Calabasas, Ca - (Oct. 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 on Facebook at facebook.com/AmaWaterways and Twitter @AmaWaterways.