AmaWaterways · Ship Review
AmaSiena on the Rhine: AmaWaterways' Modern Rhine Ship, Reviewed
The AmaSiena is the ship I put in front of couples who want AmaWaterways on the Rhine on a recent build without a family theme. Here is how she is laid out, what to expect on board, and how to choose between her and her sisters.
Specialist Ship Guide
- Advisor
- Melissa Yetter
- Cruise Line
- AmaWaterways
- Ship
- AmaSiena
- Experience
- Specialist guide — sister ships sailed and inspected; client debriefs
- Year
- 2021 debut · guide current for 2026
- Certification
- AmaWaterways Certified Specialist
I have not sailed the AmaSiena yet, and this page says so. It is a specialist guide built from AmaWaterways deck plans and training, debriefs from clients I have booked on board, and my own sailings and inspections of her sister ships. It will become a firsthand review once I am on board.
Section One
Where the AmaSiena Fits
The AmaSiena joined the AmaWaterways fleet at the start of the 2020s and settled onto the Rhine, where she has become one of the line's workhorse ships for the Amsterdam-to-Basel corridor. She is a 135-meter, roughly 156-guest vessel in the same class as the AmaLea, AmaKristina, and AmaLucia, which means the twin-balcony staterooms, the Chef's Table, and the heated sun-deck pool are all here.
Where the AmaLucia leans into family departures, the AmaSiena more often runs standard and themed sailings, including wine-focused and Christmas market cruises. For couples and friends traveling together who want a newer ship without a family program, she is frequently my first recommendation on the Rhine.
The name honors the Tuscan city of Siena, and the interior palette reflects it: warmer tones than some of her sisters, with a lot of natural light in the lounge.
What to Expect
What to Expect on Board
- A recent-build AmaWaterways ship with the line's current interiors and up-to-date stateroom tech
- Twin-balcony staterooms on the upper two decks; fixed-window staterooms on the Piano Deck at the entry price
- The Chef's Table aft, included in the fare and worth reserving on embarkation day
- Heated sun-deck pool with swim-up bar, fitness room, massage room, and a full rack of complimentary bicycles
- Standard hull width, so she passes the Rhine locks and docks centrally in every port on the route
- Regular wine-themed and Christmas market departures, which draw an engaged, like-minded guest mix
- Ports nearly every day: the Rhine rarely asks you to spend a full day at sea
The Right Fit
Who I Recommend This For
The AmaSiena is a strong fit for:
- Couples who want a newer AmaWaterways ship
- If the twin balcony matters and you would rather be on a ship built this decade, the AmaSiena is the Rhine answer without the family-sailing calendar.
- Wine-focused travelers
- AmaWaterways' wine cruises on the Rhine often run on the AmaSiena, with a host, tastings, and excursions into the Rheingau and Alsace vineyards.
- Christmas market cruisers
- Amsterdam-to-Basel holiday sailings call at Cologne, Rüdesheim, and Strasbourg. My Christmas Market River Cruises guide covers timing, cabin choice, and what to pack.
- First-timers who want the safest bet
- AmaWaterways' inclusion level on the friendliest river in Europe is the lowest-risk first river cruise I know how to recommend.
Honest Counsel
Who I Would Not Recommend This For
No ship is right for everyone, and I would rather tell you that now than after you book.
- Travelers who want a single big-ship experience
- The AmaMagna's multiple dining venues, larger suites, and wellness studio do not exist here. This is the classic river ship experience, done very well.
- Guests with significant mobility limits
- Read the Accessibility Note below. No river ship, however new, is fully accessible, and AmaWaterways requires guests to board without assistance.
- Budget-first shoppers
- Peak-season and holiday fares on a newer AmaWaterways ship are premium. Shoulder-season dates and Piano Deck staterooms narrow the gap.
Onboard
Cabins
Staterooms mirror the layout I know from the AmaSiena's sister ships. Categories on the Violin and Cello decks carry the twin balcony, a full-height French balcony plus a separate step-out balcony with two chairs, which on the Rhine Gorge stretch is the best seat on the ship.
Piano Deck staterooms sit at the waterline with fixed windows. They are compact, quiet, and a sensible choice if the budget is better spent on a pre-cruise night in Amsterdam or a post-cruise stay in Lucerne.
Suites at the top of the deck plan add living space and a larger balcony. There are only a few, so if a suite is the goal, book early and let me hold specific numbers.
Onboard
Dining
The main restaurant serves regional menus that follow the river, with Dutch, Rhineland, and Alsatian influences appearing as the week progresses, and complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner.
The Chef's Table aft is included and is the evening to plan around: a multi-course tasting menu in an intimate room with a view of the kitchen. Reserve immediately on boarding.
The lounge handles early and late breakfasts, a lighter lunch, afternoon tea, and evening tapas. On wine-themed departures, expect additional tastings and paired dinners.
Ashore
Excursions & Ports
All excursions are included and tiered CLASSIC, GENTLE, and ACTIVE, with Limited Edition small-group options on most days. On the Rhine that translates into castle visits, city walking tours, vineyard hikes, and guided bike rides using the ship's own fleet.
Because the Rhine's ports sit close together, the AmaSiena often stays docked into the evening, which leaves time for an independent wander after the group tour.
Ports to look forward to
- Amsterdam
- Canals, museums, and the best embarkation city on any European river. Come two nights early.
- Cologne
- The cathedral and the Old Town, with the Kölsch breweries a short walk from the dock.
- Rüdesheim
- The gateway to the Rhine Gorge and its castles. The cable car over the vineyards is worth the line.
- Heidelberg
- Castle ruins above a photogenic Old Town, reached by coach from the river.
- Strasbourg
- Petite France, the cathedral, and the choucroute. In December, the Capital of Christmas.
- Basel
- Disembarkation and the door to Switzerland: Lucerne, Zurich, and the Alps are all within two hours.
Onboard
Ship Design
Forward main lounge with bar and panoramic windows, main restaurant midship, Chef's Table aft, and a sun deck with pool, walking track, and shaded seating: the AmaSiena follows the proven AmaWaterways plan. The interiors are contemporary, warm, and understated rather than bold.
As a recent build she carries the details guests notice: plentiful outlets and USB ports, good reading light, and quiet climate control.
Onboard
Service
AmaWaterways service is consistent fleet-wide in my experience, and clients returning from the AmaSiena report the same: a crew that remembers names and preferences, a cruise manager who sets a calm rhythm, and a wellness host who keeps the sun deck programming going for those who want it.
Planning
Best Itinerary
Captivating Rhine, Amsterdam to Basel or Basel to Amsterdam, seven nights, is the AmaSiena's core itinerary and the one I recommend first. It covers Cologne, the Rhine Gorge, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, and Basel with a port almost every day.
For wine lovers, look for a hosted wine departure on the same routing. For the holidays, the Christmas market version runs late November through December and sells out early; see my Rhine vs. Danube Christmas market guide if you are torn between rivers.
Scorecard
My Rating
Scores reflect the AmaWaterways standard I have experienced on the AmaSiena's sister ships and client feedback specific to her. I will revisit them after I sail.
- Ship Design
- 9/10
- Cabin Comfort
- 9/10
- Dining & Chef's Table
- 9/10
- Excursions
- 9/10
- Itinerary
- 10/10
- Overall Value
- 9/10
Worth Knowing
What Stands Out
- The twin balcony on the Rhine Gorge
- The castle-lined stretch between Rüdesheim and Koblenz is the best scenic cruising on the river, and a step-out balcony is where you want to be for it.
- Wine departures done properly
- AmaWaterways' hosted wine cruises are not a gimmick; the Rheingau and Alsace tastings are the real thing.
- A newer ship at a standard AmaWaterways price
- Recent builds do not carry a surcharge over older sisters on the same route, so ask for her by name when dates align.
Important
Accessibility Note
The AmaSiena has an elevator between the main passenger decks but not to the sun deck. Staterooms and bathrooms are not wheelchair-accessible, and gangways vary from gentle to steep depending on water level and dock position.
AmaWaterways requires guests to be able to board and disembark without assistance, and cobblestoned old towns along the Rhine add their own challenges ashore. If anyone in your party has mobility concerns, let us talk it through candidly before booking.
Questions
AmaSiena FAQ
The questions clients ask me most often about the AmaSiena, answered plainly.
Has Melissa sailed the AmaSiena?
How big is the AmaSiena?
Which itineraries does the AmaSiena sail?
Do the cabins have real balconies?
Is the Chef's Table included?
Is there a pool on board?
Are shore excursions included on the AmaSiena?
AmaSiena or AmaLucia for the Rhine?
Does the AmaSiena do Christmas market cruises?
Is the AmaSiena a good first river cruise?
Watch
AmaSiena Video
Ready to Look at the AmaSiena?
Wine and Christmas market departures on the AmaSiena are among the first Rhine sailings to fill each year. If she sounds like your ship, the right time to start is now.
As an AmaWaterways Certified Specialist I can compare her against the AmaLucia and AmaLea for your dates, hold specific twin-balcony staterooms, and plan Amsterdam and Switzerland stays around the cruise.
Melissa Yetter
Cruisin Couple Travel Agency
Melissa Yetter is an AmaWaterways Certified Specialist, CLIA Certified Cruise Counselor, and ASTA Verified Travel Advisor. This AmaSiena guide draws on specialist training, client feedback, and her sailings on the ship's sister vessels; it will be updated to a firsthand review after she sails.
Plan My River Cruise — AmaSiena
Your request is pre-set for the AmaSiena on the Rhine. Add your dates, party size, and cabin preference and I will follow up personally with availability, cabin guidance, and current pricing.
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