AMAWATERWAYS JOINS VIRTUOSO® NETWORK
RIVER CRUISING POPULARITY PROMPTS ADDITION OF
AMAWATERWAYS TO VIRTUOSO’S RIVER CRUISE PORTFOLIO

NEW YORK (December 8, 2010) Leading luxury travel network Virtuoso® and AMAWATERWAYS have agreed to enter into a preferred supplier relationship beginning January 2011. In the network’s 2010 Luxe Report trend findings, European River Cruising saw the third largest increase in consumer demand, clearly identifying its increased popularity and indicating a need for more river cruising product.

“We are delighted to have AMAWATERWAYS join Virtuoso as a preferred supplier,” said Mark Kammerer, vice president, Cruise and Exclusive Product. “With their fleet of 12 river cruise vessels and a vast array of itineraries, including less travelled locations like Vietnam and Russia, the relationship with AMAWATERWAYS brings benefits both for our members and their clients.”

The relationship is based on a desire to provide more choices in the rapidly expanding market for river cruise vacations.

“Everyone at AMAWATERWAYS is extremely proud the company has been selected as a preferred river cruise line for Virtuoso,” said Gary Murphy, Vice President National Accounts, AMAWATERWAYS. “We look forward to building a strong and successful business relationship.”

AMAWATERWAYS fleet of custom-built vessels support a consistent, high-quality experience from ship to ship, driven by a motivation to be the best in the industry.

Kristin Karst, Executive Vice President and Co-Owner, AMAWATERWAYS, stated, “We are extremely excited about our new agreement with Virtuoso. The timing could not be better for us to join forces with an organization known for its high standards and discerning clientele. For 2010, we’ve enjoyed our most successful year on record, and in 2011, we will operate 12 luxurious, custom-designed vessels that will set new standards for innovative, all-inclusive river cruising.”

Karst continued, “We launched AMAWATERWAYS eight years ago with a commitment to provide not only the best product, but the best customer service in the industry, and our success reflects this philosophy. It will be our pleasure to extend these high service levels to Virtuoso’s member agencies and their clientele as part of this dynamic new working relationship.”

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About Virtuoso
Virtuoso® is the industry’s leading luxury travel network. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 300 agencies with more than 6,000 elite travel specialists in 22 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, as well as over 1,000 of the world’s best travel providers and premier destinations. The network’s member agencies generate over $5.1 billion annually in travel sales, making the group the most powerful in the luxury travel segment. Their relationships with the finest travel companies provide the network’s affluent clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Virtuoso is the exclusive network of travel services and benefits provided by MasterCard® for participating World Elite MasterCard® programs. 

To see Virtuoso’s latest video content, visit http://www.youtube.com/VirtuosoTraveler.

About AMAWATERWAYS
Award-winning AMAWATERWAYS provides luxurious, all-inclusive river cruise vacations on the world’s great waterways. Founded in 2002 by cruise industry pioneer Rudi Schreiner, cruise line executive Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy, founder of Brendan Vacations, AMAWATERWAYS operates its innovative, custom-designed vessels on the Danube, Rhine, Main and Mosel rivers in Europe; the Volga-Baltic Waterway in Russia and the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia.

The AMAWATERWAYS fleet in Europe features amenities such as spacious staterooms with French balconies or revolutionary “Twin Balconies”; plush down bedding, marble-appointed baths; complimentary high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi; first-run hit Hollywood movies; complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with dinner, complimentary bottled water; gourmet dining in multiple venues (MS AMABELLA); nightly entertainment; complimentary small group shore excursions tailored to passengers’ desired walking pace; guided bicycle tours and much more.

In 2011, AMAWATERWAYS will introduce the new 161-passenger MS AMAVERDE in Europe, the newly-redesigned 212-passenger MS AMAKATARINA on the Volga-Baltic Waterway in Russia and the new 124-passenger MS AMALOTUS on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia, increasing its luxurious fleet of river cruise vessels to 12.

For more information about AMAWATERWAYS, go to www.amawaterways.com or call 800-626-0126

Media Contacts:
Misty Ewing
Virtuoso – Director, Public Relations
Office: (212) 588-8242
Mobile: (206) 484-8022
E-mail: mewing@virtuoso.com  

Ana Figueroa
AMAWATERWAYS – Director of Communications
Office: 800-626-0126
Mobile: 562-818-2747
Email: ana@amawaterways.com