Trip Details
Rhine Christmas Markets
December 8 - 16, 2027
From Amsterdam to Basel
AMAWaterway's AmaLucia
Our Trip Speakers
All guests on this voyage will hear teachings from our three main speakers in the ship's lounge.
Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright
Chris Wright is Global Ambassador and Ministry Director of Langham Partnership. He was formerly Principal of All Nations Christian College, and taught at Union Biblical Seminary (UBS) in Pune, India. His numerous books include The Mission of God, Old Testament Ethics for the People of God (both IVP), The Uniqueness of Jesus, Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament (both Monarch) and the New International Biblical Commentary on Deuteronomy (Paternoster).
Wright taught at Union Biblical Seminary (UBS) in Pune, India for five years, and then he returned to the U.K. as academic dean at All Nations Christian College, an international training center for cross- cultural mission. In September 2001, Chris was appointed
to the role as the International Ministries Director of the Langham Partnership International.
Chris and his wife, Liz, belong to All Souls Church, Langham Place, where Chris enjoys preaching from time to time as a member of the ministry team. This is also the church, of course, where Langham Partnership’s founder, John Stott, was rector emeritus. Chris and Liz live in London and have four adult children and a growing number of grandchildren.
Andy Crouch
Andy Crouch is an author, speaker, and thought leader exploring the intersection of Christian faith, culture, technology, and leadership. He serves as Partner for Theology and Culture at Praxis, a venture-building ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs and innovators seeking cultural and social renewal.
Andy is the author of several influential books, including Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling, Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power, Strong and Weak, The Tech-Wise Family, and The Life We’re Looking For, which examine how Christians can faithfully engage questions of power, creativity, technology, and human flourishing in contemporary society. His writing has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time. Andy is married to Catherine, and they have two children and one grandchild.
Malcolm Guite
Malcolm Guite earned a PhD from Durham University and is the chaplain at Girton College, Cambridge, where he also teaches in the Faculty of Divinity. He is an Anglican priest, poet, and songwriter, and he travels and speaks regularly throughout the UK and North America.
He is the author of Faith, Hope and Poetry: Theology and the Poetic Imagination as well as several collections of poems, including Waiting on the Word: A Poem a Day for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany; The Word in the Wilderness: A Poem a Day for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter; and Sounding the Seasons. His forthcoming book (April 2026) is the first volume in his retelling of the Arthurian legend: Galahad and the Grail (Merlin's Isle: An Arthuriad, 1). Malcolm is married to Maggie, and together they have two children.
Our Trip Hosts
Guests associated with a particular trip host will enjoy some designated times of shared meals and other meeting opportunities.
Eric Cook
Eric Cook is the President and CEO of the Society for Classical Learning (SCL), an organization dedicated to fostering human flourishing through the advancement of classical Christian education. He provides executive leadership for SCL, overseeing the organization’s vision, strategy, thought leadership, and fundraising efforts. As President and CEO, Eric plays a pivotal role in the classical Christian school movement, seeking to revive timeless principles to reform education, renew culture, and promote human flourishing.Eric received an Ed.S. in Classical School Leadership from Gordon College in 2023. He also holds an M.A. in Instructional Leadership from Northern Kentucky University and a B.A. in Education from Transylvania University. He started his career in public school as a history teacher and administrator before moving into classical Christian education as Upper School Head at Faith Christian School in Roanoke, Virginia in 2007. Eric and his wife, Liz, have six children and live in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Dr. Vivek Mathew
Dr. Vivek Mathew (B.S.E. Princeton, M.Div Princeton Seminary, B.Phil Oxford, MA/PhD Cornell ’19) was born and raised in Defiance, Ohio. From Ohio, he moved to New Jersey to study computer science at Princeton and then to New York City where he worked for eight years in quantitative finance at Morgan Stanley. While in New York he attended Redeemer Presbyterian Church (where he met his wife Jeanie), and eventually returned to Princeton for seminary training. Interests in historical theology and philosophy led him overseas to the UK to read the B.Phil in philosophy at Oxford University. Since 2013 he has been at Cornell, completing his doctorate in 2019 at the intersection of metaphysics, philosophy of religion, philosophy of language, cognitive science, and history of philosophy. He was one of five nationwide fellowship recipients for cross-training grants given by the Society of Christian Philosophers and the Templeton Foundation.
As director of Chesterton House, he has been one of several leading second-generation directors within the study center movement. He teaches regularly on various topics on student religious life, philosophy, theology, and pastoral care. Beyond Cornell, he has spoken nationally on contemporary challenges for campus ministry to audiences at Princeton, Oxford, Cornell, Duke, University of Pennsylvania, University of Minnesota, and other venues, as well as many other church and parachurch organizations. He and Jeanie and their three children attend Bread of Life Anglican Church in Ithaca.
Rev. Dr. Ryan O'Dowd
Rev. Dr. Ryan O’Dowd is the Rector of Christ Church of Atlanta having served for many years as Senior Academic Director at Chesterton House at Cornell University. He holds his PhD from the University of Liverpool and has written five books on biblical law, Proverbs, wisdom literature, and moral theology. Ryan is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with 30 years of service, nine free-fall parachute jumps, and two broken clavicles (from falling, but unrelated to parachuting). He and his wife Amy have three grown children and live with their teenage daughter in Atlanta. He loves baking, cycling, and listening to Atlantans talk about cold weather. Favorite book: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson; favorite song: "Tender is the Night" by Jackson Browne; favorite movie: "Waking Ned Divine"; favorite color: blue…no, yellow.
AmaLucia Sundeck
AmaLucia
INCLUDED:
ACCOMMODATIONS & MEALS:
Seven nights AmaLucia accommodation in stateroom assigned • All meals aboard ship—American buffet breakfast; lunch and dinner with complimentary wines and beer; daily afternoon tea with fresh pastries and tea sandwiches; and late-night snacks •
TRANSPORTATION, SIGHTSEEING & EXCURSIONS:
Comprehensive program of sightseeing tours and shore excursions with expert national guides as described in online itinerary and brochure • Local transportation in deluxe air conditioned motor coaches and all entrance fees •
RECREATION & AMENITIES:
Free use of the AmaLucia’s library, onboard games, WIFI connection on ship, fitness facilities
STAFF:
Our Trip Hosts & Special Guest Speakers • FCV Tour Manager handling daily touring arrangements • AmaLucia's Cruise Director and Musician •
OTHER ITEMS INCLUDED:
Currency Advice • Packing Tips • Suggested Reading List • Printed Daily Programs • Abridged newspapers received on ship daily via satellite •
NOT INCLUDED:
Roundtrip air transportation to Amsterdam and from Basel • Taxi transfer for embarkation and disembarkation • Gratuities • Excess baggage charges • Accident/ baggage/trip cancellation insurance • Items of a personal nature such as telephone, internet and fax tolls, bar tabs, personal laundry • Passengers making requests for special services that cause FCV or our local ground operators to incur additional expenses in time and money may be asked to bear the corresponding costs associated with any such individual out-of-the-ordinary requests
Map of Our Journey
Terms and Conditions
RESERVATIONS:
To confirm your space, please send a signed Reservation Form and a deposit of $2000 per person payable to:
FIRST CENTURY VOYAGES
Post Office Box 4042
Chattanooga, TN 37405
FINAL PAYMENT:
Due in full 185 days prior to departure
CANCELLATION & REFUND:
If written or emailed notice of cancellation is received from passenger 185 days or more prior to departure, all advance deposits will be refunded, less a per person administrative fee of $600. If cancellation is 184-155 days before departure, the cancellation charge, as liquidated damages, is 35% of the tour cost; 154-90 days before departure, 50%; 89-40 days before departure, 75%. The forfeiture for cancellations 39 or fewer days before our departure is the full cost of the tour. If the sailing is sold out and the cancelled space can be resold by FCV prior to departure, the sum received for resale, less $750 per person, will be refunded. In fairness to all, no exceptions can be made to these terms. There are no refunds for early withdrawal once the tour has commenced.
INSURANCE:
Insurance programs are recommended and available to insure: (a) baggage valued up to $1,000; (b) accidental injury, illness or death from any cause; and (c) trip cancellation. Upon confirmation of your reservation, you will be sent information regarding such policies. We strongly recommend this protection for all of our passengers. Consider "cancel for any reason" coverage offered by some trip insurance providers. Many options for trip insurance are available at this partner site.
RESPONSIBILITY & LIABILITY:
A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of Sea Cloud Cruises, FIRST CENTURY VOYAGES, and all trip hosts for loss of property, injury, illness, or death is available to all trip registrants and prospective travelers upon request.
In the unlikely event that a dispute arises between the traveler and FCV, the traveler agrees that any dispute arising from or related to this agreement shall be settled by mediation and, if necessary, legally binding arbitration in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for Christian Conciliation of the Institute for Christian Conciliation (complete text is available at www.iccpeace.com or info@iccpeace.com). Judgment upon an arbitration decision may be entered in any court otherwise having jurisdiction. The parties understand that these methods shall be the sole remedy for any controversy or claim arising out of this agreement and expressly waive their right to jury and their right to file a lawsuit in any civil court against one another for such disputes, except to enforce an arbitration decision. Given the ever-changing health protocols surrounding Covid-19 concerns, the traveler agrees to abide by all health policies required by trip providers and domestic and international governments for safe participation in this trip.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES:
Trip prices are based on exchange rates, fuel costs, and tax rates in effect as of March 2026, and are subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations impacting FCV’s program component costs (currency and maritime fuel prices in particular). However, as a protective cap for FCV's passengers, in no case shall additional collections caused by such fluctuations exceed 3% of the advertised tour cost.
BOOKING QUESTIONS?
Please call Karl or Julie Johnson at (919) 381-5722 or email julie@firstcenturyvoyages.com.