![[Photo courtesy of Riviera River Cruises]](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxIDEiIHdpZHRoPSIxIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjEiIGRhdGEtdT0iaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZyZWNvbW1lbmQuY29tJTJGd3AtY29udGVudCUyRnVwbG9hZHMlMkYyMDE5JTJGMTIlMkZNUy1HZW9mZnJleS1DaGF1Y2VyLmpwZyIgZGF0YS13PSIxIiBkYXRhLWg9IjEiIGRhdGEtYmlwPSIiPjwvc3ZnPg==)
Starting Jan. 1, 2020, Riviera River Cruises will accept bookings for its European river cruises exclusively from travel advisors and will also begin assisting with flight arrangements and pre- and post-cruise hotel stays. Additionally, several FAM trips for advisors will be offered in the spring.
“Riviera River Cruises has always been supportive of the travel agency community and we’re excited to take that support even further in 2020,” said Marilyn Conroy, Riviera River Cruises’ executive vice president sales and marketing North America, in a statement. “As we begin taking bookings solely from travel advisors, we look forward to turning business back over to them when consumers come to us directly. We want Riviera to be the river cruise line advisors think of first, and we believe this makes us the only line that can honestly say it is 100% supportive of the travel agency distribution system. This is a relationship we all can benefit from.”
Consumers who contact Riviera directly will be referred to book their river cruise through their own travel advisor or, if they don’t already have one, the booking will be turned over to the nearest advisor to them with whom Riviera already has a relationship.
Also starting Jan. 1, Riviera will be able to assist advisors with flight arrangements and pre- and post-cruise hotel stays throughout Europe for clients who want to extend their trip. Riviera has negotiated some of the best airfares available between the U.S. and Europe, and advisors will be able to arrange for flights, hotels and a river cruise, and purchase travel insurance, for clients all in the same booking process.
Riviera wants travel advisors to personally experience their river cruises and is planning several FAM trips in spring 2020. FAM trip invitations will be offered by email to advisors who have completed its online training course.
Riviera River Cruises offers 15 itineraries on 10 rivers and waterways, including exclusive departures for solo travelers with no single supplement. Its fleet of 13 ships is one of the youngest in Europe, with none older than six years.
Click here for more information. Further insights on Riviera River Cruises can be found here and here.
