Travel expert christens new river cruise vessel – e

(L to R)AmaWaterways Executive Vice President and Co-Owner Kristin Karst, honorary ship “Godmother” and travel industry executive Valerie Wilson, and AmaWaterways President and Co-Owner Rudi Schreiner at the christening of AmaWaterways’ newest ship, AmaPrima, on Aug. 6 in Vilshofen. Image: APT/Ama

APT and partner AmaWaterways have celebrated the christening of their newest ship, AmaPrima in Vilshofen, Germany, this week with the highlight of the event a traditional christening of the vessel, by her honorary godmother, Valerie Wilson, founder, chairman and CEO of New York City-based Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc.

Wilson christened the AmaPrima in the traditional manner, breaking a bottle of champagne against the ship’s hull, with doves also released into the sky as the Vilshofen Fire Department sprayed a plume of water high over the vessel and river.

A local pastor also blessed the ship, with entertainment provided by soprano Heidlinde Schmid and an Indiana Jones-like whipcracking demonstration, apparently a Bavarian tradition, with children from a folk lore club performing traditional dances and presenting the Vilsofhen flag to the AmaPrima’s captain, Jan de Bruin, who also signed the town’s ceremonial “Golden Book” along with other VIP’s in attendance.

An APT’s Concerto class river ship, the Amaprima is a sister ship to the award-winning Amacerto, launched in 2012, and is a deluxe 164 feet passenger vessel that incorporates such innovative design features as twin balconies, an APT and AmaWaterways exclusive and spacious staterooms that measure up to 350 sq. feet. 

Guests also enjoy Chaîne des Rôtisseurs culinary creations with unlimited fine wine and beer, a choice of dining venues, a heated pool with swim-up bar, massage and beauty salon, fitness studio, and complimentary in-room Internet, Infotainment and Wi-Fi.

The Amaprima also carries a fleet of bicycles on board so guests can enjoy Europe’s picturesque riverside bike paths on their own.