schengen entry points; our earlier explainer on the EU Entry/Exit System details what to expect and where rollout begins. Taken together, these offers and timing considerations make booking windows through October 31 the sweet spot for value.
Final thoughts
If a European river cruise is on the wish list, AmaWaterways' 2025 holiday program combines destination breadth with tangible value. With savings up to $2,500 per stateroom and the option to add up to two complimentary extra nights on select New Year's Cruises, travelers can linger in market squares, celebrate onboard, and skip peak-day flight stress. Act before October 31 while space remains, and lock in an itinerary that fits your preferred markets, gala timing, and inclusions across the AmaWaterways holiday cruises portfolio.