In a celebration fueled by German beer, Serbian wine and triumphant fireworks, AmaWaterway’s newest arrival was baptized in a gala shipyard ceremony.

A beaming Kristin Karst, executive vice-president and co-owner of AmaWaterways broke the traditional bottle of Champagne on the bow of the company’s newest ship, the AmaKristina at the dry dock of Vahali Shipyards in Mitrovica, Serbia. 

A little-known fact is that the hulls of most European river cruise ships are built by steel specialists at yards in Serbia then the newborn ship shells are floated down the Danube and Rhine rivers to Holland where they’re fitted out and furnished. The AmaKristina will launch in April 2017 for cruising on Rhine River itineraries.