River cruise line AmaWaterways has announced the resumption of its European operations with a series of charter sailings aboard the AmaKristina, catering to local German customers. The company has warmly welcomed its first passengers and implemented enhanced health and safety protocols on board its ships.
“As the proud godmother of our AmaKristina, I am honored that she was our first ship to sail in Europe this summer,” said Kristin Karst, Executive Vice President and Co-founder of AmaWaterways. “While many countries still have travel restrictions, we have begun operating a number of cruises for European guests, in partnership with the German tour operator e-hoi. With these cruises, we have been able to implement and refine our enhanced health and safety protocols, while demonstrating that travelers can confidently enjoy our unforgettable onboard vacations.”.
AmaWaterways' new procedures reflect the recommendations of the European Union, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), IG RiverCruise, and other official authorities. The health and safety protocols are designed to protect the well-being of passengers and crew members while providing the wonderful experience for which AmaWaterways is known. In accordance with current regulations, pre-boarding health questionnaires are required, and both guests and crew are subject to daily temperature checks. The crew has received specific training, and each ship will have a designated public health officer who will oversee the implementation of these protocols.
While AmaWaterways' state-of-the-art ships are spacious in their own right, typically accommodating only 150 guests, current regulations limit the capacity of all river cruises to a maximum of 100 passengers on board. With this limited capacity, the spacious main dining room and specialty restaurant offer the safe distances now required. New room service options have also been added. In addition, AmaWaterways has incorporated creative ways to establish social distancing not only in its lounges, with plexiglass dividers, but also on shore excursions, with portable Quietvox systems that allow guests to hear the guides while maintaining distance. Furthermore, AmaWaterways ships feature individual air conditioning and heating units with fan coil units, which eliminate any air recirculation in staterooms or public areas; and nearly every stateroom includes a balcony, allowing passengers to relax there or on the ships' spacious sundecks while enjoying breathtaking views.
“Since we started AmaWaterways 18 years ago, we have been passionate about creating luxurious, authentic, and inspiring river cruises for every traveler,” Karst continued. “Personalized attention and excellent service on an AmaWaterways cruise remain as important to us as ever, and the new health and safety protocols only add extra peace of mind for our guests.”.
