AmaWaterways Delays Start of European Season until April

AmaWaterways will now kick-off its 2020 European sailing season on April 26, 2020, delaying its start in order to “be vigilant in protecting the health of those on board our ships.”

AmaWaterways President and Co-Founder Rudi Schreiner made the announcement in a letter to travel agent partners on Friday morning, writing that along with the European delay, the line will also suspend its Mekong River cruises starting on March 23.

“The health, safety and well-being of our guests and crew are of the utmost importance to everyone on the AmaWaterways team. With the latest travel warnings and restrictions imposed by the U.S., Canadian and UK governments, we must continue to be vigilant in protecting the health of those on board our ships.

“This is not an easy decision, as we know how much our guests were looking forward to their vacations but we must follow all precautionary measures put in place by governing authorities.”

Along with the new schedule, AmaWaterways has also updated its cancellation policy. Now, the line will give guests who were booked on a cancelled sailing a cruise credit equal to 115% of their fare and extras, which can be used any time before Dec. 31, 2022, or a full refund.

AmaWaterways will protect commissions of all travel advisors who have clients that will opt for a future cruise credit. It will also 10% commission on the value of those future bookings and full commission on any fare differences. 

“We understand the immediate implications that these unavoidable travel cancellations are having on our valued travel advisors, who have been the foundation of our family owned and operated business. We recognize the important role they play in encouraging our guests to rebook therefore, paying commission now on the canceled arrangements and again on the future bookings seems very much the right thing to do,” Schreiner wrote in his message.