AmaSerena

AmaSerena at a glance

AmaSerena is a river cruise ship built in 2015 and operated by AmaWaterways, carrying up to 162 guests with a crew of 51. She sails 135 metres in length and carries 81 cabins across her decks. She is known for a heated sun-deck pool with an integrated swim-up bar — a rare feature on a river ship — and a complimentary bicycle fleet that lets guests explore each port independently. Sailings from Amsterdam and Basel take in the Western Europe river network, with routes along the Rhine and the Ijssel.

Dining on AmaSerena

AmaSerena offers two distinct dining spaces, both included in your cruise fare and open to all guests.

The Main Restaurant is the culinary heart of the ship: open seating times, regional cuisine, and river views that shift with every meal. There's no fixed sitting and no dress code anxiety — guests drift in, find a table, and fall into easy conversation.

For something more theatrical, The Chef's Table seats guests in an intimate space while a dedicated chef builds a multi-course tasting menu in front of them. It's included in the fare, carries no surcharge, and offers a genuinely different evening from the main restaurant.

The Specialty Coffee & Tea Station runs on a self-service basis throughout the day — complimentary coffees and teas whenever you want them. The Main Lounge stocks a full bar and doubles as the evening entertainment space; drinks there are charged separately unless you hold a beverage package.

On-deck facilities

The Sun Deck is the open upper deck where guests watch the riverbank unfold — and occasionally dine al fresco. The Heated Sun-Deck Pool sits up here too, warmed for comfort and fitted with a swim-up bar so a cold drink is never far away. Alongside the pool, a Walking Track gives anyone who wants to stay active a proper jogging circuit with river views.

The Complimentary Bicycle Fleet is one of AmaSerena's most practical touches: guests borrow a bike at each port and explore at their own pace, without booking a guided excursion. It's included for all guests at no extra charge.

Wellness and other spaces

The Fitness Center carries modern cardio and strength equipment and is free to use; specialist classes carry a separate charge. The Massage & Hair Salon offers treatments and hairdressing — the space itself is open to all, though individual services are priced separately. For quieter moments, the Library provides books and games in a relaxed setting, included in the fare. A Gift Shop rounds out the ship's retail offering with souvenirs and essentials.

Cabins on AmaSerena

AmaSerena carries three main cabin categories, and the differences between them are worth understanding before you book. Full deck plans and cabin-by-cabin detail are on the AmaSerena cabins and deck plans page.

• Outside Cabin D (14.9 m²): Twin fixed river-view windows deliver natural daylight and passing scenery all day. A practical, well-priced choice for guests who plan to spend most of their time ashore.
• Balcony Cabin AA (21.8 m²): The roomiest balcony grade on the ship, with meaningful extra floor space over the standard balcony grades — enough to unpack properly and move around comfortably.
• Suite SS (27.9 m²): Nearly double the footprint of an Outside Cabin, with a proper separate sitting area and bedroom. For guests who want genuine living space on the river, this is the grade to consider.

Where AmaSerena sails

Current sailings depart from Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Basel in Switzerland, heading through the Rhine river corridor and Western Europe's wider river network. Itineraries run to a maximum of 13 nights. Browse all available departures through our Europe river cruises search or look specifically at Europe cruise deals if you're watching the calendar for a discounted sailing.

Why book AmaSerena with CruiseAway

Every AmaSerena sailing departs from Europe, so Australian travellers will need flights to reach the ship. That's not a complication — it's an opportunity to build a proper trip. Our DreamAway Packages combine the cruise with return flights, hotel nights in Amsterdam or Basel before and after, and all transfers, priced and confirmed as a single booking. Our cruise experts know these itineraries in detail and can advise on which cabin grade suits your style of travel, and every booking is backed by our Best Price Guarantee.

Common questions about AmaSerena

How many guests does AmaSerena carry?

AmaSerena accommodates up to 162 guests, served by a crew of 51. The relatively low ratio of guests to crew is a defining feature of river cruising: there's a genuine attentiveness on board that a larger ship can't replicate in the same way.

Which cabin grade offers the best value for couples on a longer cruise?

That depends on how much time you expect to spend in the cabin. For guests who treat the cabin as a place to sleep and who plan to be ashore or on deck most of the day, the Outside Cabin D at 14.9 m² is a practical choice. Couples who want to linger over breakfast or read in the cabin benefit meaningfully from the extra space in the Balcony Cabin AA at 21.8 m², or the Suite SS at 27.9 m² for trips of a week or more.

Are bicycles available at every port?

AmaSerena carries a complimentary bicycle fleet available to all guests at no extra charge. Guests can borrow a bike at ports of call and explore independently — a good option for anyone who wants to see more of a town than a standard guided tour covers, at their own pace.

Do I need to pay extra for dining on board?

Both main dining venues — the Main Restaurant and The Chef's Table — are included in the cruise fare with no surcharge. The Specialty Coffee & Tea Station is also complimentary. Drinks in the Main Lounge are charged separately unless you hold a beverage package.

Which other AmaWaterways ships can I compare AmaSerena with?

AmaWaterways operates several other ships available through CruiseAway, including AmaBella, AmaCello, AmaVida, AmaReina, and AmaVerde. Each sails different itineraries, so the best starting point is checking which routes and departure dates suit you, then comparing the ships sailing them.