AmaWaterways Named AAA’s 2020 River Cruise Partner of the Year

Luxury River Cruise Line Also Honored with Best in Member Service – Cruise for Unwavering Commitment to AAA Travel Advisors and Members

 

CALABASAS, CA – (November 17, 2020) – AmaWaterways today proudly announced that it was named American Automobile Association’s (AAA) “River Cruise Partner of the Year” and “Best in Member Service – Cruise”  during the annual AAA Travel Forum. Held virtually this year, the event recognized top preferred supplier partners offering exceptional travel products and services based on multiple category scores submitted by AAA Clubs across the country. Jazzmine Douse, AmaWaterways’ National Account Manager, accepted the award on the company’s behalf on November 4.

 

“In these times where trust and confidence mean so much to the travel industry, we couldn’t be prouder to receive this award,” said Gary Murphy, co-owner and senior vice president, sales of AmaWaterways. “Our commitment to supporting AAA’s travel advisors – and their more than 60 million members – is stronger than ever as we prepare to welcome them and their clients in the Spring of 2021 when our river cruises in Europe, Asia and Africa resume.”

 

Each year, AAA asks stakeholders across the country to rank preferred travel partners on multiple criteria. This year AmaWaterways has once again re-taken the top honor in the river cruise category which they held three out of the last four years. These awards honor the best companies in travel for their commitment to providing AAA travel advisors with outstanding training and marketing support and AAA members with exceptional travel products and customer service.

 

“While 2020 has been a challenging year for travel, we are very pleased to recognize AmaWaterways for their continued support of AAA and the exceptional service they provide our members,” said Paula Twidale, senior, vice president, Travel – AAA National Office. “We all look forward to brighter days creating wonderful river cruise memories together for our members in 2021 and beyond.”

 

With 18 years of innovation and excellence, AmaWaterways continues to be a dedicated partner to the travel advisor community with countless tools and resources designed to help grow their business. Most recently, the company launched a new AmaAcademy course to help advisors grow their sales on the popular Danube River and its second virtual Marketing Suitcase promoting group business. This year alone, AmaWaterways executives and BDMs have engaged its travel partners through a series of more than 2,000 virtual events providing crucial updates on rescheduling cruises, health and safety protocols as well as inspirational content on new ships and itineraries.

 

This summer, the award-winning river cruise line successfully pioneered the return to the world’s rivers and completed a four-month series of charter cruises on the Rhine. With enhanced health and safety protocols in place, AmaWaterways continued to deliver the unmatched river cruise experience for which it’s known.

 

“We know how important safety and security is to the AAA organization, and we are proud to be the only U.S.-based river cruise company with proven sailing experience this year,” added Murphy. “We can’t wait to welcome all of our American guests once travel restrictions are lifted and when we resume our regular river cruises sailing through some of the most sought-after destinations.”

 

The AAA River Cruise Partner of the Year award comes on the heels of numerous accolades for the luxury river cruise line, including 2020 Partner Company of the Year and River Cruise Line of the Year by American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA).

 

For full details, or to book an AmaWaterways river cruise for a client, visit the Travel Advisor Portal on AmaWaterways.com or call 1.800.626.0126. Follow AmaWaterways on Facebook atFacebook.com/AmaWaterways, Instagram @AmaWaterways, Twitter @AmaWaterways, and YouTube at YouTube.com/AmaWaterways.

 

 

About AmaWaterways

 

A family-owned company celebrating 18 years on the river, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 25 ships sailing Europe’s Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhône, Saône (2021), Seine, Garonne, Dordogne, Dutch and Belgian Waterways and Douro Rivers, Asia’s Mekong and Africa’s Chobe and Nile Rivers (2021). Led by experienced river cruise co-founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst, the company is renowned for its innovative stateroom design featuring unique “twin balconies;” its wellness activities including a 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 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 in innovation highlighted with the launch of AmaMagna, which at twice the width of traditional river ships, offers a new dimension in luxury river cruising. 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.

With the highest-rated ships in Europe according to the third edition of Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe & the USA, AmaWaterways has received countless honors and accolades including Cruise Critic’s 2019 Editor’s Pick Award for “Best River Cruise Line” and “Best for Active Cruisers,” 2018 AFAR Reader’s Choice Award for “Best River Cruise Line” and inclusion of AmaMagna in 2019 TIME “World’s Greatest Places.” In addition, 18 river cruise ships in its European fleet have earned the Green Award certification, recognized for industry-leading safety, quality and environmental performance.