AmaWaterways Welcomes AmaSofia to Fleet at the ASTA River Cruise Expo

Braving the cold temperatures and gusty wind in short-sleeve dresses, AmaWaterways co-founder and chief brand ambassador Kristin Karst and CEO Catherine Powell welcomed AmaWaterways’ newest river cruise ship, the AmaSofia.

Despite the cold weather, the atmosphere was lively with a drum line kicking off the party and an energetic performance by Dutch singer/actress Hiske Bongaarts, which had Karst and Powell up and dancing along with several VIP attendees. A light rain didn’t dampen spirits either and, in fact, resulted in a vibrant rainbow serving as a timely backdrop for the traditional blessing of the ship.

The pierside ceremony took place on the last evening of the ASTA River Cruise Expo in Amsterdam, with ASTA’s own Sarah Little, senior vice president of business development, serving as the ship’s godmother.

For Powell, the ceremony was especially meaningful, both because it is the first ship AmaWaterways has added to the fleet since she took over as CEO and because it’s the first to fully feature the line’s new branding and colors.

“It’s a very special moment for AmaWaterways as we journey into the future, as the AmaSofia will be our first ship christened and launched in our beautiful new brand with colors that represent the warmth, elegance, and caring hospitality that Ama stands for,” she said.

With Little serving as godmother, there was lots of gratitude expressed for and to the travel advisors in the audience who made up the vast majority of the crowd.

“Nobody would be here, we wouldn’t be here without you,” said Karst. “We are all stronger together and this is what ASTA does. It’s not just education. It is bringing us all together.”

Little was not the only godmother in attendance. Aside from Karst, who is the godmother of AmaKristina, Valerie Wilson, founder and CEO of Valerie Wilson Travel (AmaPrima), Jackie Friedman, president of Nexion (AmaViola), Jenn Lee, president and CMO of Travel Planners International and Vacation Planners (AmaSintra); and Marianna Schlegel Donado, a Colombian interior designer and entrepreneur (AmaMagdalena) were all in attendance. All but Karst and Schlegel Donado are leaders in the travel advisor community.

In her speech, Little spoke about how curiosity has brought her to this point in her life.

“If I could offer one piece of advice for anyone wondering how to reach this next step in their career, it would simply be this: get wildly curious,” she said, adding she did not get to this point by being the smartest person in the room or the most connected.

“I arrived here because I was and I am unfailingly curious,” Little said.

A genuine appreciation for curiosity is also something that stood out to Little after taking her first-ever river cruise, which so happened to be onboard an AmaWaterways ship.

“For me what stood out most was how beautifully they nurture curiosity. Their ships don’t just move you along the river. They invite you to explore, whether that’s through a painting class, a cooking lesson in a local’s home, or a bike ride through a vineyard that looks like it belongs on a postcard.”

As she concluded her remarks, Little encouraged the audience to stay curious.

“Lean into the travel niche that intimidates you. Build the personal brand that feels wildly outside your comfort zone. Say yes to the opportunity that makes your hands shake a little. Because here’s what I know. Curiosity has a way of carrying you places you never could have mapped out on your own. It will open up doors you didn’t even know exist and take you further than you ever imagined possible.”

“Tonight, as we celebrate AmaSofia, I am reminded that rivers are powerful, not because they rush but because they keep moving forward curious about what lies beyond the next bend. May we keep moving forward. May we stay curious and may AmaSofia carry that spirit of discovery for many years to come.”

The 152-passenger AmaSofia is AmaWaterways’ 10th ship on the Danube River. It offers seven-night itineraries along the Danube, including Melodies of the Danube and Romantic Danube sailings.