Karst Recognized for Vision and Commitment to Family Travel
CALABASAS, CA – (October 15, 2018) – AmaWaterways today announced that Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-owner, has been chosen as the 2018 Family Travel Association’s “Person of the Year.” She was selected for her vision and commitment in opening the river cruising category for families and for her role in developing key family-related initiatives like AmaWaterways’ thriving relationship with Adventures by Disney.
“I am especially honored to be selected for this recognition by the Family Travel Association as I have such a deep passion for travel and river cruising, stemming from my early memories of discovering the world with my own family,” said Karst. “AmaWaterways is a family-owned company, and I am very proud to accept this award on behalf of the sales, operations and technical design teams whose innovative work contributes to creating unforgettable vacation experiences for all our guests, including families, on board our ships.”
AmaWaterways paved the way for multi-generational river cruising by introducing active shore excursions that appealed to three generations of travelers. The leading luxury river cruise line was the first to introduce bicycles onboard in 2006 and sparked by the collaboration with Adventures by Disney, designed the first connecting staterooms and rooms with triple occupancy in 2015 with AmaSerena. Today, all AmaWaterways’ new ships are designed with a selection of connecting staterooms and suites– including AmaMagna, which will debut in May 2019 at twice the width of traditional river cruise ships — accommodating the needs of families.
The close collaboration between AmaWaterways and Adventures by Disney flourishes today, offering itineraries and excursions designed for all ages and lifestyles. Combining the award-winning service and luxury of AmaWaterways with the family travel expertise of Adventures by Disney, these itineraries deliver an unmatched experience that is immersive, all-inclusive and hassle-free for the whole family. In 2019, Adventures by Disney will host a total of 21 sailings on board AmaWaterways’ ships on the Rhine, Danube and Seine rivers.
“We are pleased to name Kristin Karst as the FTA Person of the Year,” said Rainer Jenss, president and founder of Family Travel Association. “Her passion is unmatched, and we believe that her dedication to providing family-friendly river cruise experiences has had a major impact on the travel industry and has created positive and long-lasting benefits to young people.”
This honor from Family Travel Association comes on the tail of a successful award season for AmaWaterways. Recognized for its leadership and innovation, commitment to exceptional guest experience and industry-leading river cruise ships, AmaWaterways has received awards and top honors in multiple categories by well-known organizations such as American Society of Travel Advisors, AAA, CAA, Virtuoso, Cruise Critic and more.
For more information or to book an AmaWaterways river cruise, contact your travel advisor, visit AmaWaterways.com or call (800) 626-0126. Follow AmaWaterways on Facebook at facebook.com/AmaWaterways and Twitter @AmaWaterways.
About AmaWaterways
A family-owned company celebrating 16 years on the river, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 23 ships in 2019 sailing Europe’s Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhone, Seine, Garonne, Dordogne, Dutch and Belgian Waterways and Douro Rivers, Southeast Asia’s Mekong and Africa’s Chobe River. The company is renowned for its innovative stateroom design featuring unique “twin balconies”; its 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 including the 2019 launch of AmaMagna, a new dimension in luxury river cruising at twice the width of traditional river ships, plus a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, offering group or chartered sailings geared towards active travelers and families.
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 Town & Country River Cruise Awards as “Best Overall,” “Best for Food,” “Best for Onboard Activities” and “Best for On-Shore Activities” and 2017 AFAR Reader’s Choice Awards “Best River Cruise Line.