Guildford, UK - (May. 27, 2020) -
AmaWaterways today proudly announced that 18 river cruise ships in its European fleet* have all earned the prestigious Green Award certification. The fleet-wide certification follows AmaKristina becoming the river cruise industry’s first ship to receive this designation. The 18 river ships now recognised for industry-leading safety, quality and environmental performance, include AmaBella, AmaCello, AmaCerto, AmaDante, AmaDolce, AmaKristina, AmaLea, AmaLyra, AmaMagna, AmaMora, AmaPrima, AmaReina, AmaSerena, AmaSonata, AmaStella, AmaVenita, AmaVerde and AmaViola.
“We are proud to lead the charge in having our river cruise ships certified through the Green Award programme,” said Rudi Schreiner, president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. “Responsibility toward the environment is the foundation on which AmaWaterways’ ships are built, and our river cruise and tour programmes are operated. Respecting the principles of sustainable travel while ensuring the safety and security of guests and crew has always been our top priority.”
The Green Award programme is an independent accreditation process for ocean vessels, inland barges and river cruise ships. The Green Award certificate is a mark for ships that demonstrate high safety and environmental standards. To earn the award, river cruise ships are evaluated based on the environmental impact of its engines, fuel consumption, waste and maintenance, pollution prevention and more. Many ports, such as the Port of Amsterdam, offer substantial benefits to certified ships to promote safer, cleaner inland navigation and to advocate for an integrated approach for European inland waterways.
Demonstrating its commitment to protecting and preserving the world’s rivers, AmaWaterways’ contemporary vessels -- carrying 156 guests on average -- are thoughtfully designed with eco-friendly elements, such as LED lights; special insulated windows that reduce energy needs for heating and cooling; power locks to plug into a port’s power supply instead of running generators; solar heating systems; water treatment plants that use a membrane technology to provide microfiltration and recycling of all water used onboard. At twice the width of traditional river cruise ships, the revolutionary AmaMagna launched in 2019 and debuted an innovative 10-engine configuration designed to reduce overall fuel consumption by up to 20 percent depending on river conditions.
Additionally, AmaWaterways continues to evaluate and implement new measures across its fleet to minimise its impact on the environment. In efforts to reduce overall plastic consumption on board its ships, the river cruise line has replaced individual single-use toiletries with soap/shampoo dispensers, replaced plastic straws with paper ones, added glass water bottles in all staterooms and continues to test the use of tetra-pak water containers to replace plastic water bottles during excursions.
“While current events may have delayed the start of this year’s sailing season, nothing has diminished our commitment to protecting the rivers that we sail upon. Receiving these awards for all our ships in Europe* reaffirms our dedication to sustainability,” said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. “River cruising is a wonderfully intimate way to explore the world, and we will continue to honour the environment and support the development of communities we visit by introducing innovative ways to minimise our carbon footprint.”
* Excluding ships in Portugal.
About AmaWaterways
A family-owned company celebrating 18 years on the river, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 25 ships sailing Europe’s Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhône, Saône (2021), Seine, Garonne, Dordogne, Dutch and Belgian Waterways and Douro Rivers, Southeast Asia’s Mekong, Africa’s Chobe River and Egypt’s Nile River (2021). Led by experienced river cruise co-founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst, the company is renowned for its innovative stateroom design featuring unique “twin balconies;” its wellness activities including a wide choice of included shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options for the active traveller; and its award-winning dining—including The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant as well as complimentary fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, each ship features onboard amenities such as hair and massage salons and a fitness room, and many have heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation highlighted with the launch of AmaMagna, which at twice the width of traditional river ships, offers a new dimension in luxury river cruising. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travellers and families as well as group and charter options.
With the highest-rated ships in Europe according to the third edition of Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe & the USA, AmaWaterways has received countless honours and accolades including Cruise Critic’s 2019 Editor’s Pick Award for “Best River Cruise Line” and “Best for Active Cruisers,” 2018 AFAR Reader’s Choice Award for “Best River Cruise Line” and inclusion of AmaMagna in 2019 TIME “World’s Greatest Places.”