On the Magdalena River, where commercial navigation has in recent years given way to renewed passenger operations, AmaWaterways has formally named its second vessel in Colombian service, AmaMelodia, during a ceremony held at Barranquilla. The ship joins its sister, AmaMagdalena, with both units assigned to regular sailings between Cartagena and Barranquilla along the country’s principal inland waterway.
The line’s established programme on these voyages includes cultural performances reflecting the traditions of Barranquilla, a port noted for hosting one of the largest Carnaval celebrations outside Brazil. During the naming voyage, these customary displays were expanded in scale to mark the commissioning, forming part of a ceremony conducted in part in Spanish and attended by local representatives.
A blessing was delivered by a spiritual leader of the Indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, reflecting the company’s earlier engagement with local authorities and traditions during the development of river operations in Colombia. Company officials indicated that such consultation had been undertaken at the outset of the project, acknowledging the complexity of establishing passenger navigation on the Magdalena and expressing the view that the undertaking represented a broader contribution to the country’s tourism prospects.
Senior leadership further noted that the introduction of river cruising to the Magdalena had been the result of a multi-year effort, extending over several seasons of planning and coordination before operations were realised. The completed deployment was described as a significant milestone within the company’s expansion beyond its established European and Asian river networks.
The ceremony also confirmed the role of Elisabeth Mercado Herrera as both godmother and commanding officer of the vessel, marking the first occasion on which a woman has assumed command of a ship on the Magdalena River. Her participation included the delivery of a formal blessing during the proceedings.