Amadeus Nova

The 2024-built Amadeus Nova cruise ship (also branded as Nova by AMADEUS) is a 160-passenger riverboat (the fleet's 19th) owned by the Austrian company and shipowner Luftner Cruises and operated via the Luftner-owned travel brand Amadeus River Cruises.

Nova's sisterships are the fleet's newest vessels - Amadeus Cara (2021), Amadeus Riva (2023), Amadeus Amara (2025), Amadeus Aurea (2026), and Amadeus Mira (2027).

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

The vessel (ENI number 02340299) is currently Germany-flagged (MMSI 218046420) and registered in Cologne.

Amadeus Nova'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.

Decks and Cabins

MS Amadeus Nova 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, with drop-down panoramic windows), and 16 Window cabins (16 m2, non-opening windows, located on Haydn Deck near staff and crew quarters).

All staterooms feature twin beds (convertible to Queen-size), mirrored vanity with chair, wardrobe, electronic safe, direct-dial phone, TV, seating area (2 armchairs and round coffee/dining table), floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows (slide-opening for French Balcony cabins), and en-suite bathrooms (with WC, single-sink vanity, shower, and hairdryer).

Suites additionally include fully-stocked minibars (not complimentary), a corner sofa (daybed), 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), which offers early breakfast (light bites), buffet breakfast, buffet or waiter-served lunch, and five-course gourmet dinners with complimentary regional wines. All produce is seasonal and locally sourced. Afternoon tea and cake, midnight snacks, and a 24-hour coffee/tea station are also available.

The Sun Deck (Deck 4) is the ship's primary leisure area, featuring scenic views, deckchairs, sun loungers, shaded areas (with five retractable awnings), a mini-golf course (putting green), Giant Chess, Shuffleboard, and a Pickleball Court.

The forward Sun Deck Lounge & Bar (Lido-type venue) serves light snacks and beverages.

The Sun Deck’s Navigation Bridge/Wheelhouse is passenger-accessible and telescopic (retractable for low bridges).

The Panorama Lounge & Bar (Mozart Deck 3 forward) is the main show lounge, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, elegant seating, a full-service bar, and hosting enrichment programs, port talks, destination-themed lectures, themed parties, crew shows, and live music and performances by local artists.

The Amadeus Club (Mozart Deck 3 aft) is a stylish wine bar with Internet stations and serves as the ship’s library.

Cafe Vienna (Mozart Deck 3 midship) functions as the onboard bakery, patisserie, and coffee house, offering Austrian specialty coffees, homemade cakes, tarts, pastries, and gourmet desserts.

The River Terrace (Mozart Deck 3 bow) is a glass-shielded, weather-protected lounge accessible via the Panorama Lounge or stairs from the Sun Deck.

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

The Lobby Hall (Mozart Deck midship) houses the Reception Desk, offering 24-hour services such as information, assistance, cashier, luggage handling, and tour bookings.

An outdoor heated swimming pool is located midship-forward on the Sun Deck, adjacent to the Wheelhouse. Solar panels (photovoltaic cells) installed at the Sun Deck's aft section provide supplementary energy for the ship’s hybrid (diesel-electric) engines.

An elevator connects all cabin decks.

Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship for an additional fee.

Complimentary bicycles (stored on the Sun Deck) and wireless audio systems are provided for all shore excursions.

Itineraries

Amadeus Nova’s itinerary program is primarily based on homeporting in Passau, Germany and Amsterdam, Netherlands. Most Danube River cruises depart from Passau, with additional departures from Nuremberg, Vienna, Budapest, and Fetesti/Bucharest.

Rhine River cruises depart from Cologne and Kehl/Strasbourg.

Dutch Waterway itineraries are themed “Tulip Serenade” (roundtrip from Amsterdam).

Danube itineraries include "German Riverscapes" (Passau-Trier), "Three-Rivers Cruise" (Amsterdam-Nuremberg), "Classical Danube Cruise" (Passau-Budapest and reverse), "Danube Rhapsody" (Passau roundtrip), "Blue Danube" (Nuremberg-Budapest), "Beautiful Blue Danube and Danube Delta" (Passau roundtrip), "1200 Miles on the Beautiful Blue Danube" (Vienna-Bucharest and reverse), and "Across Europe" (Amsterdam-Budapest). A seasonal option is “Magic of Advent on the Danube” (Nuremberg-Vienna) with overnight stays in both ports.

Rhine River cruises are themed “Magic of Advent on the Rhine” (Cologne-Strasbourg), “Christmas Cruise on the Rhine” (Cologne roundtrip), and “New Year’s Eve Cruise on the Rhine” (Cologne roundtrip).

The Maiden Voyage (7-night/8-day Three-Rivers Cruise) was scheduled to depart from Amsterdam on May 12, 2023, and end in Nuremberg on May 19. Prices started at EUR 2000 (~GBP 1690) per person (double occupancy). This itinerary was also available as part of a 14-night back-to-back Amsterdam to Budapest voyage.

Amadeus Nova’s 2024 inaugural season included the following themed itineraries:

• 7-night/8-day "TULIP SERENADE" (Amsterdam-Arnhem-Middleburg-Ghent-Antwerp-Rotterdam-Amsterdam overnight)
• 8-night/9-day "GERMAN RIVERSCAPES" (Passau-Regensburg-Bamberg-Wurzburg/Ochsenfurt-Miltenberg/Wertheim-Koblenz/Oberwesel-Cochem-Trier)
• 7-night/8-day "THREE-RIVERS CRUISE" (Amsterdam-Utrecht-Cologne-Rudesheim-Miltenberg-Wertheim-Wurzburg-Bamberg-Nuremberg)
• 14-night/15-day "ACROSS EUROPE - AMSTERDAM TO BUDAPEST" (Amsterdam-Utrecht-Cologne-Rudesheim-Miltenberg-Wertheim-Wurzburg-Bamberg-Nuremberg-Regensburg-Passau-Emmersdorf/Melk-Durnstein-Vienna-Bratislava-Budapest)
• 7-night/8-day "CLASSICAL DANUBE CRUISE" (Budapest-Bratislava-Vienna-Durnstein-Emmersdorf/Melk-Linz-Regensburg-Passau, and reverse)
• 7-night/8-day "DANUBE RHAPSODY" (Passau-Emmersdorf/Melk-Durnstein-Vienna-Budapest-Bratislava/Hainburg-Linz-Passau)
• 9-night/10-day "1200 MILES ON THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE DANUBE" (Vienna-Bratislava-Esztergom-Budapest-Vukovar-Belgrade-Iron Gates-Svistov-Rousse-Danube Delta-Sfantu Gheorghe-Fetesti/Bucharest), with reverse 10-night/11-day itinerary (Bucharest-Vienna)
• 15-night/16-day "BEAUTIFUL BLUE DANUBE AND DANUBE DELTA" (Passau-Vienna-Esztergom-Budapest-Belgrade-Vidin-Oltenita-Fetesti-Danube Delta-Sfantu Gheorghe-Hirsova-Fetesti-Rousse-Svistov-Iron Gates-Novi Sad-Vukovar-Mohacs-Kalocsa-Budapest-Bratislava-Durnstein-Emmersdorf/Melk-Passau)

During the holiday season (Nov-Dec), the 4-night/5-day "MAGIC OF ADVENT ON THE RHINE" itinerary is offered (Strasbourg-Speyer-Rudesheim-Koblenz-Cologne and reverse).

The 6-night/7-day "Christmas Cruise on the Rhine" (roundtrip from Cologne) visits Koblenz, Speyer, Strasbourg, Mainz, and concludes with an overnight stay in Cologne.

In summer 2024 (June-July), Amadeus Nova was also operated by "Brand g Vacations" (a luxury LGBTQ+ cruise and tour company founded in 2011).

Amadeus Nova is Luftner's 19th vessel (ENI number 2340299) and was built by TeamCo Shipyard BV in Heusden, North Brabant, Netherlands. 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 Shipyard.

The ship shares its name with AIDA's AIDAnova (2018) and Silversea's luxury superyacht Silver Nova (2023).

Luftner placed the shipbuilding order for Amadeus Nova in June 2023.

The vessel was officially christened on June 5, 2024. Following the dockside naming ceremony at Port Amsterdam, VIP guests enjoyed a harbor cruise. Amadeus Nova's Maiden Voyage departed from homeport Passau, Germany on June 15.

Below is the itinerary of the inaugural cruise — a 7-day Danube River voyage.

Note: Visit CruiseMapper’s River Cruises hub to explore all river cruise ships and itineraries. All companies and their fleets are listed there.