Our pre-cruise land tour is officially ready, and we are now accepting reservations!

Please see below for more information.

Meet Your Hosts: 

*UPDATE!

More wine talent on our Celebration of Austrian Wine cruise! California winemaking legend Rob Davis—the genius behind Jordan’s iconic Cabernet for four decades—will be joining Austrian wine authority Thomas Eggler and well-known wine writer Sara Schneider (wine editor for Sunset magazine for many years) on October 27, 2025, to sail the Danube through one of the Old World’s best-kept secrets of a wine region. Taste alongside these California experts, for their Golden State perspective on great Old World wines!

Thomas Eggler has been delighting guests and educating them about Austrian wines for many years. Third-generation owner of the four-star ski hotel Arlberghaus in the alps of western Austria, Thomas has developed a deep love of Austrian wines as he has selected them to pair with the delicious cuisine in his own restaurant. Drawing on that expertise—and relationships built through decades with Austrian winemakers—he has launched wine tastings in the hotel, which fill up quickly with European and international guests alike.

As we cruise the Danube through Austrian wine country, including the acclaimed Wachau Valley, Thomas will entertain you—as he does his hotel guests—with tales of local winemaking, introduce you to some of his favorite winemakers, curate exceptional bottles for tastings onboard and, working with our chef, pair them with a grand wine dinner.

Keep scrolling for information on our exciting pre-cruise extension!

Your ship - the AMABella

Enjoy delicious dining

Catch up with friends or watch the gorgeous scenery in the lovely lounge

Enjoy local entertainment

Take a dip in the pool

Complimentary bikes are available if you'd like to pedal your way through town

After a long, exciting day, relax in your comfortable cabin!

AMA Bella at a glance

YOUR ITINERARY!

BUDAPEST AND THE GREAT WINE REGIONS OF HUNGARY

An exclusive pre-cruise tour for guests joining Douglas Schneider on AmaWaterways’ October 27 Celebration of Austrian Wine cruise on the Danube

Join a small group of fellow travelers for an insider’s look at some of Budapest’s hidden gems. Then head out to two of Hungary’s most important wine regions—Eger and Tokaj—to taste legendary wines and sample delicious regional cuisine, with a credentialed wine expert as your guide.

Day 1, October 23: Arrive in Budapest and be transferred to your 5-star hotel. Enjoy dinner on your own in Budapest.

Day 2, October 24: After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby. Hear stories of Budapest’s history and culture, as a private coach transports your group through the city to visit lesser-known sights (not included in the official city tour on Day 1 of the cruise). Highlights include a tour of the Opera House with a short concert; a visit to the 14th Century, late-Gothic Matthias Church in Holy Trinity Square; and the view from the Fisherman’s Bastion at the heart of Buda’s Castle District. Stop for lunch and some legendary cake at Central Café. Tonight, join your hosts and fellow travelers for a hosted welcome dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 3, October 25: Board the bus for the Baroque city of Eger, known for its ancient wine caves and some of the most famous modern cellars in Hungary. (Back story: Legend has it that when the town was stormed in the 16th Century, during the Ottoman Empire, troops stained their beards and armor with the local wine, leading their enemies to believe they drank the blood of bulls.) If you have any experience with the Bull’s Blood of old—famously “rugged” red wine, back in the day—leave your memories on the bus; today’s producers of Egri Bikavér, as the red blend is also known, are making refined and beautifully balanced versions. Learn how to pronounce Kékfrankos and Kadarka (grape varieties that join Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah in a typical Bull’s Blood blend) while you taste at Gál Tibor winery and find out how beautifully the wines pair with hearty fare over lunch and more tasting at Thummerer Winery. Drive to Tokaj and check into your hotel, where we’ll enjoy a lovely wine dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 4, October 26: Explore the undulating vineyards and cellar labyrinths of the Tokaj region, nestled in the foothills of the Zemplén Mountains, where winemaking dates back over a thousand years. Here, the legendary wine is a late-harvest white—left on the vine until sugar levels spike through the roof and the berries are shriveled and dehydrated, delivering only a precious few drops of juice per cluster. The resulting wines are hauntingly sweet but bright with acidity, and prized throughout the wine world. At Oremus Winery, taste the rare Essencia, stop for lunch at Kardos Supreme Bistro, and wind up the day’s tasting at smaller Balassa before heading back to our hotel in Budapest. Enjoy dinner on your own in the city. (B,L)

Day 5, October 27: After breakfast, be transferred from your hotel to the AMABella, to embark on your Celebration of Austrian Wine cruise with AmaWaterways, hosted by Austrian hotelier and wine expert Thomas Eggler. (B)

NOTE: The price of this tour includes premium hotels for 4 nights; local guide; all transportation, sights and experiences described on the itinerary; wine tasting; and all meals as listed (B = breakfast; L = lunch; D = Dinner). 

Solo occupancy: $2100 (for 1 person / 1 room)

Double occupancy: $3600 (for 2 people / 1 room)

Please let us know if you would like to join us no later than March 31, 2025. We will collect deposits after that date.

amy@ultimate-travels.com or 714-345-9293