Calabasas, CA - (Aug. 22, 2017) -
International luxury travel network Virtuoso® has unveiled the winners of its coveted Virtuoso Awards, which celebrate the network’s superlative travel advisors, agencies and preferred supplier partners. AmaWaterways was recognized as Virtuoso’s 2017 Cruise Line of the Year during a gala dinner at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The preferred partners honored by Virtuoso are voted on by travel agency members and the accolade is truly an honor, given that only a very small fraction of the network’s 1,700 partners were recognized at 29th annual Virtuoso Travel Week.
“We are so excited and incredibly proud to have been named Virtuoso’s 2017 Cruise Line of the Year,” said Kristin Karst, AmaWaterways’ executive vice president and co-owner. “This award truly represents and acknowledges the passion and dedication of all our hard-working teams in our offices and on board our 20 river cruise ships.”
“AmaWaterways demonstrates a superior commitment to product excellence, expert knowledge and outstanding client service, all qualities highly valued by this network,” said Albert Herrera, senior vice president, Global Product Partnerships for Virtuoso. “This award places AmaWaterways in a very exclusive category, as Virtuoso’s most celebrated partners are recognized as leaders within the industry. Their contributions and close relationships with our advisors enable Virtuoso to maintain its status as the world’s most exceptional luxury and experiential travel network.”
“AmaWaterways is extremely honored to be recognized by Virtuoso as Cruise Line of the Year,” said Gary Murphy, AmaWaterways’ vice president of sales and co-owner. “The travel advisors making up the Virtuoso family share so many of the same beliefs and goals as our AmaWaterways family which makes spending time together at Virtuoso Travel Week feel like a very, very large family reunion. Winning this award brought a beautiful close to a fantastic week.”
###About AmaWaterways
A family-owned company celebrating 15 years on the river, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 20 ships that sail Europe’s Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhone, Seine, Garonne, Dordogne, Dutch and Belgian Waterways and Douro rivers, Southeast Asia’s Mekong and Africa’s Chobe River. The company is renowned for its innovative stateroom design featuring unique “twin balconies”; its wide choice of included shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options for the active traveler; and its award-winning dining – including The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant as well as complimentary fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, each ship carries less than 164 guests and features onboard amenities such as hair and massage salons and a fitness room and many have heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry with a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, offering group or chartered sailings geared towards active travelers and families.
With the highest-rated ships in Europe according to the 2016 edition of Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe, AmaWaterways has received countless honors and accolades including 2016 Cruise Critics Editors’ Pick Award as “Best River Cruise Line” and Town & Country River Cruise Awards as “Best Overall,” “Best for Food,” “Best for Onboard Activities” and “Best for On-Shore Activities.”
About Virtuoso
Virtuoso® is the leading international travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 800 travel agency partners with more than 16,000 elite travel advisors in over 45 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with 1,700 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. More than (U.S.) $21.2 billion in annual travel sales makes Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com.