From the Shores of the Danube to the Heart of River Cruising

A lifelong passion for rivers transformed into a mission to empower, educate, and inspire the river cruise industry

River cruise ship on a river with wildflowers and trees in the foreground, cloudy sky.

My Story …

A Lifelong Love for the River

I grew up in the enchanting town of Corabia, Romania, nestled on the banks of the majestic Danube. My childhood was spent swimming, playing with friends, and watching the ships sail by—a fascination that sparked my lifelong connection with rivers.

Fast forward to July 17, 2000, when a friend's call changed everything. What started as a two-week stint aboard a passenger ship quickly turned into a thriving career. My plan to return to my job at Elle Magazine took an unexpected turn, and I never looked back.

Since then, I’ve navigated all of Europe’s major rivers: the Danube, Rhine, Main, Seine, Rhône, Dordogne, Garonne, Moselle, Douro, and the Main-Danube Canal. In 2014, after welcoming my second daughter, I embraced a new role—training Cruise Managers. Sharing my expertise and passion became my way of ensuring guests enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime river cruise experience they'll cherish forever.

In 2024, my journey took yet another turn when I began consulting with ports across Europe. Sharing best practices, innovative tips, and actionable strategies, I helped ports become must-visit destinations for river cruises. This marked the start of a new mission: fostering excellence across every corner of the river cruise industry.

From the Shores of the Danube to the Heart of River Cruising

Mission & Vision

Smiling woman holding microphone at an event

Mission

"To become the leading source of information and inspiration for river cruise professionals, offering unparalleled knowledge, hands-on experiences, and top-tier services that contribute to the sustainable development of the river cruising industry."

Vision

"To be recognized as the go-to platform for river cruise professionals, promoting excellence in training, service standards, and industry insights."

Rivers of Experience, Waves of Knowledge

Why Trust Me?

Over 25 years of hands-on experience in the river cruise industry.

Trainer and mentor to countless successful Cruise Managers since 2014.
In-demand consultant for river ports across Europe, driving tourism and growth.
Partnerships with leading river cruise companies and hospitality professionals.

What Others Say

Sonia Maslovskaya

Maddy is an exceptional cruise manager and travel professional! She has an impressive knowledge and expertise on the areas she cruises through. She is able to share a wealth of information on history, architecture, art, music, cuisine and other aspects of cultures and heritages of the many countries she is guiding her guests through. And she can do that in a light-hearted and entertaining way. Her guests are not only exceptionally happy as she exceeds their expectations, they feel like they made a friend for a lifetime. Maddy has a gift of working with people and making them feel special, valued and understood. Not only is she known as one of the top cruise managers in the industry, she is also an outstanding trainer and resource for others. When I worked with Maddy, she put together numerous trainings, shared best practices and mentored other cruise managers. She also appeared in a number of virtual events for AmaWaterways, where she was able to share her expertise during live broadcasts to large audiences. Each time during these broadcasts and live events, she was cheered on by past guests and travel advisors who were lucky enough to be on her cruises, and won the hearts and minds of prospective travelers. What strikes me about Maddy the most, is that she never rests on her laurels and is always eager to go above and beyond.

Member of Forbes Coaches Council
Antonio Guerreiro

Maddy is an inspiration and a trustful person that one can rely on.
Very knowledgeable, engaging and always available to assist while on training when doubts or questions arise.
As a Cruise Manager, she is excellent as well, one of the best and the kindest.
A unique feature is her sincere and warm giggle/ laugh, one of the warmest and most infactuous in the industry.

Cruise Manager
Nemanja Varadjanin

I met Maddy at the very beginning of my career on the river cruise ships when I was a receptionist. She was kind and super organized and it was always a real pleasure to work with her. All of this was confirmed when I started training for the Cruise Manager position, she was my mentor, and the way she organized the whole process was extraordinary. Maddy's a true professional, devoted to her job and the company, with a profound understanding of what the Cruise Manager job is and what it takes for it to be performed on a truly high level. I'm thankful for the opportunity to learn from her and for all of her dedication and support. Maddy is a true Superstar.

Cruise Manager