AmaWaterways Unveils Double-Width AmaRudi for 2027 Danube Debut
Plans call for a full-sized pickleball court on the Sun Deck, with Rudi’s Wine Bar among the dining venues and a cinema-karaoke space inside.
AmaWaterways will introduce AmaRudi on the Danube in April 2027, adding a 443-foot, double-width river ship designed for 196 guests and 70 crew. The vessel’s first sailing is scheduled to depart Vilshofen, Germany, for Budapest on April 11, 2027, and the ship will stand alongside AmaMagna as Europe’s largest river cruise ship.
A survey shared by TUI Group put Europe at 1.5 million river-cruise passengers in 2025, up 8% from 2024.
“More travellers are making the transition from ocean cruising to rivers, and many are looking for a sense of space and choice,” said Rudi Schreiner, co-founder of AmaWaterways. “AmaMagna was one of the most rewarding projects of my career, so having this new ship carry my name makes it especially meaningful.”
AmaRudi will be the first ship in the company’s history named after a man, honoring Schreiner, who was born and raised near Austria’s Danube River.
A wider Danube ship with larger public areas
Like AmaMagna, AmaRudi will have a 72-foot beam, twice the width of a traditional river ship. That design gives the vessel larger public areas and accommodations, while also limiting the ship to the Danube because its width prevents navigation through locks on other European waterways.
The ship will have four decks and 98 staterooms and suites, with more than half of accommodations classified as suites. Cabin and suite sizes listed for the vessel range up to 710 square feet for the Owner’s Suite on the Violin Deck.
Dining venues will include Journey’s Restaurant, The Chef’s Table, al fresco dining, Rudi’s Wine Bar and a Deck Club barbecue on the Sun Deck. AmaWaterways also plans complimentary beer, soft drinks and selected wines as part of the onboard dining program.
The Sun Deck is planned with a pool, hot tub, walking track and full-sized pickleball court. Inside, AmaRudi will include a wellness area with massage treatment rooms, hair and nail services, fitness space and relaxation areas, along with an entertainment venue combining cinema, karaoke, billiards and a jukebox.
The vessel’s technical package includes Stage V engines tied to EU limits on particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and particle-number emissions for non-road diesel machinery. The ship will also have solar panels, shore-power connections, spud poles and lightweight construction materials.
“There is tremendous opportunity to continue pushing the boundaries of what a river cruise ship can be,” said Catherine Powell, CEO of AmaWaterways. She said the company is also focused on preserving the service model it has used for more than two decades.
Part of a larger fleet buildout
AmaRudi is part of a fleet expansion AmaWaterways outlined in April 2026. The line’s 2025 fleet consisted of 29 ships, and the company has set a target of more than 50 vessels by 2032.
The plan includes 15 new ships in Europe and more than 60% capacity growth outside the region, with vessels planned for Africa and Asia. AmaNubia is scheduled to debut on the Nile in September 2026, followed by AmaRudi on the Danube, AmaMaya on the Mekong and AmaFiora on the Rhine.
Full booking information for AmaRudi is still pending. AmaWaterways said additional details on accommodations, onboard experiences and reservations will be announced in the coming months.
