I’m so excited to share the news that Rudi was just awarded the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) at the Cruise 360 Hall of Fame Cruise Industry Awards dinner on June 2nd.
Most of you know Rudi Schreiner as co-owner and President of AmaWaterways but did you know that within the cruise industry he is often referred to as the “Godfather of River Cruising”? In his early 20’s, he and a group of friends constructed a raft and spent seven months sailing the Amazon, researching the legendary region and since the mid 90’s he has been at the helm of most major international river cruise companies helping to launch their U.S. Operations.
During the ceremony last week, CLIA cited the many innovations that Rudi has created over the years at AmaWaterways, including the concept of the “Twin Balcony”. And this year all our new ships have a number of connecting cabins, making river cruising more convenient for groups and families.
During his acceptance speech Rudi said “I have dedicated my career to expanding the river cruising segment and am still just as passionate about the field as when I started. I am also inspired by the opportunity that exists ahead, with so much untapped potential. On behalf of my extraordinary team at AmaWaterways, I can say that we are proud to have created a wonderful experience for our guests over the years, and that we are all grateful to continue being part of something so very special.”
I know I speak on behalf of the entire AmaWaterways family in saying how proud we are of Rudi for all that he has achieved through his hard work, passion and energy. His innovative spirit and dedication to his business partners, the travel agent community and our own team and crew have helped create the long-lasting relationships that have made our AmaWaterways what it is today.
Cheers to you Rudi!