Wade Korzan and Leo Starico head up AmaWaterways’ European Office in Basel, Switzerland, and are responsible for hiring our exceptionally hard-working Cruise Managers (or as we call them, our AmaWaterways Brand Ambassadors). We sat down with Wade and Leo while they were visiting the U.S. office to hear exactly how these extraordinary individuals are selected.
How many people apply to become Cruise Managers with AmaWaterways?
We receive hundreds of resumes. Approximately between 8-12 are hired each year, depending on our needs for the season.
Are all of AmaWaterways’ Cruise Managers from Europe?
We have a very diverse team from all over the world, encompassing different nationalities, backgrounds and even ages. Some are in their 20s, some are almost in their 70s. We believe it makes our cruises richer for our guests. In fact, our Basel office is also comprised of people of different backgrounds: German, American, Argentinian, Spanish, Swiss, Albanian, Dutch, Polish, Serbian, Romanian and Dutch! It’s all about finding people that connect with each other who can, in turn, connect with our guests.
Describe the interview process.
It’s quite extensive! I started interviewing candidates for 2025 in November of 2023! Candidates first submit their resumes and an introduction video to me, and if we can see their sparkle in their video, we will invite them for an online interview. All going well, this will be followed by two, three, or four more online meetings with me before we would move on to the next step.
Define “sparkle.”
It’s a quality that isn’t tangible. It can’t be defined. You can see it in their eyes and feel an overwhelming positive energy radiating from that person.