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February 5, 2025Holland America Line and The History Channel Announce Partnership
February 5, 2025
Award-winning river cruise company, AmaWaterways has announced an alliance with Smithsonian Journeys, the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution, and a leader in authentic, small-group travel.
Beginning in April 2026, select European river cruises will feature exclusive Smithsonian-crafted experiences, drawing on the Smithsonian’s 175+ year history as the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex.
“What sets AmaWaterways apart is our commitment to creating truly immersive experiences,” said Rudi Schreiner, co-founder and president of AmaWaterways. “Our goal is to go beyond simply seeing destinations—we want our guests to connect with the places we visit.”
He added, “By combining our expertise in river cruising with Smithsonian’s dedication to cultural and educational exploration, we offer travelers a unique opportunity to gain deeper insights into local history, traditions and ways of life, all while enjoying the exceptional comfort and service aboard our ships.”
Walter Littlejohn III, senior vice president of Smithsonian Journeys said in a statement, “We are excited to bring the Smithsonian experience to the great rivers of Europe aboard the ships of AmaWaterways,”
“Our dedication to lifelong learning and passion for exploring the world drives us to continually develop authentic, enriching experiences for travelers. These trips provide a bevy of new options for intellectually curious travelers to indulge in the rich history and cultures of countries such as Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and more through the unique lens of the Smithsonian.”
AmaWaterways alliance with Smithsonian Journeys features these river cruise journeys, ranging from eight to 15 days in 2026, which are available for booking beginning February 5, 2025:
- Holland and Belgium in Spring: A River Cruise at Tulip Time: April 4–11, April 9–16, April 12–19, April 16–23, 2026
- Cruising the Upper Danube: Romantic Ports from Bavaria to Budapest: May 18–25, June 15–22, Sept. 7–14, Oct. 5–12, 2026
- Cruising the Lower Danube: Gems of Southeast Europe: May 25–June 1, June 22–29, Sept. 14–21, Oct. 12–19, 2026
- The Grand Danube: A River Cruise from Germany to Romania: May 18–June 1, June 15–29, Sept. 7–21, Oct. 5–19, 2026
- Christmas Markets along the Danube: A River Cruise from Nuremburg to Budapest: Dec. 5–12, Dec. 10–19, 2026
- Christmas Markets along the Rhine: A River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel: Nov. 28–Dec. 5, Dec. 12–19, 2026
- The Captivating Rhine: A River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel: May 14–21, June 20–27, July 18–25, Sept. 26–Oct. 3, 2026
- Europe’s Magnificent Waterways: Cruising the Rhine, Main, and Danube River: May 30–June 13, 2026
- Cruising Portugal’s Enticing Douro River Valley: May 8–15, June 9–16, Sept. 4–11, Sept. 25–Oct. 2, Oct. 13–20, 2026
- Rhône River Cruise: Colors of Provence: May 21–28, July 16–23, Oct. 8–15, 2026
- Along the Seine: A River Cruise from Paris to Normandy: May 14–21, Sept. 3–10, Sept. 24–Oct. 1, 2026
- Taste of Bordeaux: Cruising the Waterways of Southwest France: Oct. 1–8, 2026
This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.
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