This article originally
appeared in the June issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.
Story by Samantha Davis-Friedman
When boarding a river cruise ship, I always make a point to scout out my favorite spot. On the 158-passenger Amadeus Nova – launched last year by family-owned Amadeus River Cruises as its first vessel with a hybrid propulsion system – that favorite was the Amadeus Club.
Not only does its position at the ship’s stern provide sweeping views of the Danube River, but guests at sunrise are treated to the water’s reflection dancing in rippling pools of early light. It’s also home to the espresso machine, which delivered a necessary jolt of caffeine before a day of exploration.
But for my friend Michaela, who accompanied me on a five-day sailing aboard Nova – her first-ever river cruise – the sweet spot was the top deck. Always the sun-worshipper, Michaela often disappeared for an hour or two, and I’d find her up top, framed by rolling hills, vineyards, castles and port towns.
Public Spaces
The Panorama Lounge. (Source: Amadeus River Cruises)
The decor of the Club – and the entire ship, frankly – is part of Nova’s overall draw. It’s smartly outfitted and modern in design, with public spaces and accommodations featuring a neutral color scheme and warm woods.
Michaela and I explored nearly every inch of the ship – from the Panorama Bar, where we sipped espresso martinis (beer and wine are included with meals; cocktails cost extra), to a Viennese waltz lesson Michaela joined one evening.
We also made use of the fitness room on the Haydn Deck, attempting (in vain) to burn off the indulgences from the onboard restaurant, which offers a buffet breakfast and à la carte lunch and dinner.
Accommodations
Amadeus Nova features six stateroom categories across its three decks: The Amadeus Suite (284 square feet) with an exterior balcony; the A-1, B-1 and B-4 cabins (188 square feet), with a drop-down, panoramic window; and the C-1 and C-4 cabins (172 square feet) with a panoramic window.
A stateroom onboard Amadeus Nova. (Source: Amadeus River Cruises)
Our Amadeus Suite on the Mozart Deck was spacious and comfortable, with a roomy sitting area and a marble bathroom featuring a walk-in rain shower and ample shelf storage. The walk-in closet rivaled ours at home, and the twin beds could convert to a king.
Excursions and Destinations
Although Nova served as our home base during the sailing roundtrip from Vienna – with stops in Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; and Melk and Dürnstein in Austria – we were eager to disembark and explore our surroundings.
We opted for a mix-and-match cocktail of Amadeus-guided excursions (offered at an additional cost) and freewheeling exploration. We found the best of both: the former in a guided tour of Budapest’s famed Central Market Hall, a wine tasting in Dürnstein and a visit to the ornate Melk Abbey; the latter in a spontaneous visit to a cat cafe and a hilltop castle in Bratislava, along with a self-led walking tour of Vienna that included the Austrian National Library.
This “choose your own adventure” style of river cruising is exactly what Marcus Leskovar, executive vice president of Amadeus River Cruises, said the line aims to provide.
During our sailing, he noted that beyond the obvious benefits of a river cruise – unpacking just once, visiting multiple countries in a single voyage and sailing at night to maximize daylight for exploration – the experience is designed to give guests as much (or as little) structure as they want.
Nova also sails the Rhine and Main rivers. As of press time, some 2025 dates are still available; 2026 bookings are open.
Selling Amadeus
Including Nova, Amadeus River Cruises has a fleet of 18 ships, with two more on the way (Amadeus Amara and Amadeus Aurea).
Port charges, taxes and onboard gratuities are included in the cruise fare.
Optional services (at an added cost) include onshore excursions, (which can be purchased in advance at a discount), spa services, onboard laundry, gift shop purchases and transfers.
Advisors can book groups via a 90-day contract (cabins held for 90 days with no upfront deposit) or a standard contract (cabins held until 120 days before sailing, with a 10% non-refundable deposit). For every 10 cabins sold, advisors earn a free cabin.
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