We spend a lot of time talking about Europe here at River Cruise Advisor, but my first river cruise was actually on the Mekong with AmaWaterways. I was a teenager traveling with my dad, and back then, my travel wish list leaned more toward Prague and Paris than Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City. But it’s that Mekong cruise that holds so many special memories for me. It was my first time in Asia, and everything felt new. These were places I never would have thought to put on a bucket list, mostly because I didn’t know some of them existed.

Having the ship to come back to made exploring those unfamiliar places feel easy. There was so much to take in during the day, and then we’d return to people we knew, a good dinner and somewhere comfortable to settle in. My dad and I have sailed with Ama many times since, on our own and with the groups we host, and that feeling is a big part of why we keep coming back. You get to know the crew and your fellow travelers, and surprisingly quickly, the ship starts to feel like home.

If Vietnam and Cambodia, Egypt or Colombia have been on your list, having someone take care of you along the way can make it easier to finally go. Ama is also giving travelers more options, with two new ships: AmaMaya, debuting on the Mekong in January 2027, and AmaNubia, scheduled to begin sailing the Nile this November. In South America, a new Machu Picchu land extension will be available after select Magdalena River cruises in Colombia beginning in April 2027.

All good reasons to take a closer look at where Ama can take you beyond Europe.

Mekong River Cruises: Vietnam And Cambodia

If the Mekong feels like a big leap from a European river cruise, my dad had some of those same reservations. Before we went, he worried about the long flight and the heat. In his account of our Mekong cruise, he ended up calling it one of the best experiences of his life.

Ama’s seven-night Charms of the Mekong and Riches of the Mekong itineraries introduce you to the region through its riverside villages, temples, workshops and cities, including Phnom Penh. There’s a lot of history to absorb, but some of the pleasure comes from simply being somewhere different: seeing what’s for sale in a market, tasting something unfamiliar and watching life along the river.

Paulette Hannah came home from her AmaWaterways Mekong trip feeling that she’d received a cultural education. She had signed up for a cruise and left with a broader perspective on the world. Reading her story, I recognized that feeling. She also praised how carefully Ama handled the details, right down to a handwritten postcard from her cruise manager after she returned home.

AmaMaya, scheduled to join AmaDara in January 2027, will bring another option to the river. She’ll accommodate 120 guests, with a sun deck pool and dining that includes regional flavors and The Chef’s Table.

If you’re considering the Mekong, look carefully at the land packages. Visits to Angkor Wat, Hanoi and Ha Long Bay extend beyond the seven-night river cruise. With so much worth seeing, this is a trip where I’d give myself as much time as I reasonably could.

Nile River Cruises: Egypt By River And Land

Egypt is one of those places people spend years saying they want to visit. The pyramids, the temples, the tombs – there’s so much you already recognize before you arrive, and so much more to understand once you’re there. A Nile cruise gives you a way to bring those places together in a trip that feels manageable.

Ama’s 11-night Secrets of Egypt & the Nile combines four nights in Cairo with a seven-night cruise roundtrip from Luxor. You’ll see the pyramids and sights around Cairo during the land stay, then explore places such as Karnak and the Valley of the Kings during the cruise.

This is a destination where good guides make a real difference. Ama’s Egyptologists help you make sense of what you’re seeing, and having the hotels, transfers and sightseeing arranged means you can give your attention to the places you came all this way to visit. There’s a lot packed into the trip, but you also have the comfort of the ship between outings.

AmaNubia, scheduled to debut this November, adds another option to Ama’s Nile fleet, with room for 76 guests in 38 staterooms. Her program pairs the cruise with stays at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence. If you’re comparing Egypt trips, look closely at that combination. The Cairo stay is a substantial part of the vacation, and where you stay and who shows you around deserve as much attention as your stateroom.

For a sense of how it all comes together, Paulette’s account of Egypt with AmaWaterways is worth reading. She went with a long-held wish to see the pyramids and came home having seen more of ancient Egypt than she ever expected.

Magdalena River Cruises: Exploring Colombia

Colombia offers another reason to broaden your idea of a river cruise. Ama’s seven-night Magic of Colombia and Wonders of Colombia itineraries travel between Barranquilla and Cartagena, with music, local traditions and riverside communities shaping the experience.

There’s time in historic Mompox, opportunities for birdwatching and a celebration of Barranquilla’s Carnival traditions. For travelers who enjoy learning about a place through its food, music and people, there’s a lot here to be curious about.

When we covered AmaWaterways’ arrival on the Magdalena, one detail that stood out was the involvement of Colombian craftspeople in creating AmaMagdalena. The connection to the destination continues on board through the design and regional cuisine. With just 60 guests, the ship also keeps the experience intimate.

Starting in April 2027, you’ll also be able to follow select Magic of Colombia cruises with a five-night trip to Peru. After finishing your cruise in Cartagena, you’ll fly to Lima to begin the land portion, which includes Cusco, the Sacred Valley and a guided visit to Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca site high in the Andes.

That’s a very different experience from a week on the Magdalena, and a reason to consider giving yourself more time in South America. Ama will arrange the hotels, tours and transportation along the way, so you can combine the two countries without putting together a separate Peru trip yourself.

There are two versions of the package, Boutique and Iconic, with different hotels and train experiences. The Iconic option includes Belmond hotels and a journey aboard the luxury Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu. Both are optional additions to the cruise, priced separately.

Why Choose Ama For A Trip Like This?

These trips involve more than choosing a ship. Having Ama coordinate the cruise and land arrangements means you don’t have to piece the trip together yourself.

And from our experience, the care goes beyond getting you from one place to another. We’ve come to appreciate how approachable the crew and cruise managers are, how closely they pay attention and how quickly we settle in. When you’re spending your days somewhere unfamiliar, having that comfort and support is worth a lot.

That’s what makes Ama a company I’d recommend for these journeys. You can visit places you’ve wanted to see for years, or discover somewhere you hadn’t considered, with people there to help you get the most out of it. My first Mekong cruise did that for me. It’s a big part of why I’d encourage you to look beyond Europe, too.

Current AmaWaterways Offers

Ama’s Season of More promotion offers savings of up to $2,500 per stateroom plus an eligible complimentary upgrade on select 2026 through 2028 departures booked by December 31, 2026. A separate Mekong promotion offers 2-for-1 land arrangements on select departures. Offers and upgrades are subject to availability and eligibility. Compare the full cruise and land package to see which works best for your trip.