AmaStella

Twin balconies are an AmaWaterways signature, and most of AmaStella's staterooms have them. Floor-to-ceiling French balcony doors open for fresh air in any weather, and a separate step-out balcony adds two chairs and a small table for coffee or an evening drink. The four Suites have larger twin balconies, CA and CB staterooms have French balconies, and window staterooms sit on the lowest deck. Harr Travel has filmed the suite and stateroom types on video.

Danny calls the Main Lounge the living room of the ship. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap 270 degrees around it, perfect for scenery like the Rhine Gorge or the Wachau Valley. The bar pours beer on tap, wines and Champagne, a lounge singer performs at the piano, and local musicians sometimes come aboard. The cruise director briefs guests on the next day here, and tapas are served in the afternoon and evening. Out front, a glass windbreak and heaters shelter seating at the bow.

The Main Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner behind big windows, with an open center that lets light in from both sides. Breakfast and lunch offer a buffet with a salad bar and egg stations, plus items to order from the menu. Dinner is a fully served, multi-course meal with classic fish, chicken and beef dishes alongside local specialties paired with local wines. Two wine rooms by the entrance, with wine fridges and a fireplace, suit groups and celebrations.

Aft on deck three, The Chef's Table has its own demonstration kitchen, separate from the main galley, where chefs cook dinner in front of guests. The tasting menu usually runs to about seven courses with several choices, so guests can sample up to 20 dishes, all paired with wine. Tables line the windows to make the most of the river views. The room also converts into a meeting space for groups, something Harr Travel has arranged with AmaWaterways many times.

AmaWaterways is one of the very few river lines with a pool on board, and AmaStella's sits on the Sun Deck. A shallow entrance lets guests sit and dip their toes in, there are bench seats in the water, and a swim-up bar sits at the far side. It's a relaxing spot on a warm sailing day along the Rhine or the Danube. The fitness host also uses the pool for exercise classes as part of the line's wellness program.

The Sun Deck stretches the length of AmaStella, with tables up front for morning coffee, overstuffed couches, loungers with ottomans, chess and cornhole, and drink service. A walking track circles the whole deck. Because river ships pass under low bridges, the bridge rides on hydraulics and the railings and big shade structure fold down. Co-owner Rudi Schreiner designed the ship with a shallow draft so she can handle high or low water on Europe's rivers.