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September 6, 2024

The allure of river cruises in Europe is undeniable, and today there are many companies offering itineraries across the continent, providing a wide range of excursions and discovery opportunities on all the major navigable rivers.

AmaWaterways, the company with which I experienced a wonderful itinerary on the Loire a couple of years ago, is one of the brands that has many ships positioned in various European regions, offering a choice of itineraries in many different countries. We asked Martina Valachova, Cruise Manager at AmaWaterways, to share with us her on-board experience and insights about the brand she has worked with for years, to deepen our understanding of the lesser-known aspects of life on river ships and some characteristics of the company.

Martina, thank you first of all for your availability and your time to tell us a little more about yourself and the ships you work on. I think we’ve crossed paths more than once on some river, but we haven’t had the opportunity to travel together yet.

Let’s start from the beginning… Tell us where are you from and what was the factor that led you to consider the river cruise industry as a work environment where you feel comfortable, and what was crucial in drawing you to AmaWaterways?

I was born behind the iron curtain in former Czechoslovakia and always dreamt of traveling the world. Growing up on the river Vah, which is one of the Danube´s tributaries, not far away from Bratislava – the capital of Slovakia, I have always spent most of my time by the river, canoeing, camping, walking or hiking. When the border opened, I didn’t wait a long time and decided to leave my home and explore the world beyond the former border. I immediately recognized the beauty of travelling through Europe on a river cruise ship. The idea of cruising on a river through beautiful destinations was absolutely fascinating to me and I decided to join the world of river cruising. I worked for many different cruise lines in the past and after several years, I have decided to take a brake and moved to Africa. I spent 5 years in Africa, but started to miss Europe and cruising, the beauty of seasonal changes, destinations, castles, and decided to move back to Europe and start to cruise again. I was looking for the best company out there and found AmaWaterways, offering personalized service, family owned business with owners actively involved in river cruising, countless awards for innovations and luxury ships, friendly working environment led by professionals, I knew this is the right company to join. Today I am happy to be a part of AmaWaterways Family for many years and many more to come. AmaWaterways is a working place with heart and even those Cruise Managers who started with the company at the very beginning in 2002 are still here. I think that says a lot.

Tell us something about your life onboard. We all know that spending months on a ship, even a large one, can be very challenging. Crew spaces on a river cruise ship are much more limited. But in return, is it perhaps easier to step ashore every day?

Although I work very closely with the crew onboard, I do not stay in crew area and also do not stay on one ship for the entire season. We Cruise Managers always go from a ship to a ship and take breaks between cruises. We are experts on all rivers and therefore cruise everywhere. It is very common for a Cruise Manager in Europe to cruise several different rivers and itineraries during one season and that’s what makes this job even more exiting. As a Cruise Manager, I go out every day, I join guests on tours and also during the pre or post cruise land program, which is great as the guests have always AmaWaterways ambassador by their side to help with whatever they might need.

From behind the scenes, what do you think are the main advantages of a river cruise compared to an ocean cruise?

River cruise is intimate, the guests might come onboard in different flights, transfers, cars, but by the end of the cruise they are like one family. It is very common guests become very good friends with fellow travelers and take another cruise together or make lifetime long friendships with our crew and cruise managers. Due to smaller amount of the guests onboard, the service is very personal and there are more opportunities for personal interaction. We know names of our guests, we know what omelet and coffee they like for breakfast and you can be sure your barkeeper will know exactly how you like your cocktail. The smaller number of guests on board allow us to offer very personalized service to every guest with a lot of attention to each detail. Another great advantage is the docking location. Since a river ship stays directly in the city, there is no need for long transfers from distant ports which allows guests to maximize their time, it allows guests to explore destinations more intimately and conveniently. You can go out to a local restaurant, vineries and come and go at your own pace. What can be better like being docked overnight in Austria´s capital Vienna and go out for Mozart & Strauss concert in a historic venue? Or imagine your ship is docked right in the heart of a historic village and you step out of the ship directly to promenade, stroll along the river and walk to local shopping street or vinery. Also, our rivers are smooth and you don’t get sea sick and there is always something to see as we cruise. Ocean cruises take you to different places, but river cruises take you right through the heart of them. On a river cruise you will enjoy ever-changing breathtaking scenery through the entire journey. Cruising right through the heart of the famous capitals like Budapest or Bratislava, passing by many castles, lash vineyards, charming villages with locals waving is a breathtaking experience guests can enjoy through the entire journey

I believe that, although mistakenly, the general public associates the concept of “cruise” with large ships in tropical or dreamlike destinations. They often overlook how much a river cruise can offer in terms of relaxation, services, and beautiful itineraries. Personally, and through our magazines, we put a lot of effort into highlighting the unique features of each type of cruise, especially these two major sectors.

Absolutely, and you are doing such an amazing job in showing the beauty of river cruising! River cruises have indeed so much to offer! It is truly very relaxing but can be also very active if you wish. Every guest will find something, weather you want to join complimentary wellness classes, or learn how to make apple strudel or decorate your own gingerbread with our pastry chef, join a history lecture or wine tasting of local wines or just relax by the heated outdoor pool, the possibilities are endless. Beside of several included tours every day, we also have our own bikes onboard and you can join guided bike tours or just take a bike and cycle on your own. The appeal of smaller intimate river ships going to less crowded destinations and discovering of the old world is attracting many ocean cruisers who are craving something different as tropical destinations. Not many people know this, but you can actually cruise one river several times. It is very different when you cruise in spring time and all the trees along the river are blooming. Cursing in Wachau region in spring time and see the fields of apricots blooming is breathtaking! And so, it is to cruise there in autumn, when the steep vineyards and surrounding forests are colored with 50 shades of red. Coming again in winter time is a completely different experience on the same river. You step out of the ship into a magic land with many Christmas markets, smell of mulled wine and roasted almonds. Christmas cruises are very popular and AmaWaterways is known for having the most beautifully decorated ships out there!

By the way, I noticed that you are a great Content Creator and that your Instagram profile is very successful. It’s really exciting to follow you on social media, which are now a winning key to sharing experiences and effectively and in real time highlighting the highlights of a river cruise. Was this a personal initiative of yours? How did this desire to share life on board come about?

Thank you very much! I love sharing the beauty of river cruising and I am so grateful for every single follower and all the support! Since I am always somewhere on a cruise and there is always something beautiful on the way, I always feel like I should share this with everyone. The landscape along the rivers is breathtakingI somehow got into filming and photography already when I lived in Africa, but the idea to share the beauty of river cruising came from our company and I truly loved it. Social networks are very powerful way to reach out to new clients and connect with existing. Today, we have also presence on all important social networks and very active Facebook groups where guests can connect with fellow travelers and ask various questions.

As for your role on board, what are your specific duties, and what does a typical day look like for you? I imagine that interacting with guests is very important and is a significant part of your daily responsibilities.

My primary role is to ensure every guest has an exceptional and memorable experience on board. Duties are diverse, covering everything from overseeing daily operations to managing guest relations, coordinating excursions, providing live commentaries along the way, history lectures and daily talks about our program and destinations. Together with the entire team, we make sure every single need of each guest is met. It is very common a cruise manager become very close friend with every single guest. Since ships are more intimate, there is always time to interact with every single guest onboard and give personal advices and suggestions on my favorite things to do or taste in every destination what makes the guest´s experience more unique and very personal

In your opinion, what is the philosophy of AmaWaterways? How does it stand out among the many brands navigating European rivers?

Ama” means love – and love is at the heart of everything we do. Our guests are our top priority. In 2002, Kristin Karst, Rudi Schreiner and Jimmy Murphy founded AmaWaterways. They all had extensive experiences in travel and river cruising and always wanted to create a river cruise product that they’d love to experience themselves. Now, co-owners Kristin Karst, Rudi Schreiner and Jimmy´s son Gary are very actively involved in river cursing and join many river cruises themselves. Over the years Amawaterways received hundreds of awards for luxury ships, unique dinning, innovations or beautiful itineraries to building one-of-a-kind ships with added comforts and conveniences ranging from signature view-enhancing twin balconies to the Chef’s Table specialty restaurant to award-winning AmaMagna. But luxury is also in the little surprises we offer to our guests along the way, personalized service and connections which warms heart and soul. On the end, the most beautiful ships out there are the relationships. At AmaWaterways You will always find yourself in a place where luxury means love. AmaWaterways is led by pioneers in the industry and well-being of guests is at the center of every decision, whether it is about designing new ships, crafting exiting itinerary or choosing the delicious menu using local ingredients.

How does your work look in the long term? How much time do you spend on board, and how much at home? Do you work on various ships in the fleet, or are you based on the same vessel?

My work involves a unique balance between time spent on board and time at home. In my role as a Cruise Manager, I have the opportunity to work across different ships in the AmaWaterways fleet. I am not typically based on one vessel for an entire season. Instead, I may be assigned to different ships and rivers depending on the itinerary and the needs of the company. This variety keeps the job dynamic and allows me to experience different parts of Europe, meet new colleagues, and adapt to different ship environments. It also helps me stay versatile and knowledgeable about various destinations and ship operations.

Let’s talk about Martina outside of an AmaWaterways ship! Where do you live, and how do you spend your time when you’re not on board? Tell us about your passions and how you can balance them with a work commitment that keeps you away from home for many weeks. A curiosity many cruisers always seem to have is how you manage family and romantic life; if you’d like to share some advice!

When I am not cruising, I live on Canary Islands and spend time with my cat, friends and family. So, I can easily say I am always on vacation Balancing my passions with a job -which is my passion too, is all about time management and I always try to plan my days to make the most of my time. Whether it’s catching up with friends and family, visiting SPA or diving into a good audio book at home, I make sure to focus on the activities that bring me joy and relaxation. Ultimately, being a Cruise Manager is about finding a rhythm that works for you and embracing the adventure of both your professional and personal life – both are very beautiful and enriching and it is not a surprise that many times in my free time I go to enjoy AmaWaterways river cruise.

Finally, let’s take one last look at your role and position. Have you ever encountered difficulties in career advancement or relationships with colleagues during your years in the river cruise industry? Are there aspects that motivate you to continue and encourage girls of tomorrow to pursue a career like yours?

Being a cruise manager is an absolutely beautiful position which allows you to travel and connect with amazing people. Sharing the journey with the entire crew and all the guests on board is very beautiful experience with lasting memories. I feel so fortunate to be part of AmaWaterways Family, lead by professionals and in a working environment which is innovative, friendly and supportive. I would definitely encourage girls to purse this career as a great possibility to share love for travel. Being able to create memorable experiences for our guests is incredibly rewarding. Seeing their happiness and knowing that I’ve contributed to a special moment in their lives is a powerful motivator.

Martina, I really appreciate your time and for sharing anecdotes and curiosities that are not easily imagined just by watching a beautiful ship glide on a river. I have personally had the fortune to recently discover this segment of the cruise industry, and I must admit I was quickly won over. What I remember most about AmaWaterways is the familiar atmosphere and the friendliness of the crew, which I believe continue to represent the environment in which you work every day. I hope to be back on board soon, and maybe share some good moments with Cruise Manager Martina!

Don’t miss more updates, news and reviews about AmaWaterways on Cruising Journal with photos, video e cruises on offers.

Gabriele Bassi

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