Travel Tips

Radio Guest List—AmaKristina River Cruise Ship in Amsterdam, Netherlands—March 31, 2018

Locations in this article:  Amsterdam, Netherlands

Photo Credit: Instagram.com/AmaWaterways

This week, Peter Greenberg Worldwide broadcasts from the AmaKristina riverboat in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Joining the program is Chairman and CEO of Virtuoso, Matthew Upchurch, discussing changes in travel patterns and travelers’ expectations, and the responsibility of sustainability in tourism. Mina Solanki discusses the expat life in the Netherlands and her special secrets of Amsterdam—she’s the Editor of IAmExpat. Gertjan Broek, from the historic Anne Frank house, talks about one of Amsterdam’s enduring (and smallest) attractions, and the history they are still discovering there. Co-founder of AMA Waterways, Kristin Karst, talks about the explosion of river cruises, new ports, and the new, more active river cruiser. There’s all of this and more as Peter Greenberg Worldwide broadcasts from the AmaKristina River Cruise Ship in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Click here to listen to the show streaming from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 31, 2018.

Have a travel question? Ask Peter. Call 888-88-PETER (888-88-383), email him at peter@petergreenberg.com, or tweet your questions to @PeterSGreenberg (include #AskPeter).

Jan Tensen, Captain of the AmaKristina River Cruise Ship, talks about his early love for ships and how he became a captain. He tells us about sailing in Europe, places he doesn’t sail, and why he took a break from sailing. We then learn what got him back on the water.

Robert Kellerhals, Chef on the AmaKristina River Cruise Ship, explains that there is now a new desire for fresh and healthy foods within the cruise food industry. People are more interested in cooking with chefs they see on TV. He shares how there aren’t any complicated dishes anymore since they can source and make anything. The shift to simpler dishes has led to some trial and error, but he was able to find that special dish that everyone wanted.

Matthew Upchurch, Chairman and CEO of Virtuoso, discusses the responsibility of sustainability in tourism. More specifically, he talks about the celebration of creativity that is the river cruise ship industry. He emphasizes how river cruising can be a very active vacation. He explains why the travel and tourism industry is so healthy and growing. In the last seven years, the number of travel advisors has tripled.

Mina Solanki, Editor of IAmExpat, talks about moving to Amsterdam and its diversity. She talks about the different types of foods, her favorite places to eat, the people, and being an expat. She discusses the accessibility of the train system and how you can get anywhere. She also talks about what her friends are most surprised by when they visit Amsterdam.

Gertjan Broek, Researcher at the Anne Frank House, discusses the story of Anne Frank, how old she was when she died, and how 1.2 million visitors come to see Anne Frank’s tiny house each year. He talks about the logistics of managing a massive amount of people. He discusses his main points of interest and the message he hopes the house conveys about history.

Bert Wiskie, Historian, explains how Dutch history is similar to US history. He talks about how the Declaration of Independence has the same format as the Dutch’s Proclamation. He then talks about how much Amsterdam has changed over the last 25 years and that it is not a thriving town. He also explains why he has two bikes in Amsterdam.

Kristin Karst, Co-Founder of the AmaKristina, talks about the origins of AmaWaterways and the river cruising industry. She explain why it’s so important to listen to the guests and put yourself in their shoes to see what else can be done to meet their needs. In fact, she points out that the guests were the first ones to bring bicycles on board, and it has now become a trend. Sometimes they need to bring more bikes on board. She mentions other available onboard activities and what the future holds for AmaWaterways.

By Alessandra Taryn Bea for PeterGreenberg.com