Maximize your Christmas experience by embarking at the height of the holiday market season with daily or near-daily visits to Christmas Markets.
Get "just a taste" of the holidays in mid-November or late December with visits to one or two Christmas Markets during your river cruise.
We are pleased to offer guests the opportunity to experience Floriade in 2022 while sailing along the Rhine River and Dutch and Belgian Waterways between April 14 and October 9. Right outside Amsterdam, this rare experience calls for its visitors to “explore, touch and change” as part of their journey into Floriade – which is set to feature stunning gardens, innovative sustainable gardening exhibits, live entertainment, talk shows, souvenirs and food stalls.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Rhône with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever “Soulful Experience” on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2024.
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through four countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Danube with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Explore the rich history of classical music along the Danube River where famous composers lived, worked and performed. Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever “Soulful Experience” on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2025
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through five countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Douro with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
We invite our loyal past guests to join us once again on these special Loyalty Cruises, offering unique experiences in multiple ports, commemorative gifts, and many more surprises and delights.
Imagine if there was a way to combine luxury river cruising on the Danube with the opportunity to indulge your passion and play golf? We have created the perfect package to enable you to do just that! Our exclusive Concierge Golf Programme includes 7 nights onboard one of the highest rated ships in Europe, complete with award winning cuisine, a choice of excursions in every port and our unique Twin Balconies, as well as up to 5 rounds of golf at some of the leading championship courses on the continent. Our Programme takes you straight from your ship to the course and back making your golfing experience seamless – Golf and River Cruise truly is a marriage made in heaven.
Hello! "I'm Kristin Karst, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of AmaWaterways and I'm passionate about river cruising. Each month, I love to share with you my thoughts, personal stories, travel tips and latest news on the people and places that help turn every mile of our guests' river cruise experience into one of their most cherished memories!"
The tradition of christening a new ship for good luck and safe travel goes back thousands of years. Up against the unpredictable perils of mother nature, the ancient Greeks wreathed their heads with olive branches, drank wine to honor the gods and poured water on the new vessel as a symbol of blessing.
While today’s ceremonies have moved from “godfathers with wine” to “Godmothers with Champagne,” they still provide a blessing and celebrate a very special moment recognizing the hard work, creativity and attention to detail by those who design and build a vessel entrusted with the safe carriage of goods and people across our oceans and rivers.
"We choose the Godmothers for our ships very carefully. It is essential to us they share our passion for growing the river cruise industry and our commitment to providing the most memorable vacations for our guests," said Kristin Karst.
Though Godmothers were initially chosen from among women within AmaWaterways’ founding families, more recent years have highlighted influential leaders in travel, including AmaMagna’s Emmy®-winning Godmother, travel expert and TV show host Samantha Brown.
Honor, Tradition and Fanfare
Ship christening ceremonies typically take place in intimate villages along one of the rivers each ship will sail, creating a welcome spectacle for local residents, the talents of which are often showcased as part of the fanfare. Whether it’s a German “oompah” band in Lahnstein or Bavarian folk dancing in Vilshofen, Godmothers and the ships for which they serve as goodwill ambassadors are greeted like royalty by the town.
"I cannot be grateful enough to our founders for believing in me and letting me be part of so many wonderful memories. These joyful moments have helped build not just the most wonderful river cruise company but a true big family. Ama really means love and I have had the privilege to be there from the very beginning and can attest so." – Leo Starico, Manager of European Operations.
Testaments to the Tradition
A full christening ceremony includes speeches given by AmaWaterways executives, the ship’s Godmother and local government representatives, as well as an official blessing by a priest and the breaking of a Champagne bottle against the ship’s hull – a Godmother’s responsibility. Here’s what some of our Godmothers had to say about the honor, their ships and the event.
"AmaMora is a beautiful ship, but the culture of the team that’s on board and the connection they make with people are so much more meaningful to me." – Libbie Rice, Godmother of AmaMora (2019)
"I will never forget standing out on the pier in Vilshofen, Germany watching the ship coming in before her christening. A lot of the guests were up on the top deck waving and screaming. It’s a memory I will never forget." – Jackie Friedman, Godmother of AmaViola (2016)
"I cherish every new ship we christen, but AmaKristina will always have a special meaning to me, as it not only bears my name but also marked AmaWaterways’ 15-year anniversary." – Kristin Karst, Godmother of AmaKristina (2017)
"Although I will always have a special place in my heart for AmaSonata, as part of the AmaFamily, I also have 23 other equally beautiful children to take care of now – and more on the way!" – Brenda Kyllo, Godmother of AmaSonata (2014)
"I was overwhelmed when I found out I was chosen to be Godmother of AmaSiena. It was humbling and unexpected – a total surprise to me. I never imagined I would have such an honor. In preparation, I think I will need to practice the blessing over and over again. And smash a few Champagne bottles, so I get it right!" – Debbie Fiorino, Godmother of AmaSiena (2020)
AmaWaterways Godmothers
2006 - AmaDagio – Sheila Murphy, wife of our late Co-Founder Jimmy Murphy
2007 – AmaLegro – Julie Schreiner and Isabel Karst, daughters of Co-Founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst
2008 – AmaCello – Susan Murphy, daughter of our late Co-Founder Jimmy Murphy
2008 - AmaDante – Louise McGeary, daughter of Geoff McGeary of APT, our Australian partner
2009 – AmaDolce – Travel advisors Karen Broadhurst and Joanne Morgan (serving as proxies for Godmother Anne McGeary)
2009 – AmaLyra – The late Michelle Morgan, President and CEO of Signature Travel Group
2010 – AmaBella – Sharon Murphy, daughter of our late Co-Founder Jimmy Murphy
2011 – AmaVerde – Judy Vanrenen, partner of APT Botanic World Discoveries
2012 – AmaCerto – Christine Duffy, former President of Cruise Lines International Association
2013 – AmaPrima – Valerie Wilson, Founder of Valerie Wilson Travel
2013 – AmaVida – Sharon Stone, actress and producer
2014 – AmaSonata – Brenda Kyllo, Former Vice President of CAA National and now AmaWaterways’ Vice President of Strategic Alliances
2015 – AmaSerena – Michelle Fee, CEO Cruise Planners
2016 – AmaViola – Jackie Friedman, President of Nexion
2016 – AmaStella – Carole Smethurst, owner of top Virtuoso agency in Perth, Australia
2017 – AmaKristina – Kristin Karst, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of AmaWaterways
2018 – AmaLea – Filomena Andre of AAA Travel
2019 – AmaDouro – Julia Lo Bue-Said, Advantage Travel Partnership Chief Executive Officer
2019 – AmaMagna – Samantha Brown, travel expert and Emmy® Award-winning television host of Places to Love
2019 – AmaMora – Libbie Rice, former President of Ensemble Travel Group
2021 – AmaSiena – Debbie Fiorino, Senior Vice President and COO of Owned Brands for World Travel Holdings
2021 – AmaLucia – Godparents Riley and Will Farmer
Learn more about your AmaWaterways' family here and see how our story began.