AmaWaterways plans to operate more than 50 ships by 2032, a fleet expansion anchored by its second double-width vessel after the AmaMagna — a ship the operator says will be the largest river cruise ship in Europe.

The AmaRudi carries 196 guests in 98 staterooms and will be dedicated to the Danube, where its extra beam (width) goes to public areas rather than additional cabins, CEO Catherine Powell told Cruise Industry News for the 2027 European River Market Report. "There will be more room to relax, more dining options, expanded wellness facilities and inviting public spaces designed for both quiet moments and social gatherings," Powell said, noting the ship will add a dedicated entertainment venue and a full-sized pickleball court on the Sun Deck (the top exterior level used for lounging).

What does the orderbook through 2028 include?

AmaWaterways has named six hulls in its public orderbook (a list of ships on order that the line has disclosed):

• AmaNubia — Nile, 38 staterooms, debut vessel
• AmaCleo — additional Egypt capacity
• AmaMaya — Mekong, 60 staterooms, 2027
• AmaFiora — Rhine, 76 staterooms, 2027
• AmaMaria — Danube, 2028
• AmaGaia — Douro, 2028

Why is the ship named after a man for the first time?

AmaRudi honors Rudi Schreiner, co-founder and chairman. She is the first AmaWaterways vessel named after a man; the rest of the fleet carries women's names.

Where is demand growing?

Exotic itineraries on the Nile, the Mekong, the Chobe and the Magdalena are "performing especially well," Powell said, though Europe remains the heart of the business. The operator is stretching its European calendar with February departures on Rhine and Danube rivers and December sailings in Portugal, including holiday and New Year's cruises — added selling days for travel advisors (booking intermediaries paid by commission) and longer remarketing windows.

North America remains the largest source market. Powell flagged four expanding cohorts: first-time cruisers, younger guests, multigenerational family bookings and solo travelers. For trade distributors, the multigen and solo signals point to single-supplement pressure (the per-cabin surcharge levied on solo travelers) — historically a margin compressor on river inventory.

How is port congestion being handled?

AmaRudi's size locks her to the Danube. Powell framed the constraint positively: "The Danube is one of Europe's most iconic rivers … and it's the perfect setting for a ship like the AmaRudi." On peak-port calls (scheduled stops where passengers may disembark for excursions), the line has substituted Zaandam for central Amsterdam. "It's a short transfer for our guests, but it helps reduce congestion while introducing them to a destination they might not have experienced otherwise," Powell said. Zaandam sits roughly 15 minutes by rail north of central Amsterdam.

What does it mean for sellers of travel?

The 196-guest capacity exceeds the typical 150-guest river cruise baseline, lifting average onboard spend potential but concentrating pricing power on the Vienna-Budapest corridor and adjacent Danube legs. A contestable sales corridor in 2026-2027 as Viking and Avalon Waterways, the operator's principal peers, work similar Europe-heavy orderbooks.

AmaWaterways is scaling volume on terms that protect its direct channel and small-port differentiation. The 2032 target will be tested against a river cruise sector where commissions, group allotments and pre-block pricing (rates locked in for travel sellers before public sale) remain the contested levers between operators and trade distributors.

Powell closed her interview on culture, not capacity: "Ships don't create unforgettable journeys. People do." Translated to trade terms, that is a retention pitch — onboard service is the lever as the orderbook lengthens and as AmaWaterways files for a 50-ship future.