A week after AmaWaterways christened its largest ship ever with AmaMagna, the river cruise line welcomed another ship, its 23rd overall since its 2002 founding, when AmaMora was christened during a ceremony in the Rhine Gorge on Thursday.
The ship was christened by its godmother, Ensemble Travel Group President Libbie Rice, at Lahnstein, six miles south of Koblenz, in a scenic ceremony on the Rhine. AmaMora is the second of the line’s ships to be christened at Lahnstein, following AmaKristina in 2017.
“It is my pleasure to experience this very unique moment,” the Mayor of Lahnstein, Peter Labonte, said.
For Rice, the honor was the “first time being a godmother to anyone or anything,” she told those in attendance. “I am honored to be a part of the AmaWaterways family.”
Rice carries on the AmaWaterways tradition of honoring travel industry women “who are role models for women and the younger ones” with godmother titles, AmaWaterways’ Kristin Karst said. The tradition started with Shelia Murphy, the wife of one of AmaWaterways’ original founders Jimmy Murphy.
Rice follows Samantha Brown, who helped christen AmaMagna last week, along with Karst, the late Michelle Morgan, Christine Duffy, Valerie Wilson, Michelle Fee, Jackie Friedman, and many more.
Before being appointed president of Ensemble in 2011, Rice worked for companies across the industry during her decade-and-a-half-plus in travel, including American Airlines, Sabre, Delta Air Lines, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
“Libbie has always found time to take on the equally challenging and important role as a wife and mother,” Karst said.
AmaMora comes into the fleet, sailing guests in 78 staterooms with the line’s signature twin balconies. It offers two restaurants—the Main Restaurant and the Chef’s Table Restaurant that offers a seven-course tasting menu to all guests who make a reservation—and sails with a focus on wellness, both onshore and onboard, with a variety of wellness classes along with a fleet of of 25 bikes onboard.
According to Karst, AmaMora brings “comfortable staterooms, excellent food and wine, interesting and active excursions, and more importantly, a crew.”
The ship will continue to cruise the Rhine, offering its “Captivating Rhine” itineraries between Basel and Amsterdam. It will move to “Christmas Markets on the Rhine” itineraries starting at the end of November.
AmaWaterways expects its fleet to grow to 27, with another four ships coming down the line —one under construction, one close, and two orders. Speaking to press, Karst and Schriener left open the possibility of building another double-wide vessel, similar to what the line did with AmaMagna, because of the reception the ship has received since its debut.
