AmaWaterways marks Vilshofen’s 1,250th anniversary aboard AmaMagna

AmaWaterways joined the town of Vilshofen an der Donau, Germany, on Nov. 8 to celebrate its 1,250th anniversary and recognize the partnership between the river cruise company and the local community.

Held aboard AmaMagna, the event brought together local officials, community members and business partners for ship tours, a ceremony and a luncheon.

The day began with guided tours offering up to 200 local residents an opportunity to explore the ship. 

The town’s mayor, former mayor, local officials and business partners then attended the ceremony and luncheon.

Representatives from AmaWaterways and Vilshofen exchanged flags and presented gifts, including a commemorative ship’s bell.

“The relationship between AmaWaterways and Vilshofen is a truly special one, built on a long and successful history. It began in 2008 with the first ship calls and has grown into a strong and trusted partnership that is of great importance to our city,” said Florian Gams, first mayor of the City of Vilshofen an der Donau.

“A visible symbol of this partnership has been the many ship christening ceremonies held in Vilshofen. These events have brought international attention to our city and helped establish Vilshofen as a recognized destination within the river cruise industry. Another important milestone came in 2019, when AmaWaterways and the City of Vilshofen jointly renovated and modernized the cruise ship landing facility as part of the Donauwelle project.”

Gams also highlighted the town’s Bavarian beer festivals and their role in welcoming river cruise passengers.

“One of Vilshofen's trademarks is its traditional Bavarian beer festivals. We want to offer guests more than just a place to dock. We want them to experience authentic Bavarian hospitality through local music, regional specialties, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.”

“The numbers speak for themselves: in 2026 alone, we organized 214 beer festivals for river cruise passengers. This impressive figure reflects the importance of river cruising to our city and the strength of our partnership with AmaWaterways.”

AmaWaterways said its relationship with Vilshofen reflects its approach to working with local partners and introducing travellers to the cultural heritage and traditions of the destinations it visits.

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