![\"AmaMagna\"](\"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/amamagna_ybbs-1-640x357.jpg\")
AmaMagna docked in Ybbs, Austria. \u00a9 2019 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n
Though meant to be a funny comment, Schreiner’s joke\u00a0raises an interesting point. There is so much growth in the river cruise industry, with the introduction of dozens of new river ships every year and even with the reinvention or rejuvenation of cruise companies and ships currently on the market. This growth encourages river cruise companies to think creatively and introduce new concepts to appeal to the river cruising population.<\/p>\n
We see this with the introduction of AmaMagna, a double-wide river ship that cruises the Danube. Because of its size, AmaMagna gives passengers more space both inside and outside of the staterooms. But we will get to that at a later point, because today I want to talk about another way that AmaWaterways distinguishes itself, through its emphasis on family – both with its passengers and with its staff.<\/p>\n
I spent most of my time this week talking to the crew aboard AmaMagna, some of whom I had sailed with in the past. In conducting interviews and conversing with the crew, there was one word that came up without fail every time – family<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n When I thought about writing this story I thought,\u00a0Many companies think of themselves as a family. Many people refer to themselves as family.\u00a0<\/em>And at first I couldn’t understand why the emphasis on family struck such a chord with me, but through talking to the passengers and the crew aboard the ship and ashore, it became clear that Ama takes the concept of family to another level.<\/p>\n Let’s start first with the founders of the company. Kristin Karst, Rudi Schreiner, and the late Jimmy Murphy. Kristin (from Dresden, Germany) and Rudi (from Vienna, Austria) are a married couple who, instead of trying to suppress their relationship for the purposes of work, seem to call attention to it. Whether they are sharing a slow dance in the lounge or giving their speeches at a Christening ceremony, the love that Kristin and Rudi have for each other is apparent. Throughout my crew-conducted interviews, Kristin and Rudi’s relationship was mentioned multiple times, often being cited as the reason for the closeness of the crew. They lead by example, not only with love and kindness for each other, but for everyone else as well.<\/p>\n