Castle backdrop
The garland-trimmed vessel, its passengers and the naming party were greeted by local dignitaries and residents of Lahnstein for a 'Rhine romanticism'-themed dockside ceremony. Each guest received a hand-made vine leaf and flower pin to wear.
Framed by the spectacular backdrop of Stolzenfels Castle, local entertainers included a shanty choir accompanied by accordions and an elegantly costumed group performing traditional dances from the early 19th century.
Godmother Libbie Rice
Libbie Rice, president of Ensemble Travel Group, served as the godmother. In naming AmaMora, Rice added: 'And may she be a conduit for adventure and enlightenment for those who travel on her' before dispensing the magnum of Veuve Clicquot on the second try with a two-hand overhead smash.
'AmaWaterways owes a huge part of its success to the support and loyalty of the travel advisor community, and we are pleased to honor that long-standing collaboration by having Libbie christen our newest ship,' EVP and Co-Founder Kristin Karst said. 'Through her years of experience in the travel industry, she has gained a reputation as an astute, forward thinker and a role model for other young women taking on leadership roles in travel.'
Sister of AmaLea and AmaKristina
'This has truly been a record-breaking year for us, and we are very proud to welcome AmaMora to our wonderful fleet of ships that are built to meet the needs of today’s travelers who crave a luxurious and personalized vacation experience,' said Rudi Schreiner, president and co-founder of AmaWaterways.
'With multiple dining venues, a well-equipped gym with a wellness host and heated swimming pool with swim-up bar, AmaMora’s design reflects her most recent sister ships, AmaLea and AmaKristina,' Schreiner added, 'but her fresh, rich color scheme is uniquely her own.'
Amsterdam-Basel itineraries
AmaMora’s inaugural Rhine season consists of seven-night cruises between Amsterdam and Basel. A highlight is the scenic 40-mile voyage through the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge with its steep valley sides covered by terraced vineyards and more than 40 hilltop castles, some dating back to Roman times.
As part of AmaWaterways' first Loyalty Appreciation Month, returning passengers will be recognized with a special 'Christmas Markets on the Rhine' aboard AmaMora, departing Nov. 25.
AmaMora's naming follows last week's christening of AmaMagna on the Danube and the spring inauguration of AmaDouro in Portugal.
