Amadeus has reached an agreement with Viking River Cruises, the world’s largest river cruise company, to distribute its products using the Amadeus system. Amadeus has begun distributing Viking River Cruises in the world’s largest cruise markets, including North America where the product launched today, and will be available in the UK in the coming weeks.
The incorporation of Viking River Cruises to the Amadeus system improves Amadeus’ cruise offering – which globally now has 20 cruise providers and represents over 90 percent of the worldwide cabin inventory – and opens a new cruise market that is gaining ground among users’ preferences, Amadeus says.
According to a recently published report by Amadeus, “The Amateur Expert Traveller,” travel agencies’ revenue streams will become more evenly spread over a wider range of products, and niche travel offers opportunities for travel companies.
By adding specialized products, such as river cruises, Amadeus assists travel agents in differentiating and expanding their offerings, thereby providing improved service to their customers and the opportunity to exploit new income sources, Amadeus says.
“The addition of a specialized cruise product such as Viking River Cruises enriches both quantitatively and qualitatively our cruise offerings, which permits travel agents to provide added value to the end customers,” commented Robert Chamberlin, director of cruise, ferry and insurance business units, Amadeus.
Passengers can benefit from the ability to cruise to highly attractive inland ports not accessible through traditional ocean cruises, the boutique feeling of the “floating hotel,” and onboard atmosphere and guest camaraderie, which combine to make river cruising an enjoyable experience and a very convenient way to travel.
“Affordable pricing, value-packed itineraries and a variety of destinations has made river cruising the fastest growing niche in the travel industry,” commented Richard Marnell, senior vice president of marketing, Viking River Cruises. “In today’s ever-growing and competitive travel environment, partnering with a leading global travel technology service, such as Amadeus, is a critical step in increasing our presence within the travel agency community.”
Visit www.amadeus.com or www.vikingrivercruises.com.