AmaWaterways Christens AmaSofia in Amsterdam
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New River Ship Debuts on the Rhine
AmaWaterways officially christened its newest river ship, AmaSofia, on March 14 during a ceremony held in Amsterdam along the Rhine River.
The event coincided with the ASTA River Cruise Expo, bringing together more than 1,200 travel advisors. The celebration took place across three AmaWaterways ships docked side by side, including AmaPrima, AmaVenita, and AmaSofia.
Sarah Little, Senior Vice President of Business Development at the American Society of Travel Advisors, served as godmother and performed the traditional christening ceremony.
The evening concluded with a coordinated drone light show over the Rhine, marking the close of both the ceremony and the expo.
AmaSofia Introduces Updated Branding
AmaSofia is the first AmaWaterways ship in Europe to reflect the company’s refreshed branding and updated exterior design.
The ship accommodates up to 154 guests in 76 staterooms, with suites up to 350 square feet. Onboard features include AmaWaterways’ twin balcony staterooms and the Chef’s Table specialty dining venue.
While the design introduces a new look, the onboard experience remains consistent with the line’s established river cruise style.
Christening Focuses on the Travel Advisor Community
AmaWaterways chose to debut AmaSofia during the ASTA River Cruise Expo, underscoring the role of travel advisors in river cruise bookings.
“Ships come to life through people,” said Catherine Powell, CEO of AmaWaterways, noting the importance of both crew and advisors in shaping the guest experience.
Little added that serving as godmother was especially meaningful, as her first river cruise experience was with AmaWaterways.
2026 Deployment: Rhine and Danube Itineraries
AmaSofia began its inaugural season on the popular Rhine river and will sail itineraries such as Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps, which includes stops in well-known towns along the river as well as scenic cruising past castles and vineyard-lined hillsides.
The ship is scheduled to reposition to the Danube in June, with its first departure on June 7. Planned itineraries include Romantic Danube, Melodies of the Danube, and Christmas Markets on the Danube.
Danube sailings will primarily operate between Budapest and Vilshofen, a popular route that combines major cities with smaller towns in Austria and Germany.
FAM Sailings Planned for Travel Advisors
Following the expo, more than 100 travel advisors were invited to sail aboard AmaSofia on a FAM cruise.
Additional FAM sailings are planned throughout the year, giving advisors the opportunity to experience the ship and its updated features firsthand.
The evening concluded with a drone light show over the Rhine, marking the close of both the ceremony and the expo.
“It is a tremendous honor to serve as godmother of AmaSofia,” said Sarah Little. “Christening the ship surrounded by the advisor community makes this moment especially meaningful.”
