14 Night Cruise sailing from Paris to Bordeaux aboard AmaLyra & AmaDolce.

Solo Travellers - These ships have 2 dedicated Solo French Balcony Staterooms with NO solo surcharge ever! Please contact our office to check current availability and pricing.

Immerse yourself in the rich history, captivating art, vibrant culture, and epicurean delights of France on this enchanting 14-night journey along four spectacular waterways: the Seine, Garonne, and Dordogne rivers and the Gironde Estuary. Depart from the “City of Lights” and head through Normandy for the opportunity to pay your respects on the D-Day landing beaches. Whet your palate for the Bordeaux delights to come by sampling the Normandy's famed Calvados, cider, and cheese. Step inside Monet’s paintings at his home and gardens in Giverny, visit idyllic châteaux, and pedal through the French countryside before cruising back into Paris with the Eiffel Tower as your backdrop. Then, board your train for Bordeaux, where you will sip a variety of wines from this famed wine region and marvel at historic architecture, from the UNESCO-designated Blaye Citadel to the impressive Roquetaillade Castle and even Bordeaux’s marvelously modern Cité du Vin wine museum. This is the ideal itinerary for those who want more than “just a taste” of France.

COUNTRIES: France

RIVERS: Seine, Garonne, Dordogne

Introduced in 2009, the AmaLyra quickly earned a "Best New River Cruise Ship" distinction. Striking contemporary artwork is a hallmark of this luxurious vessel. Marvel at ever-changing scenery from a reclining wooden lounge chair on the Sun Deck, not far from an inviting outdoor whirlpool. Relax in spacious accommodations that range in size from 170-255 sq. ft., most featuring French balconies. Additional stateroom amenities include entertainment on demand featuring free high-speed Internet access, hit Hollywood movies, extensive music library and English language TV stations.

Their Story
Proudly celebrating more than 21 years on the river, family-owned and operated AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by three families; however, their river cruise story began well before that. Co-Founder and President Rudi Schreiner was born in Vienna, at the heart of the Danube. His love of design drew him to architecture, but his even greater love of travel drew him to places far and wide. In 1975, he travelled to South America for a journalism assignment on the Amazon. It was here he designed his first ship, using what he could find to build a raft that would take him up and down the river during the next 7 months. Soon thereafter, he started working in travel, creating unique tour experiences in Europe.

A Turning Point
Rudi started the North American operations for many of today’s major river cruise companies, developing itineraries and ships that would become the templates for what we know river cruising to be today. After years of success as a driving force in the industry, Rudi decided to start his own venture — one that would provide guests with a higher standard of luxury travel by river. That’s when he teamed up with Co-Owners and Co-Founders Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy to start AmaWaterways.

In 2016, Rudi was inducted into the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Hall of Fame and was honoured with their Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of devotion to the river cruising industry.

A Team of Pioneers
Kristin was born in Germany and brings extensive experience in travel, river cruising and customer service to the company in her role as Executive Vice President. Jimmy Murphy was a brilliant travel entrepreneur, having built Brendan Vacations, one of the most successful tour operators in the U.S. Jimmy’s son, Gary, who also played a major part at Brendan, took on an executive sales role at AmaWaterways. Together with Rudi, a true team of pioneers emerged.

The Story Continues
From the beginning, their goal was to create a river cruise company that they themselves would enjoy. To then, that meant the highest-quality, locally sourced food and wine; elegantly appointed ships with staterooms offering maximum views to enjoy the ever-changing countryside; and a crew who goes above and beyond, treating every guest like they are part of THEIR family.

With that in mind, for two wonderful decades, they have been building one-of-a-kind ships with added comforts and conveniences ranging from our signature view-enhancing twin balconies to the Chef’s Table specialty restaurant to their award-winning AmaMagna – redefining the river cruise experience. They continue to lead the way in innovation, pioneering the first sailings on Colombia’s Magdalena River in 2025. As they look ahead to the future, they are more committed than ever to offering innovative and sustainable ways for their guests to experience the rich culture and history found along the banks of the world’s most iconic rivers.