Travel advisor and New York City first responder Toni Day has been chosen to serve as the godmother of the Emerald Astra.
The Emerald Astra marks "a new era of luxury river cruising," Emerald Cruises said. The 180-person Star Ship vessel will sail the Danube and Rhine beginning in May.
Emerald will host a christening ceremony for the ship in Amsterdam before its first cruise.
Day spent more than 25 years with the New York City Fire Department, rising to the rank of EMS deputy chief. She worked as a paramedic and was stationed at Ground Zero following 9/11.
"Toni embodies the passion, dedication and resilience that define the very best of the travel industry," said Ken Muskat, president of Scenic Group USA/Latam. "Her service as a first responder and her leadership as a travel advisor have touched countless lives. We are deeply honored to welcome her as Godmother of Emerald Astra and to celebrate her as part of the Scenic Group family."
Award-winning travel advisor
Toni Day Photo Credit: Scenic Group
In 2004, Day founded Toni Tours and specialized in luxury ocean and river cruises; she is one of Scenic's top sellers. She is known for her Adventures with Toni Tours and has visited more than 120 countries across all seven continents.
Day is a special-event coordinator for the North Florida ASTA Chapter and has received ASTA's Barbara O'Hara Advocacy Award and Nexion's Circle of Excellence for three consecutive years.
"It is an incredible honor to be named Godmother of Emerald Astra, especially since Astra is a word of Latin and Greek origin meaning stars. Throughout my life, I've always believed in reaching for the stars, whether serving my community or helping travelers discover the world," Day said.