Wade Korzan joined our AmaFamily in 2003 and became our Director of European Operations in 2005. Working in our shoreside office in Basel, Switzerland, Wade is responsible for planning ship christening events, hiring and training our extraordinary Cruise Managers, and overall ship operations. In the interview below, Wade shares his love for a favorite port on the Danube: Spitz, Austria! Enjoy an exclusive visit to this charming town on our Magna on the Danube and Magna on the Danube Christmas itineraries, as well as on AmaMagna’s Grand Danube sailings. 

How did AmaWaterways first come across the port of Spitz? 

Spitz is a very well-known wine town, but the idea to add this exciting spot came after I met Josef Steinhuber, the owner of Klosterhof Spitz, a local restaurant and winery. In May 2019, I suggested Spitz as a good port for the AmaMagna, because we could have a wonderful event in collaboration with Josef’s restaurant, and because we would be there alone, as no other ship can dock in Spitz when the AmaMagna is in its port. This ensures our guests an exclusive experience, free to explore the town without other river cruise passengers. Additionally, the warm welcome that Josef promised to give our guests reflected our own values for our AmaWaterways family. We brought our Cruise Managers to Spitz during our 2019 kickoff meeting aboard AmaLea, and did a walkthrough of the vineyards. We also had a wonderful dinner and wine evening in the Klosterhof Spitz and knew we had to offer a similar experience for our guests. 

What is it about Spitz that makes this port so special?  

Spitz is located right in the heart of Austria’s Wachau Valley, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is nicknamed “the town of a thousand buckets” because of a rounded hill in the center of the village where supposedly you could fill a thousand buckets with the abundant grapes that grow there.