AmaWaterways Delays Start of 2020 Season Until August

River cruise line AmaWaterways announced Thursday it will be delaying the start of its 2020 season to Aug. 1.

The river cruise line said it’s in the process of contacting all travel advisors who have clients affected by this new suspension date in order to provide them with options best suited to their clients’ needs.

“While current events have made this temporary suspension necessary, the rivers continue to flow, and we remain in a secure position to resume cruising once we are confident that it is safe to travel again,” said AmaWaterways President and Co-founder Rudi Schreiner. “Our ships and our teams are on standby, anxiously waiting the day when we’re able to once again welcome guests onboard.”

AmaWaterways will automatically issue a Future Cruise Credit equal to 115% of the value of payment received for all purchased services through AmaWaterways (i.e. cruise, hotel/land, air, etc.), redeemable on any river cruise in Africa, Europe or Asia embarking through Dec. 31, 2022.

Future Cruise Credits are transferrable at any time prior to Dec. 31, 2022 with the original owner’s written authorization.

The line has already opened up some bookings for 2022 to accommodate some of the rebooking, and the full 2022 schedule should be out by May 11.

AmaWaterways will also pay advisors an extra commission on new bookings made with the future cruise credits. It’s offering an additional 10% on all bookings made with the new value.

In a previous interview with Travel Market Report, co-founder Kristin Karst said “The travel advisor community has been the foundation of our company since day one, and every decision we have made would be from their best interest.

“They are important now and will be even more important for everyone in the future. The crisis has shown they have lifted their clients through the crisis. Whether they have looked after their air, or rebooked their cruise, they have taken personal care for the clients.”