AmaWaterways has unveiled plans to launch a new custom-built, all-suite river ship in Colombia, South America.
Under a new partnership with Ecuador’s Metropolitan Touring, the duo will develop a new luxury cruise product and experience on the Magdalena River, which stretches 1,500kms through the north-central region of the South American country.
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The vessel will be named after the river on which it sails, the AmaMagdalena. Its capacity will be less than 100 guests, with the design to be similar to AmaWaterways’ European ships, but with bigger staterooms, and all with private balconies.
The new ship and cruise program will incorporate the design experience of AmaWaterways’ President and Co-Founder Rudi Schreiner, plus Metropolitan Touring’s expertise in expedition cruising in the Galápagos Islands.
“Not since my early university days of exploring the Amazon River have I felt the excitement of discovering a new destination that is so rich in biodiversity and culture, as I found on the Magdalena River in Colombia,” said Schreiner. “I’m absolutely captivated by the rich history, wildlife, and friendly welcome that awaits our guests when our intimate, all-suite ship sets sail in December 2023.”
Paulina Burbano de Lara, CEO of Metropolitan Touring, said that finding the right partner to develop the first-ever eco-friendly river cruise experience for Colombia was “of utmost importance to our company and me”.
AmaWaterways’ guests will be able to choose between two seven-night itineraries with pre- and post-cruise land programs exploring the Magdalena River and delving into Colombia’s cultural and natural heritage.
Passengers aboard AmaMagdalena will be captivated by Colombia’s wildlife, culture, flavours, and people, along with experiences such as kayaking, hiking, and birdwatching.
“It is incredibly exciting to be able to launch a new river cruise destination like Colombia, with such a colourful history and artistic background,” said Kristin Karst, Executive VP and Co-Founder of AmaWaterways.
“We are celebrating 19 years of creating authentic river cruise experiences in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and now, with our world-recognised destination partner, Metropolitan Touring, we will be able to offer our guests an opportunity to explore a fourth continent while discovering the hidden gems of Colombia along the majestic Magdalena River.”
Full details on the itineraries and new ship will be revealed in coming weeks and expected to go on sale in Autumn 2021. Travel advisors can register for more information here.
Just last month, Hurtigruten announced a strategic partnership with Metropolitian Touring to exclusively charter MS Santa Cruz II starting from January 2022.
Lead image: Mompox, Colombia – one of the expected ports on the Magdalena River for AmaMagdalena.