AmaKristina

AmaKristina at a glance

AmaKristina is a 135-metre river ship launched in 2017, carrying up to 156 guests with a crew of 51. She sails exclusively for AmaWaterways and, on the sailings available here, traces the Rhône through southern France — calling at ports including Arles, Lyon and Avignon. With 78 cabins across a handful of grades, the ship keeps group sizes intimate and the ratio of crew to guests generous.

• Route: Rhône River, France
• Operated by: AmaWaterways

Dining on AmaKristina

Two distinct dining venues are included in your cruise fare, so most guests will never pay a supplement for an evening meal.

The Main Restaurant is the culinary heart of the ship, offering open seating times and regional cuisine framed by river views. Informal and sociable, it invites you to sit where you like and talk to whoever is nearby. For something more structured, The Chef's Table seats a smaller group while a dedicated chef crafts a multi-course tasting menu live in front of you — a genuine dinner-as-theatre experience, also included in your fare.

Throughout the day, the Specialty Coffee & Tea Station operates on a self-service basis at no extra charge, with speciality coffees and teas available whenever you want them.

Onboard life: bars, lounges and things to do

The Main Lounge is where the ship gathers in the evenings — cocktails at the fully stocked bar, talks about the next port of call, and live entertainment after dinner. Drinks are charged separately unless you hold a beverage package, but the space itself is open to all.

On the upper deck, the Sun Deck offers unobstructed views along the river and space to dine in the open air when conditions allow. The Heated Sun-Deck Pool is alongside it, with a swim-up bar so you can order a drink without leaving the water — a detail that suits the leisurely pace of a river itinerary. A Walking Track on the same deck is free to use for anyone who wants to keep moving between ports.

The Fitness Centre carries modern cardio and strength-training equipment, complimentary to use; specialist fitness classes carry a separate charge. Guests who want something quieter can retreat to the Library, which stocks books and games and is included in the fare. The Massage & Hair Salon is available for treatments at an additional cost, and the Gift Shop stocks souvenirs and essentials for those who want to pick up a memento of the Rhône.

One feature that sets AmaKristina apart for active travellers: the ship carries a complimentary bicycle fleet, free to borrow for independent exploration ashore. On a river itinerary through Provence, that means cycling into Arles or along the banks outside Lyon at your own pace, with no guided-tour cost and no hire charge.

Cabins on AmaKristina

AmaKristina offers three published cabin grades, ranging from a practical outside stateroom to a full suite. Full deck plans and cabin detail are on the AmaKristina cabins and deck plans page.

The Outside Stateroom D (14.9 m²) suits guests who want natural light and river views through a fixed outside window at an entry-level price point — a practical choice for those who plan to spend most of their waking hours ashore or on deck. Step up to the Balcony Stateroom AA (21.8 m²) and you gain a private balcony and considerably more living space, making it one of the roomier balcony options on the ship. At the top of the range, the Suite SS at 32.5 m² is the most generous cabin aboard — roughly double the floor space of the entry stateroom — and the natural choice for guests who want to use their cabin as a proper retreat during a longer voyage. All grades sleep two.

Where AmaKristina sails

Every sailing currently on sale traces the Rhône River in southern France, departing from either Arles or Lyon — two of Provence's most storied cities — with itineraries of up to seven nights. Sailings depart from late September 2026 onward, a season that brings harvest light and quieter quaysides to the river towns. Avignon, one of the Rhône's most dramatic stops, features on many of the routes; you can see all sailings that call there on the Avignon cruises page.

Fares start from A$4,956pp* for these Rhône itineraries.

Booking AmaKristina with CruiseAway

France is a fly-to destination for Australian travellers, which means the cruise sits in the middle of a longer trip. CruiseAway's DreamAway Packages pull the whole journey together — flights out, a hotel night either side, transfers to and from the ship, and the cruise itself — on a single booking, so nothing falls between the gaps. Our cruise experts can also match you to the right cabin grade and fare inclusions for your circumstances, whether you're after the flexibility of an outside stateroom or the extra space of a suite.

Our Best Price Guarantee applies site-wide, so you can book knowing you are getting the best available deal.

Other AmaWaterways ships to consider

If you are weighing up a few options within the AmaWaterways fleet, CruiseAway also features AmaBella, AmaCello, AmaVida, AmaReina and AmaVerde — each another ship in the same fleet that may be sailing different routes or dates. The AmaWaterways cruise line page is the best place to compare what's available across the full fleet.

Common questions about AmaKristina

Is everything included in the AmaKristina fare?

Most of the main experiences on board are included — both dining venues (the Main Restaurant and The Chef's Table), the Sun Deck pool, the fitness centre, the bicycle fleet and the coffee and tea station all carry no supplement. Some items, such as alcoholic drinks outside a beverage package and spa treatments in the Massage & Hair Salon, are charged separately. Your CruiseAway cruise expert can confirm exactly what your chosen fare covers before you book.

What are the best cabins on AmaKristina for a first river cruise?

For a first-time river cruiser, the Balcony Stateroom AA (21.8 m²) is often the most satisfying starting point: the private balcony lets you watch the river scenery from your cabin, and the space is large enough for a comfortable week aboard. If you are travelling on a tighter budget, the Outside Stateroom D still provides natural light and river views without a balcony premium.

Do I need to arrange my own flights to France?

Australian travellers will need to fly to France to join the ship. CruiseAway's DreamAway Packages are designed precisely for this: we combine flights, hotel nights at either end and transfers with the cruise itself, so the whole trip sits on one booking. Speak to one of our cruise experts about building your package.

When do AmaKristina sailings depart?

The sailings currently on sale depart from late September 2026, with voyages of up to seven nights along the Rhône. Departures are split evenly between Arles and Lyon, so your itinerary direction — upstream or downstream through Provence — depends on which embarkation port suits you best.

Can I use the bicycles to explore independently?

Yes. AmaKristina carries a fleet of bicycles available to all guests at no charge, and you are free to use them independently ashore without joining a guided excursion. On a Rhône itinerary, that can mean cycling the flat riverside paths outside Arles or exploring the streets of Lyon on your own schedule.