By
Rebecca Gibson |
Travel expert and television host Samantha Brown has been named as godmother for AmaWaterways’ new river cruise ship AmaMagna.
Brown, who has hosted various travel television series over the past 17 years, will officially christen AmaMagna during a ceremony in Vilshofen, Germany in July 2019.
“For this incredibly innovative ship, we wanted to choose a godmother who shares our passion for innovation within the travel industry,” said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-owner of AmaWaterways. “Samantha is an icon in both the travel and television industries, known as much for her warm personality as for her expansive travel knowledge. We are so thrilled to welcome her to the AmaWaterways family as godmother of our 23rd ship, the stunning AmaMagna.”
Brown already has a strong connection to AmaWaterways, having filmed an episode of her new PSB TV series, ‘Samantha Brown’s Places to Love’, onboard one of its ships. The cruise line also sponsors the TV series.
“I am so excited and honored to have been asked to be the godmother of AmaMagna,” said Brown. “I had the great pleasure of sailing onboard AmaPrima this summer as we filmed an episode for my new PBS series. The total experience was remarkable but what impressed me the most was the incredible team onboard the ship who took such good care of me, my film crew and my family who joined us during the cruise.”
Twice the width of traditional European river cruise vessels, AmaMagna will accommodate 194 guests in 98 staterooms – more than half of which will be between 355 and 710 square feet, making them some of the largest in the river cruise industry. There will also be six Grand Suites and one Ama Owners suite. All suites will have full outside balconies, open seating areas and luxurious bathrooms with double sinks and walk-in showers. The seven larger suites will also provide separate indoor seating areas and bathrooms with spa-like bathtubs.
Other onboard highlights will include four dining venues and the Zen Wellness Studio, which will have a large exercise area for group classes, a juice bar, two massage rooms and space for manicures, pedicures and hair services. Guests will also benefit from a sun deck with a large heated pool, whirl pool and a pop-up sky bar.
In another first for the river cruise industry, AmaMagna will have an open watersports platform, complete with zodiac boats, canoes and recreational equipment.
AmaMagna will start her inaugural season on 5 May, offering the first of several ‘Romantic Danube’ itineraries from Vilshofen to Budapest, Hungary. The ship will also offer ‘Melodies of the Danube’ and ‘Christmas Markets on the Danube’ voyages, calling at destinations in Germany, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovakia and Croatia.