Picture this: A little boy leaves his beloved teddy bear on board a cruise ship. Does the staff mail it back to him? Of course not: A Cruise Manager personally drives the toy from the ship to the airport so the two can be reunited ASAP.
This was a real-life scenario for AmaWaterways, and this kind of above-and-beyond effort isn’t unusual—in fact, it’s part of the company’s DNA.
It’s no accident that “ama”—a variation of the Latin word for “love”—is part of the company name. The river cruise line was founded in 2002 by three families with the goal of creating a vacation experience that they themselves would love, and one you might expect when visiting a loving relative.
And that love extends to everything the company does. What does that mean for your clients? Let us count the ways.
AmaWaterways Loves Its Guests The little boy and the teddy bear is just one example of the crew’s love for their guests. Here’s another: A receptionist once biked into a town to retrieve a bag left by a guest in a shop.
It’s all part of the company’s philosophy. AmaWaterways sets out to hire the very best professionals and continuously trains them in the pillars of family, love, enthusiasm, and passion. Part of this training is to offer special touches that make guests feel at home—like remembering your clients’ names and favorite breakfast items or drinks.
As one travel advisor who often books clients on AmaWaterways, Steve Lincoln, put it: “AmaWaterways employs the type of people that, as a parent, you hope your kids will turn out to be.”
AmaWaterways also keeps cruises personal by limiting the size of excursion groups and offering a wide range of options in every port. Guests will find separate, small-group outings designed for gentle, regular, and active walkers; hikers and cyclists; foodies and oenophiles. These outings are never canceled, even if only two people are booked.
The variety of excursions makes AmaWaterways a particularly good choice for multigenerational families, where everyone has different wants and needs. Of course, the cruise line takes equally good care of guests if they’re traveling solo or with a group of friends.
Not surprisingly, this focus on guests has brought many of them back for repeat cruises. And AmaWaterways is showing special love for them by hosting their first Loyalty Cruises this November, including special offers that range from free airfare to exclusive events and experiences. Expanded Loyalty Cruise offerings have also just been announced for 2020, offering more variety in when and where guests sail and giving them a chance to experience some of AmaWaterways newest itineraries aboard their newest ships.
AmaWaterways Loves Innovation AmaWaterways’ relentless focus on exceeding guest expectations has led to some of the river cruise industry’s most notable innovations. These include staterooms and suites with “twin balconies”—a step-out balcony adjacent to a French balcony—that maximize the view, and family-friendly suites with room for up to four people. The line was also a pioneer in offering connecting staterooms on select ships, perfect for groups and families.
When it comes to dining, AmaWaterways was the first river cruise line to unveil a private Chef’s Table specialty restaurant included in the price of the cruise. They’ve also been a leader in responding to individual dietary requests: Gluten-free, vegetarian, low-sodium and dairy-free dishes are offered in all of the dining venues.
AmaWaterways’ love of innovation was also behind its fleet of complimentary bicycles that guests can use—something now copied by many lines. AmaWaterways offers an extensive wellness program across its fleet, with dedicated Wellness Hosts who lead classes and active excursions. Massage treatments are also available in on-board spa rooms.
Other innovative features include an interactive mobile app that gives guests an easy way to access information about their itinerary and stay in touch with friends and family, as well as complimentary, unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi.
AmaWaterways is very focused on the environment. Sustainable practices on board include the use of energy-efficient LED lighting and biodegradable straws. The new AmaMagna ship boasts 10 energy-saving diesel/electric hybrid engines as well as paper-based water containers for excursions.
AmaWaterways Loves Their Travel Advisors AmaWaterways is known for showing as much love for their dedicated travel advisors as they do for their guests. The line makes booking easy for advisors with a robust travel advisor portal, concierge-level service, and flexibility. Long-tenured employees with a deep knowledge of the product are available to help educate travel advisors and grow their river cruise sales. AmaWaterways also offers an experienced Group Desk and Group Coordinator dedicated to support your business.
AmaWaterways is dedicated to providing a high level of investment in trade tools and sales support. The new AmaAcademy travel advisor training program offers such opportunities as familiarization cruises at reduced rates and a $50 digital Mastercard booking reward. There’s a new Webinar Wednesdays series, featuring online training on key topics led by AmaWaterways executives, all recorded and available to watch anytime.
AmaWaterways offers alluring sales incentives, including its Sell Five, Sail Free offer. Travel advisors who complete five deposited bookings can experience the AmaWaterways difference for themselves on a river cruise at no cost (for sailings on the new AmaMagna, 10 deposited bookings are required). In addition, the line sometimes touts special sailings with enhanced commission. To learn more about these offers, visit AmaWaterways.com/agent.
The bottom line: If you’re looking for a river cruise line where “love” isn’t just in the name but infused into every aspect of the company, it’s hard to beat AmaWaterways.
For more details on AmaWaterways’ offerings—and to help your clients fall in love with this unique brand of river cruising—log in to the Travel Advisor Portal at AmaWaterways.com.
