FAIRFIELD, Conn. – In response to rapid growth in sales through the travel agency community, Riviera River Cruises will increase its commitment to the community in 2020 by accepting bookings for its European river cruises exclusively from travel advisors. Riviera will also begin assisting travel advisors with flight arrangements and pre- and post-cruise hotel stays for their clients next year. Additionally, several FAM trips for advisors will be offered in spring 2020. For more information about Riviera River Cruises, call 888-838-8820 or visit https://www.rivierarivercruises.com.
“Riviera River Cruises has always been supportive of the travel agency community and we’re excited to take that support even further in 2020,” said Marilyn Conroy, Riviera River Cruises’ Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing North America. “As we begin taking bookings solely from travel advisors, we look forward to turning business back over to them when consumers come to us directly. We want Riviera to be the river cruise line advisors think of first, and we believe this makes us the only line that can honestly say it is 100% supportive of the travel agency distribution system. This is a relationship we all can benefit from.”
Effective Jan. 1, 2020, Riviera will accept North American bookings only from travel advisors. Consumers who contact Riviera directly will be referred to book their river cruise through their own travel advisor or, if they don’t already have one, the booking will be turned over to the nearest advisor to them with whom Riviera already has a relationship.
Also starting Jan. 1, Riviera will be able to assist advisors with flight arrangements and pre- and post-cruise hotel stays throughout Europe for clients who want to extend their trip. Riviera has negotiated some of the best airfares available between the U.S. and Europe, and advisors will be able to arrange for flights, hotels and a river cruise, and purchase travel insurance, for clients all in the same booking process.
Additionally, Riviera would like advisors to personally experience their river cruises and is planning several FAM trips in spring 2020. FAM trip invitations will be offered by email to advisors who have completed Riviera’s online training course.
Riviera recently announced it will expand the hours of operation for its reservation line to accommodates travel advisors in the western U.S. and Canada. Starting Jan. 1, the reservation line will be open 9 a.m. Eastern Time/6 a.m. Pacific Time to 8 p.m. Eastern Time/5 p.m. Pacific Time. Riviera’s reservation team is led by Chris Barker and also includes Merle Twigg, Ryan McVinnie, Suzanne Williams and Adam Spark.
Riviera River Cruises offers 15 itineraries on 10 rivers and waterways, including exclusive departures for solo travelers with no single supplement. Its fleet of 13 ships is one of the youngest in Europe, with none older than six years. Riviera’s cruises include spacious cabins and suites, fine culinary experiences from sumptuous breakfasts to four-course dinners featuring international classics and regional specialties, and expert-led excursions to classic sights and lesser-known places.
Riviera guarantees exceptional value, promising never to add hidden surcharges or fees. Riviera also doesn’t automatically include gratuities or drinks, so the choice is up to guests.
For more information about Riviera River Cruises, visit https://www.rivierarivercruises.com or call 888-838-8820. Travel advisors can order updated catalogs and sales guides for 2020 at https://www.rivierarivercruises.com/brochures.
Riviera River Cruises
Riviera River Cruises is the United Kingdom’s leading river cruise operator, with a North American office in Fairfield, Connecticut. Riviera is known for its highly rated, award-winning service, its ships with spacious cabins and suites, relaxed atmosphere, sumptuous on-board meals and captivating excursions, and its exceptional value. Riviera puts its guests first, hosting over 100,000 guests on its river cruises in the past five years, and is very supportive of the travel agency community, with programs such as a dedicated portal for advisors. For more information, visit https://www.rivierarivercruises.com or call 888-838-8820.