Calabasas, CA - (Feb. 15, 2024) -
Luxury River Cruise Line Sets a New Record for Reservations Made in a Single Month
CALABASAS, CA - (Feb. 15, 2024) – As AmaWaterways starts its 2024 Europe season early, the luxury river cruise line has marked a new milestone with the highest single month of reservations in its history, surpassing the previous record set in January 2023 by 27 percent. Call volume also hit record levels in January 2024 with an increase of 18 percent over the same month last year with average wait times at a low 11 seconds. AmaWaterways’ Wave Season Complimentary Land Package offer contributes to the record-breaking sales, with travelers having the opportunity to receive a complimentary two-, three- or four-night land package on select Europe sailings for new reservations made before March 31, 2024. During pre- or post-cruise land packages, guests stay at world-class four- and five-star hotels and enjoy convenient transfers and portage service between hotels and the ship, as well as included excursions and the services of their AmaWaterways Cruise Manager throughout the journey.
“2024 is off to an amazing start as January marks our most successful month of bookings in our 22 years of history,’’ said Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president of AmaWaterways. “We have been able to handle this surge in demand and provide excellent service to our travel advisors partners by hiring and training additional river cruise specialists for the call center and doubling the size of our dedicated AmaAir team.”.”
Travel advisors also benefit from a variety of new tools helping them grow their river cruise business with AmaWaterways. These include digital marketing toolkits and a quick payment process on the river cruise line’s Travel Advisor Portal. Also new for travel partners is the launch of a guest facing online booking engine that facilitates convenient 24/7 reservation capability integrated into travel advisors’ co-branded AmaWaterways websites.
Highlights of AmaWaterways’ 2024 European Season Include:
Extended Season on the Danube and Rhine River
On February 11, 2024, AmaWaterways’ flagship AmaMagna set sail along the Danube River through the heart of the continent, cruising between Budapest, Hungary and Vilshofen, Germany. Also starting the early 2024 season is the award-winning AmaLucia cruising the Rhine River taking travelers dreaming of a romantic rendezvous on seven-night escapes between Amsterdam, Netherlands and Basel, Switzerland.
Immersive Experiences in France with a Brand-new Itinerary
AmaWaterways adds a sixth French itinerary with the all-new Flavors of Burgundy on the Saône River. Guests can look forward to even more specially curated excursions as this itinerary offers a variety of unforgettable and enriching activities that connect travelers to France’s rich history, culture, food, wine and people. Gourmets will love this journey, taking them through charming destinations such as Tournus, Mâcon and Lyon, while savoring exquisite regional cuisine and iconic wines on board and during visits to the history-rich towns and villages along the way.
Two New Ships: AmaMagdalena and AmaLilia
AmaWaterways continues preparations to welcome its first ships on the beautiful Magdalena River in Colombia. AmaMagdalena will launch in November of this year, and her sistership AmaMelodia in June 2025. AmaWaterways is the first major river cruise line to offer cruises on the Magdalena River, sailing between Cartagena and Barranquilla on two curated seven-night itineraries. Both itineraries take travelers down the only river in the Caribbean region to experience remarkable historical villages and cultural traditions that have been recognized by UNESCO for their universal value.
The luxury river cruise line will also welcome its second ship on the Nile, with the beautiful 82-passenger AmaLilia joining the fleet this year. Specially curated with upscale, regionally inspired décor and 41 staterooms, including 13 suites, AmaLilia will carry guests through Egypt in style with the luxurious amenities and exclusive experiences only AmaWaterways provides. On all 11-night Secrets of Egypt & the Nile itineraries, an expert Egyptologist accompanies guests throughout their journey, starting with the three-night pre-cruise stay in Cairo to visit the last survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza.
“As an entrepreneurial, family-owned and operated company committed to innovation and guest satisfaction, we are proud to offer our travel partners and their clients new itineraries to discover, new ships to enjoy and new tools and support services to get them started on their river cruise journeys even more quickly,” added Karst. “With the Complimentary Land Package offer, our ships are filling up quickly and our wonderful Cruise Managers and crew are eager to welcome our guests on board for a most memorable vacation experience.”
To reserve an AmaWaterways river cruise and land package for a client, call 1-800-626-0126 or access the Online Booking Engine on your Travel Advisor Portal on AmaWaterways.com.
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MEDIA NOTE: A hi-res image can be found HERE.
About AmaWaterways
Family-owned and operated for 22 years, AmaWaterways offers unparalleled river cruise experiences with 29 custom-designed ships sailing Europe’s Danube, Douro, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhône, Saône, Seine, Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, and Dutch and Belgian Waterways; Southeast Asia’s Mekong River; Africa’s Chobe River; Egypt’s Nile River and Colombia’s Magdalena River (2024). Co-founded by pioneering river cruise executives Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy, the company is renowned for its warm and welcoming crew; innovative and sustainable ship design; wellness activities (including a wide choice of included small group shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options); and award-winning, locally sourced cuisine paired with complimentary fine wine. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, most AmaWaterways ships welcome an average of just 150 guests and feature onboard amenities such as a stunning Main Lounge, specialty Chef’s Table restaurant, hair and massage salons, Sun Deck walking track and heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation, highlighted by the launch of the revolutionary AmaMagna. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travelers and families, as well as group and charter options.