AmaWaterways Launches New AmaSofia River Cruise Ship on the Rhine River
AmaWaterways just celebrated the christening of its newest river ship, the AmaSofia, on March 14. The ceremony took place during the ASTA River Cruise Expo in Amsterdam and drew more than 1,200 travel advisors.
A Special Celebration for Travel Advisors
The christening party spread across three AmaWaterways ships docked on the Rhine River. Guests enjoyed the celebration aboard the AmaPrima, AmaVenita, and the star of the show, AmaSofia.
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Sarah Little serves as the ship’s godmother. She’s the senior vice president of business development at ASTA. The choice makes sense given her connection to both the travel industry and AmaWaterways.
What the Leaders Had to Say
Catherine Powell, CEO of AmaWaterways, spoke about what makes a ship special. “Ships come to life through people, from the crew who pour pride into every detail, the guests who celebrate life’s moments on board to the travel advisors who inspire those journeys in the first place,” she said.
Powell also mentioned how honored the company feels about having Little as godmother. The relationship between AmaWaterways and the travel advisor community clearly matters to the cruise line.
Little shared her excitement about the role. “It is a tremendous honor to serve as godmother of AmaSofia,” she commented. “My very first river cruise was with AmaWaterways, which makes this moment especially meaningful. Christening AmaSofia here at the ASTA River Cruise Expo, surrounded by the advisor community that supports and shapes our industry every day, makes it even more special.”
What You’ll Find Onboard AmaSofia
The new ship holds up to 154 guests across 76 staterooms. The largest suites measure up to 350 square feet. That’s plenty of space for a river cruise cabin.
AmaSofia features the cruise line’s popular twin balcony design. You’ll also find the chef’s table specialty dining experience onboard. These signature touches have become favorites among AmaWaterways guests.
Where AmaSofia Will Sail
The ship started its 2026 season early on the Rhine River. It will sail the Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps route through April and May.
After that, AmaSofia moves to the Danube River. The first Danube sailing departs on June 7. The ship will sail several different routes throughout the year.
Popular itineraries include “Romantic Danube,” “Melodies of the Danube,” and “Christmas Markets on the Danube.” Most of these trips run between Budapest and Vilshofen. That gives you plenty of options to explore Central Europe’s waterways.
Travel Advisors Get First Look
More than 100 travel advisors will sail on AmaSofia after the expo ends. They’ll get hands-on experience with the new ship during a special cruise.
AmaWaterways plans to welcome more travel advisors throughout the year. These special sailings help advisors learn about the ship so they can better serve their clients.
