Three new ships set to join river cruise specialist AmaWaterways are sparking interest among Asian travellers, especially those looking for itineraries beyond established European river routes.
AmaWaterways will debut AmaNubia on the Nile River this November, operating its Secrets of Egypt & the Nile itinerary, which combines a Nile cruise with hotel stays in Cairo. Guests will visit the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Abdeen Palace in Cairo, among other sites.
AmaRudi, the company’s second double-width river ship, will begin sailing the Danube River in spring 2027.
AmaMaya will debut in January 2027, sailing AmaWaterways’ Charms of the Mekong and Riches of the Mekong itineraries through Vietnam and Cambodia.
Jamie Loizou, managing director for AmaWaterways, who is in Asia this week to meet travel trade partners, said: “Asian markets are always looking for something new and exciting. While Europe has traditionally been a big driver for the Asian market, we’re seeing more and more people looking for something different.”
He said the expansion of AmaWaterways’ fleet serving the Nile and Mekong rivers also provides some relief from the high demand typically seen in both destinations.
“Our challenge on both the Mekong and the Nile has been availability. Asian travellers tend to book a little later than other geographical markets. So, when these guests are ready to book, space often runs short. Now that we are expanding the fleet, we have more opportunities for our travel agent partners to not only be able to book their clients on a brand new ship, but also have the availability,” Loizou told TTG Asia.
AmaWaterways is also bringing in additional support in the coming months to work alongside Melvyn Yap, business development director for South-east Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.
Loizou said AmaWaterways often reminds travel agent partners to encourage clients to book well in advance if they are planning to celebrate a special occasion on a specific sailing or want a particular stateroom, such as the Owner’s Suite.
“We also incentivise early bookings. There are savings to be had if you book further out. We’re already on sale for 2028,” he added.
Besides the new ships and additional voyages, Loizou believes well-travelled Asian guests will be interested in AmaWaterways’ City Escapes, European programmes offering longer time in port for further exploration of destinations during off-peak seasons.
He said the City Escapes series responds to growing demand among travellers for a slower pace of exploration and more time in destinations.
Asked about the growing number of new players entering river cruising, Loizou welcomed greater competition, saying other cruise lines entering the sector would help raise awareness. “River cruising has a lot of potential for growth,” he said.
Loizou said AmaWaterways is “well placed to capitalise on the increased demand for river cruising”. The company currently has 32 ships and plans to grow its fleet to 50 by 2032.
AmaWaterways is also continuing to develop its river cruise offering, including its onboard programmes and destination portfolio.
He shared: “We’ve always been an innovator in river cruising. We were the first river cruise line to introduce bicycles and offer a wellness programme on board. We were the first river cruise line to go into Colombia. We have introduced a series of onboard enhancements this year. For example, we now include 32 wines over the course of a seven-night cruise to ensure our guests are given more choices, greater quality, and deeper personalisation on board.”
Source: www.ttgasia.com
