The events of 2020 have changed forever many aspects of our lives but the desire to explore the world with friends, family or solo remains stronger than ever. International travel will return but it may look and feel a bit different – and that’s not a bad thing. There will be a greater emphasis on time, space, health and safety and personalization of the travel experience along with a new desire to slow down the pace of travel, visit less crowded areas and spend more time immersed in a destination.
Our river cruise ships are like small floating hotels docking every morning in the center of a different iconic site or quaint village - almost doubling the amount of leisure time guests can enjoy in each destination. 18 of our European ships have received their Green Award – each has been thoughtfully designed, carefully built and meticulously maintained in order to offer a less crowded, healthier and more sustainable river cruise experience.
Our guests will continue to be discerning travelers who place high value on cultural activities; consider food and wine to be an important aspect of discovering a destination; and appreciate opportunities to maintain their healthy lifestyle while on vacation. We also know how important it is that our guests feel recognized and cared for. It’s the small touches like remembering a favorite cocktail, the type of coffee you take in the morning or dietary restrictions at dinner that all add up to creating an environment where each guest feels understood, pampered and appreciated. Having expansive sun decks, spacious staterooms and all the dining and tours choices included in the cruise price creates incredible value that experienced travelers recognize as true luxury.
Celebration Travel - reuniting with family and friends while celebrating delayed birthdays, anniversaries, and other of life’s milestone events - will become even more desirable in the year ahead. The variety of included tours we offer and the small size of our tour groups, makes it safe and easy for everyone traveling together to tailor their cruise experiences to meet their special interests while still creating those lasting memories together.
When it comes to trust in safeguarding the health of our guests, we are in the unique position of being the only US-based river cruise ship company operating in Europe this summer. Sailing AmaKristina in Germany for the local market has allowed us to put into practice and fine tune all our enhanced health and safety protocols. We know our North American guests are very eager to get back out and discover the world and our captains and crews are ready to welcome you on board with open arms once all the conditions are right.
We have always pursued a conservative growth plan, allowing us to remain financially strong and debt-free. While COVID-19 may have paused our 2020 operations, it has not dampened our plans for the future. We remain committed to looking for innovative ways to enhance our guests’ river cruise experience while protecting the environment and enriching the local communities we visit. In 2021, we will be adding two new ships to our European fleet, AmaSiena and AmaLucia, renovating two ships, AmaBella and AmaVerde plus launching a new ship, AmaDahlia, for the Nile and moving two ships over to France to offer two new itineraries there.
Lastly, events this year have certainly demonstrated that there is no guarantee that travel will always go 100% as planned. We always recommend that our guests work with a great Travel Advisor as together, we can create seamless travel arrangements including flights, transfers and pre and post-cruise land stays so our guests can explore the world responsibly with confidence and peace of mind.
We can’t wait to welcome back our guests and travel partners on board our beautiful ships very soon!
Click here to Watch the video Onboard Safety Protocols.