Introducing AmaMagdalena: AmaWaterways’ Stunning New River Cruise Ship Exploring Colombia 

Cruise Specialists Blog - Cruise Reviews, Updates & Inspiration

Introducing AmaMagdalena: AmaWaterways’ Stunning New River Cruise Ship Exploring Colombia

By Lisa Vongphachanh




If you've ever dreamed of exploring South America in style, the wait is over. Launching in March 2025, AmaWaterways' AmaMagdalena offers a luxurious new way to experience the culture, flavor, and spirit of Colombia, along the breathtaking Magdalena River. Be among the first to sail aboard this intimate, 60-guest river ship and discover a region rich with history and rhythm on one of two unforgettable itineraries: Wonders of Colombia and Magic of Colombia.

A Ship Like No Other

Custom-built to navigate the majestic Magdalena River, the brand-new AmaMagdalena blends modern comfort with local charm in a way only AmaWaterways can deliver.

Onboard, you’ll find:

  • 30 twin-balcony staterooms, each with both a French and outside balcony for panoramic river views
  • Main Restaurant serving regional Latin American specialties and Western favorites
  • Al fresco dining experience: intimate, open-air meals under the Colombian sky
  • Spacious fitness room and a Sun Deck pool for rejuvenation between ports
  • Personalized service from a dedicated crew, ensuring a truly intimate journey

Travel Leaders Image
Main lounge on AmaMagdalena

Travel Leaders Image
AmaMagdalena stateroom

Every detail, from the warm onboard ambiance to the regionally inspired cuisine, invites you to relax, indulge, and connect with Colombia in style. You'll wake to a new scene unfolding outside your window every day, from quaint villages to lush riverbanks bursting with life.

Travel Leaders Image
AmaMagdalena on the Magdalena River

Two Unforgettable Itineraries Through the Land of a Thousand Rhythms

Colombia’s Magdalena River is more than a route, it’s a cultural thread that ties together vibrant towns, rich traditions, and untold stories. Cruise from Cartagena to Barranquilla or reverse to experience it all firsthand.

Highlights include:

  • Cartagena – Explore the famed “Walled City” and its Spanish fortifications
  • Calamar – Gateway to stunning river landscapes and biodiversity
  • Santa Barbara de Pinto – A charming village along the Magdalena
  • Mompox – Known for its filigree jewelry and colonial architecture
  • El Banco – A musical town brimming with local rhythm and tradition
  • Magangue – A vibrant river town with thriving markets
  • Nueva Venecia – A floating village only accessible by water
  • Barranquilla – Colombia’s carnival capital and cultural hub

With each stop, AmaMagdalena brings you face-to-face with Colombia’s diverse heritage. From birdwatching excursions to culinary tastings and expert-led shore tours, these cruises offer much more than sightseeing—they’re deep, curated experiences.

Travel Leaders Image
Cartagena
Travel Leaders Image
Mompox
Travel Leaders Image
El Banco

Travel Leaders Image
Toucan
Travel Leaders Image
Hummingbird

Savor local flavors like posta negra cartagenera, butifarra sausage, and sweet treats from the iconic palenqueras. Spot rare birds like the sapphire-bellied hummingbird, and step into centuries of preserved history in towns like Mompox and Palenque.

Book with Cruise Specialists

As your river cruise experts, we know how to match your travel style to the perfect itinerary. Let us take care of every detail—from pre- and post-cruise options to personalized tips on how to make the most of your Colombian adventure.

Cruise Specialists today to reserve your stateroom on this groundbreaking new river cruise.

See Colombia River Cruises with AmaWaterways >>

SEE ALL CLASSIC BLOGS →
                              
SEARCH ARTICLES
                              

                           
ARTICLE TOPICS
                           
Cruise Destinations ▼
Cruise Lines ▼
Tours, Train, and Resorts ▼

                                    
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
                                    
Guest Contributor
READ MY ARTICLES →
Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
READ MY ARTICLES →
Lisa Vongphachanh
READ MY ARTICLES →
Georgina Cruz
READ MY ARTICLES →
John Bell
READ MY ARTICLES →
Kirsten Ulmer and Alex Tokar
READ MY ARTICLES →
Keith and Susie Boyland
READ MY ARTICLES →
Kim Jackson
READ MY ARTICLES →
Kevin LaGraff and Susan Atkins
READ MY ARTICLES →

MORE REVIEWS
Unveiling Oceania Aurelia™

Unveiling Oceania Aurelia™

The Ultimate Explorer, designed specifically for longer voyages. Launching in late 2027, Oceania Aurelia will carry fewer than 500 guests on inaugural sailings in the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic to the United States, where the iconic Around the World voyage will embark. Oceania Aurelia will also host the 2029 Around the World Voyage and two Grand Voyages in 2028.

READ MORE →

MSC Yacht Club Makes World Cruise Debut

MSC Yacht Club Makes World Cruise Debut

The 2027 World Cruise aboard MSC Magnifica will be the first-ever world voyage to offer the MSC Yacht Club experience. The newly refurbished MSC Magnifica underwent the most extensive refurbishment in MSC Cruises history this past winter. Several high-end features were added, from the new specialty restaurants Butcher's Cut Steakhouse and Kaito Sushi Bar to an upgraded spa and fitness center, complete with a gentleman’s barber shop. But the most exciting update is the addition of the MSC Yacht Club featuring 63 luxury suites with 24-hour butler and concierge service, a dedicated restaurant, private lounge, pool and sundeck.

READ MORE →

Holland Americas World Cruise 2026

Holland Americas World Cruise 2026

As with tradition, the World Cruise 2026 journey begins for our Cruise Specialists guests when they start to converge on the Renaissance Hotel near Fort Lauderdale the day before the cruise begins. They were welcomed by our friendly Cruise Specialists Cruise staff and given a wonderful array of gifts followed by a splendid cocktail reception and dinner. It was a great way for us to meet each other and enjoy so many smiles and hugs from old and new friends alike. This year the wonderful gifts exclusive to Cruise Specialists guests are a logo embroidered vest or fleece, a backpack or cross body bag, a hat pin, pen & water bottle. All super useful for the World Cruise ahead.

READ MORE →

TRUSTED BY:
Conde Nast Traveler
Travel + Leisure
Wall Street Journal
CLIA - Official Travel Agency for the Cruise Industry
Forbes
--%>