AmaWaterways has announced a new partnership with Smithsonian Journeys to offer specialized river cruises across Europe. These cruises will feature onboard experts, including art historians, archaeologists, scientists, and anthropologists, providing a unique learning experience for travelers.
The collaboration will begin in April 2026 with 33 departures across some of Europe’s most famous rivers: the Danube, Rhine, Douro, Seine, and Rhone.
While Smithsonian Journeys has previously partnered with Ponant on small-ship ocean cruises, this is their first collaboration with a river cruise company. The river cruises will range from eight to 15 days and are now open for booking.
On each cruise, two experts will be aboard to give lectures on topics related to European history and culture. Notable experts include Tiffany Florvil, an associate professor of modern European history at the University of New Mexico; Tom Dawson, an archaeologist and professorial research fellow at the University of St. Andrews; and Valerie Hedquist, an art history professor at the University of Montana.
Walter Littlejohn III, Senior Vice President of Smithsonian Journeys, expressed excitement about the partnership. “These trips offer a wealth of options for intellectually curious travelers to explore the rich history and cultures of countries like Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal through the unique perspective of the Smithsonian,” he said.
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