AmaWaterways christened its new and revolutionary ship, the AmaMagna, the 23rd ship in its fleet, on July 11 in Grein, Austria, during a ceremony attended by AmaWaterways co-founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst, as well as special guests, including its godmother, Samantha Brown, travel expert and Emmy Award-winning television presenter.
“With the AmaMagna’s design, which allows for greater amenities and more space for passengers, we are proud to officially welcome it to the AmaWaterways family,” said Schreiner. “We are grateful to have friends and business partners with us as we celebrate this exciting milestone for our company.”.
Honoring the long tradition of ship christenings, which originated more than 4,000 years ago, a priest blessed the ship and crew while godmother Brown broke a bottle of champagne against AmaMagna's hull, to wish good luck on her upcoming voyages.
“Over the years, we’ve celebrated the addition of each new ship in our own unique way—with lots of love! Samantha shares many values with our company, most notably through her television series ‘Places to Love,’” said Karst. “She’s a perfect fit as godmother of this very special ship, which offers new river cruising experiences to guests seeking personalized adventures.”.
The stunning new ship was welcomed by the mayor of Grein, Rainer Barth, and a distinguished group of representatives from the regional government and tourism sector. The celebration included speeches by Schreiner, Karst, and Brown, along with a lively party featuring the Blue Danube Waltz, Sound of Music, and Austrian singer Falco. Following regional cocktails and a gala dinner, guests enjoyed a spectacular show on the terrace with dazzling LED performers and fireworks to conclude the festivities.
“I am so proud to be the godmother of this incredibly innovative ship,” Brown commented. “I was impressed by the attention to detail the crew provided to my family and me during our previous AmaWaterways cruise, but aboard the AmaMagna this week, both the ship and the service have exceeded all my expectations.”.
AmaMagna offers twice the beam of traditional river cruise ships but accommodates only 20% more passengers, allowing for generous personal space. More than half of the 98 cabins are designed as suites, ranging in size from 108 to 215 square meters. All cabins and suites feature elegant décor and natural wood accents. Suites include balconies, open living areas, and luxurious en-suite bathrooms. Six large suites (145 square meters) and one 215-square-meter suite offer even greater comfort with separate living areas and spacious bathrooms featuring spa-like tubs.
With four restaurants to choose from, the AmaMagna offers award-winning cuisine and service, along with enhanced amenities for its guests, such as an onboard cinema, a large boutique, and a Zen wellness space complete with an exercise area offering stretching, cardio, and spinning classes led by a qualified instructor. The ship also features a juice bar, two massage rooms, and manicure, pedicure, and hair services. A sun deck with a large heated pool, a relaxing whirlpool, and an open-air bar are easily accessible via elevator.
As an exclusive service on the AmaMagna, passengers can enjoy the Golf Concierge Program, which offers the opportunity to visit four world-class golf courses in Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany while experiencing the magic of river cruising. AmaMagna itineraries include Romantic Danube, Melodies of the Danube, and Christmas Markets on the Danube.
