Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst Recognized by AFAR as “Travel Visionaries” for Commitment to Authentic Experiences, Unforgettable Journeys and Sustainable, Innovative Ships
CALABASAS, CA – (October 10, 2019) – AmaWaterways today proudly announced that its Co-Founders, President Rudi Schreiner and Executive Vice President Kristin Karst, were selected to join AFAR Media’s 2019 Travel Vanguard for their exceptional efforts to create immersive and intimate experiences that make a difference in the world. The couple was honored at an invitation-only event at New York City’s Florence Gould Hall on the evening of October 3 before influential figures in the travel industry and members of the media.
“We’re incredibly honored to join the ranks of AFAR’s Travel Vanguard with people who inspire us to continue curating unforgettable journeys and remind us that travel can be a force for good in the world,” said Schreiner. “When we started AmaWaterways in 2002, our goal was to share the beauty of the rivers of Europe and the history, food and wine of the countries that Kristin and I came from. Today, we have 24 ships sailing the world’s rivers, and we are motivated more than ever to preserve the natural beauty of those waterways and through interaction with the local communities, nurture understanding and acceptance of different cultures along the journey.”
In their fourth year, the prestigious Travel Vanguard is the highest honor AFAR can bestow and recognizes leaders who not only help shape the future of travel but harness the power of travel to make the world a better place for future generations. Both travelers themselves, and travel industry leaders, comprise this year’s list of 12 honored global visionaries.
“I’m delighted to welcome this year’s group of visionaries into AFAR’s Travel Vanguard,” said Jennifer Flowers, AFAR’s Deputy Editor and lead editor for AFAR Vanguard. “Their dedication, focus, and ability to make a positive impact in the world is work well worth celebrating, and sharing with our larger community, which includes the world’s best and most influential travelers.”
With the dynamic duo of Schreiner and Karst at the helm, AmaWaterways has earned a reputation for transforming the river cruise industry by introducing innovative ship design, creating enriching and immersive shore excursions, and providing award-winning cuisine, fine locally sourced wine and attentive, personalized guest service. They were the first to introduce active hiking and biking excursions to the rivers and have recently pioneered a comprehensive wellness program onboard their fleet. This year marked a banner year for AmaWaterways with the introduction of three new ships to its award-winning fleet, including the revolutionaryAmaMagna, which is twice the width of traditional river cruise ships and has redefined luxury river cruising.
AFAR’s stories about AmaWaterways’ co-founders can be found in AFAR magazine’s November/December 2019 issue, as well as on AFAR.com here: https://www.afar.com/vanguard-2019
For full details, or to book an AmaWaterways river cruise for a client, call 1.800.626.0126 or visit the Travel Advisor Portal on AmaWaterways.com. Follow AmaWaterways on Facebook at Facebook.com/AmaWaterways, Instagram @AmaWaterways and Twitter @AmaWaterways.
About AmaWaterways
A family-owned company celebrating 17 years on the river, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 24 ships sailing Europe’s Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhône, Seine, Garonne, Dordogne, Dutch and Belgian Waterways and Douro Rivers, Southeast Asia’s Mekong and Africa’s Chobe River. Led by experienced river cruise co-founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst, the company is renowned for its innovative stateroom design featuring unique “twin balconies”; its wellness activities including a wide choice of included shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options for the active traveler; and its award-winning dining—including The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant as well as complimentary fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, each ship features onboard amenities such as hair and massage salons and a fitness room, and many have heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation highlighted with the launch of AmaMagna, which at twice the width of traditional river ships, offers a new dimension in luxury river cruising. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travelers and families as well as group and charter options.
With the highest-rated ships in Europe according to the third edition of Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe & the USA, AmaWaterways has received countless honors and accolades including Cruise Critic’s Editor’s Pick Award for “Best for Active Cruisers” and 2018 AFAR Reader’s Choice Award for “Best River Cruise Line” and inclusion of AmaMagna in 2019 TIME “World’s Greatest Places.”