7 Night Cruise sailing from Barranquilla to Cartagena Turistica aboard AmaMelodia.

Day 1: Barranquilla, Colombia
Carnaval spirit and warm welcomes. Board your ship and set sail on the Magdalena. Settle into your stateroom and feel the city’s vibrant energy come alive. As evening falls, an exclusive Carnaval celebration bursts into color, music, and dance, filling the air with joy and rhythm. This UNESCO-recognized tradition immerses you in the lively spirit of Colombia, setting the perfect tone for your journey.

Day 2: Sabanagrande, Colombia
Village life along the Magdalena River. Explore charming riverside villages. Discover the gentle rhythms of life along the Magdalena in Sitio Nuevo. Wander through quiet streets, watch artisans at work, and savor the scents and flavors of local delicacies. The village’s warm hospitality and timeless traditions offer an intimate glimpse into Colombia’s vibrant cultural heart.

Day 3: Magangue, Colombia
Nature and music on the Magdalena. Drift through vibrant wetlands and lively streets. Board a small boat and drift through the emerald wetlands of Boca de Tacaloa, where vibrant birdlife and untamed nature create a living sanctuary. As evening falls, arrive in Mompox and feel the streets come alive with an exclusive open-air jazz performance.

Day 4: Mompox, Colombia
Historic beauty and timeless traditions. Wander timeless riverside streets steeped in artisanal charm. Step into the timeless rhythm of Mompox, where riverside streets and artisan workshops seem untouched by time. Glide through quiet corners and watch delicate filigree craftsmanship come to life, feeling the enduring spirit and vibrant culture of this storied town.

Day 5: Mompox, Colombia
Scenic cruising and cultural rhythms. ​​Discover craft, color, and the soul of Cumbia. Begin the day drifting along tranquil waters before reaching Santa Bárbara de Pinto, where riverside life and age-old crafts carry on. Later, return aboard to be enveloped in the vibrant spirit of La Cumbia, as local families share music, stories, and dance that bring the region’s soul to life.

Day 6: Calamar, Colombia
Echoes of history along the Magdalena. Experience the spirit of freedom and heritage. Ride through Calamar by paola, soaking in the streets and riverside rhythm, before drifting onward to Palenque, the first ‘free town’ in the Americas. Experience its enduring traditions, from symbolic hairstyles to ancestral practices, and feel the vibrant heartbeat of its music, a UNESCO-recognized treasure of the region.

Day 7: Cartagena, Colombia
The coastal splendor of Cartagena. Experience Caribbean charm and vibrant culture. Drift into Cartagena, where sunlit streets, colorful neighborhoods, and lively plazas shimmer along the Caribbean coast. Wander through vibrant corners alive with music, art, and local flavors, feeling the city’s unique blend of history, culture, and coastal spirit.

Day 8: Cartagena, Colombia
Disembark and carry home the magic of Colombia.

Luxurious, intimate, yet full of vibrancy, the newly launched AmaMelodia captures the spirit of Colombia both on ship and off. Whether watching a cultural performance in the Main Lounge or dining al fresco, this ship embraces the warmth and vibrancy of the Magdalena River.

Their Story
Proudly celebrating more than 21 years on the river, family-owned and operated AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by three families; however, their river cruise story began well before that. Co-Founder and President Rudi Schreiner was born in Vienna, at the heart of the Danube. His love of design drew him to architecture, but his even greater love of travel drew him to places far and wide. In 1975, he travelled to South America for a journalism assignment on the Amazon. It was here he designed his first ship, using what he could find to build a raft that would take him up and down the river during the next 7 months. Soon thereafter, he started working in travel, creating unique tour experiences in Europe.

A Turning Point
Rudi started the North American operations for many of today’s major river cruise companies, developing itineraries and ships that would become the templates for what we know river cruising to be today. After years of success as a driving force in the industry, Rudi decided to start his own venture — one that would provide guests with a higher standard of luxury travel by river. That’s when he teamed up with Co-Owners and Co-Founders Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy to start AmaWaterways.

In 2016, Rudi was inducted into the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Hall of Fame and was honoured with their Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of devotion to the river cruising industry.

A Team of Pioneers
Kristin was born in Germany and brings extensive experience in travel, river cruising and customer service to the company in her role as Executive Vice President. Jimmy Murphy was a brilliant travel entrepreneur, having built Brendan Vacations, one of the most successful tour operators in the U.S. Jimmy’s son, Gary, who also played a major part at Brendan, took on an executive sales role at AmaWaterways. Together with Rudi, a true team of pioneers emerged.

The Story Continues
From the beginning, their goal was to create a river cruise company that they themselves would enjoy. To then, that meant the highest-quality, locally sourced food and wine; elegantly appointed ships with staterooms offering maximum views to enjoy the ever-changing countryside; and a crew who goes above and beyond, treating every guest like they are part of THEIR family.

With that in mind, for two wonderful decades, they have been building one-of-a-kind ships with added comforts and conveniences ranging from our signature view-enhancing twin balconies to the Chef’s Table specialty restaurant to their award-winning AmaMagna – redefining the river cruise experience. They continue to lead the way in innovation, pioneering the first sailings on Colombia’s Magdalena River in 2025. As they look ahead to the future, they are more committed than ever to offering innovative and sustainable ways for their guests to experience the rich culture and history found along the banks of the world’s most iconic rivers.