Amadeus Aurea

The 2026-built Amadeus Aurea cruise ship (also branded as Aurea by AMADEUS) is a 160-passenger riverboat (the fleet's 21st and newest) owned by the Austrian company Luftner Cruises and operated by its travel brand Amadeus River Cruises.

Aurea's sisterships include Amadeus Cara (2021), Amadeus Riva (2023), Amadeus Nova (2024), Amadeus Amara (2025), and Amadeus Mira (2027).

Amadeus Aurea cruises on the Danube, Main, Rhine, and Moselle rivers (including Danube Delta voyages to the Black Sea), as well as on the Belgian and Dutch inland waterways.

The vessel (ENI number 02340940) is currently Germany-flagged (MMSI 211229340) and registered in Cologne.

The vessel was built at TeamCo Shipyard in Heusden, North Brabant, Netherlands. The ship's name, Aurea, is of Latin origin and means"golden" or "gilded". The hull and superstructure were constructed by Severnav in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Romania. After completion, the ship was moved to Holland for outfitting at TeamCo's yard.

Amadeus Aurea's propulsion is hybrid (diesel-electric). The battery system is from EST-Floattech's series Octopus High Energy, based on high-density, lithium-ion batteries. It adds 520 kWh of electricity to the propulsion and results in fuel savings and reduced emissions.

The boat's christening ceremony was held in Amsterdam on May 15th, 2026, and was led by godmother Kristie Smith Keller, owner of Addicted to Adventures LLC (a Lakewood Ranch, Florida-based travel agency). The naming event was attended by Wolfgang and Martina Luftner (owners and founders of Amadeus River Cruises) and their three daughters, company executives, shipyard representatives, and VIP guests (local dignitaries, business partners, and select loyalty members and travel agents). The guests also enjoyed an exclusive inaugural cruise through the harbor.

Decks and Cabins

MS Amadeus Aurea has 79 staterooms and 4 decks - the open-air Sun Deck and 3 cabin decks named after the Austrian composers Haydn (1), Strauss (2), and Mozart (3).

The ship offers 12 Amadeus Suites (27 m2, with step-out balconies, all midship on Mozart Deck), 51 French Balcony cabins (18 m2, featuring drop-down windows for floor-to-ceiling views), and 16 Window cabins (16 m2, with non-opening windows near the ceiling, all located on Haydn Deck near the aft crew accommodations).

All staterooms include twin beds (convertible to a queen-size double bed), mirrored vanity table with chair, wardrobe, electronic safe (in the closet), direct-dial phone, TV, seating area (two armchairs with a round coffee/dining table), floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows (slide-opening to French Balcony), and en-suite bathroom with WC, single-sink vanity, shower, and hairdryer.

Suites additionally feature fully stocked minibars (not complimentary), a corner sofa (daybed), a walk-in wardrobe, and a step-out balcony.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

All meals are served at the Panorama Restaurant (forward on Strauss Deck 2). The venue offers early breakfast, buffet breakfast, buffet or waiter-served lunch, and five-course gourmet dinners with complimentary regional wines. All dishes are prepared using fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Guests can also enjoy Afternoon Tea & Cake, midnight snacks, and a 24-hour coffee/tea station.

The Sun Deck (Deck 4) is the primary leisure space, offering panoramic views, plenty of seating (deckchairs, loungers, and shaded areas with five retractable awnings), a putting green (mini-golf), Giant Chessboard, Shuffleboard, and Pickleball Court. The Sun Deck Lounge & Bar (a Lido-style dining area) serves light snacks and beverages. The Navigation Bridge/Wheelhouse is passenger-accessible and telescopic for low bridge clearance.

Panorama Lounge & Bar (Mozart Deck 3 forward) serves as the main show lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable seating, and a full-service bar. It hosts enrichment activities including port talks, destination-themed lectures, multimedia presentations, themed parties, crew shows, and live performances by local artists.

Amadeus Club (Mozart Deck 3 aft) is a wine bar and library with Internet stations. Cafe Vienna (Mozart Deck 3 midship) is a patisserie/coffee house serving Austrian specialty coffees, fresh-baked cakes, pastries, and gourmet desserts. River Terrace (Mozart Deck 3 bow) is a glass-enclosed lounge accessible from the Panorama Lounge or Sun Deck stairs.

Wellness facilities are located midship-forward on Haydn Deck and include a Spa (massage room) and a 24-hour Gym. The Hair Salon (Deck 3 aft-portside) offers professional hairdressing and barber services.

The Lobby Hall (midship on Mozart Deck) houses the Reception Desk, providing 24-hour guest services, information, cashier, luggage assistance, and tour booking.

The Sun Deck also features a heated outdoor swimming pool (midship-forward, near the Wheelhouse). The aft section of the Sun Deck is equipped with solar panels (photovoltaic cells) to supplement the ship's hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system.

A passenger elevator connects all interior cabin decks.

Wi-Fi is available shipwide for an additional fee.

All shore excursions include complimentary bicycles (stored on the Sun Deck) and wireless audio systems.

Itineraries

Amadeus Aurea's itinerary program is primarily based on homeporting in Passau, Germany.

Most Danube cruises depart from Passau, with additional departures available from Nuremberg, Cologne, Budapest, Amsterdam, Basel, and Vienna.

Danube itineraries include: "Three-Rivers Cruise" (Amsterdam-Nuremberg and reverse), "Classical Danube Cruise" (Passau-Budapest and reverse), "Danube Rhapsody" (roundtrip from Passau), "Blue Danube" (Nuremberg-Budapest), "Beautiful Blue Danube and Danube Delta" (roundtrip from Passau), "1200 Miles on the Beautiful Blue Danube" (Vienna-Bucharest/Fetesti and reverse), and "Across Europe" (Amsterdam-Budapest).

The Rhine itinerary is themed "Classical Rhine Cruise" (Basel-Amsterdam and reverse).