- (May. 1, 2024) -
Leading river cruise company gives back to travel advisors with cruise giveaways, special FAM opportunities to Egypt and valuable tools to grow their business
CALABASAS, Calif. – (April 30, 2024) – In celebration of Travel Advisor Appreciation Month and to show their gratitude for the support of travel advisors, award-winning river cruise line AmaWaterways announced new FAM opportunities for travel advisors, a booking incentive and opportunities to win a complimentary cruise during each Webinar Wednesday throughout the month of May. Also unveiled are new Seminar on the River cruises hosted by Business Development Managers and members of the leadership team plus additional familiarization (FAM) cruises on departure dates extending until November. For the first time ever, AmaWaterways is also offering travel partners special FAM rates to experience its Secrets of Egypt & The Nile itinerary with a selection of departure dates offered between May 3 and June 21, 2024. The 11-night cruise and land program, which includes the 7-night river cruise on board AmaDahlia and newly launched AmaLilia, plus three nights pre-cruise and one-night post-cruise in Cairo, is offered to travel partners starting from $2,850 per person*.
This is a limited-time opportunity for advisors to discover the wonders of Egypt while gaining firsthand experience and deep product knowledge, expanding their portfolio in a growing market.
As a special thank you for their loyalty and dedication, all travel advisors attending Webinar Wednesdays during the month of May will be entered into a weekly draw to win a complimentary European river cruise for two. On June 4, travel advisors who attend all five Webinar Wednesday sessions and create a co-branded website with AmaWaterways will be placed in the draw to win a complimentary cruise for two on board AmaWaterways’ flagship, AmaMagna. As another thank you during Travel Advisor Appreciation Month, advisors will also earn a $25 gift card for each new reservation made in May for travel in 2024 or a $50 gift card for new bookings departing in July, August or November 2024*.
“Travel Advisor Appreciation Month is a special occasion for us to say thank you to our dedicated advisors who have played such an important part in our 22-year story of innovation and growth. Their trust and support have contributed so much to our current success and the strong growth we are seeing for 2025 and 2026,” said Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president of AmaWaterways. “We show
appreciation to our travel partners all year long with FAMs, marketing support and training opportunities, but the month of May holds a special place in our hearts offering another opportunity for everyone at AmaWaterways to express our gratitude for the personal care and professionalism exhibited by our travel partners.”
Whether new to the travel industry or a veteran travel advisor, Webinar Wednesdays, held each week at 10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern, provide travel partners with up-to-date product information, promotion details and the best marketing tools to grow their river cruise sales with AmaWaterways. For a chance to win a Europe river cruise, travel partners are invited to register in advance for the special May sessions via the links below or visit AmaWaterways’ Travel Advisor Portal:
• Wednesday, May 1: Travel Advisor Appreciation Month: Tips, Tools & Rewards
• Wednesday, May 8: 10 Things to Know About Egypt with AmaWaterways
• Wednesday, May 15: 10 Things to Know About Holland & Belgium with AmaWaterways
• Wednesday, May 22: 10 Things to Know About Rhine, Maine & Moselle with AmaWaterways
• Wednesday, May 29: 10 Things to Know About the Danube with AmaWaterways
“The month of May is always a special time for our teams to go above and beyond and say thank you to our travel advisor partners for their loyalty and support,” said Alex Pinelo, senior vice president of sales. “We are excited to share these special booking rewards and additional FAM opportunities that are designed to equip advisors with the first-hand knowledge and confidence they need to help them on their path to even greater success.” Travel advisors can benefit from a variety of new tools including digital marketing toolkits, an updated Travel Advisor Sales Guide and a quick payment process on the river cruise line’s Travel Advisor Portal. Also new for travel partners is the launch of an online cruise booking engine integrated into travel advisors’ co-branded AmaWaterways websites that provides convenient 24/7 reservation capabilities. Travel partners are invited to visit AmaWaterways’ Travel Advisor Portal to apply for upcoming hosted Seminars on the River :
• Secrets of Egypt & the Nile, AmaLilia, May 20, 2024 (Host: Marci Neu, BDM)
• Secrets of Egypt & the Nile, AmaDahlia, June 14, 2024 (Host: Bronwyn McKindley, Vice President, Reservations)
• Gems of Southeast Europe, AmaBella, July 8, 2024 (Host: Becky Murillo, BDM)
• Paris & Normandy, AmaLyra, July 11, 2024 (Host: Herlan Ruiz, BDM)
• Melodies of the Danube, AmaVerde, July 22, 2024 (Host: Deborah Robinson, BDM)
• Flavors of Burgundy, AmaCello, July 25, 2024 (Host: Columba Calicchio, BDM)
• Charms of the Mekong, AmaDara, August 5, 2024 (Host: Jesica Benitez, Director, Strategic Partner Networks)
• Melodies of the Danube, AmaSonata, August 21, 2024 (Host: Carson Hobart, BDM)
• Captivating Rhine, AmaLucia, August 22, 2024 (Host: Laurie Smith, BDM)
• Best of Holland & Belgium, AmaCerto, November 13, 2024 (Host: Stephen Batjiaka, BDM)
• Rhine Castle & Swiss Alps, AmaSerena, November 18, 2024 (Host: Wendy Smith, BDM)
Travel advisors are encouraged to attend all Webinar Wednesday sessions to be the first to learn about product updates, promotional offers and additional incentives.
*Full details available on AmaWaterways Travel Advisor Portal. 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.
MEDIA NOTE: A hi-res image can be found HERE.
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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 (2025). 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