Luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways has responded to agent feedback by offering flight-inclusive river packages as standard for all UK guests

Prices will now include return airfares from London or Manchester on all European and long-hail sailings – including the Mekong, Nile, Chobe and Magdalena – as well as overseas transfers between airport and ship.

The new flight-inclusive pricing initiative was launched in response to agent feedback, which trade arguing that booking a flight-inclusive package would ensure they have access to flight price before confirming the river cruise. Until now, flights had previously been available as an optional add-on only.

Prices for flight-inclusive river cruise packages for the five-night ‘Majestic Capitals of the Danube’ from Vienna to Budapest, departing 16 December 2024 on AmaSonata, will now start from £1,975 per person.

Meanwhile, the seven-night ‘Best of Holland & Belgium’ cruise, departing 13 November 2024 on AmaCerto, will now start from £2,549 per person.

The line will continue to offer cruise-only options, regional departures and Business Class upgrades.

Move will save time for agents, says Loizou

Jamie Loizou, managing director at AmaWaterways UK said: “Our mission is to make it as convenient and efficient as possible for agents to reserve an AmaWaterways river cruise for their clients.

“In the majority of cases, our guests want to book flights along with their river cruise, and with the new flight-inclusive pricing it is less time consuming for agents to book a package and they have a complete picture of their river cruise holiday price before confirming the booking.

“We do of course still offer cruise-only option for those who wish to incorporate our river cruises as part of a longer trip or who need more flexibility.”

At the end of last year AmaWaterways reported a 78 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of travel agent bookings for its river cruise business, with reservations made in 2023 for any departure year up 46 per cent compared to same results in 2019.