A flourishing partnership in the river cruise industry can not only benefit the operator and the company they choose to partner with, it can also be advantageous to you, the cruiser. This may be in the form of a better service on board, more immersive shore excursions, or simply preserving the environments in which you will be cruising. Here are just a few examples.

AmaWaterways and Backroads

As a river cruise line that always carries a fleet of bicycles for guests to use when exploring each port of call, it will come as no surprise that AmaWaterways have recently teamed up with Backroads Touring. The active holiday specialists will provide shore excursions in the form of bike rides and walks along some of Europe’s most iconic rivers.

In 2015, guests can take to two wheels in order to explore the Black Forest and Bavaria during a Danube river cruise that sails from Prague to Budapest. There will also be multiple walking tours available throughout this cruise. In 2016, however, the options will be much more abundant, as cruisers will have the chance to take part in cycle tours along the Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Douro and Garonne rivers; all led by experienced guides.

UnCruise and Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch

Anybody who loves to eat seafood will be keen to ensure that the supply of their favourite fishy dish never runs out and that the ocean ecosystems are looked after. Well, those travelling with river cruise operator UnCruise will be pleased to know that all the seafood they consume during their holiday will be responsibly sourced.

The partnership between UnCruise and the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program means that only seafood which is classified as ‘best choice’ or ‘good alternative’ will be served on board. The company will also look to educate its staff and guests about sustainable fishing whilst showing them how they can enjoy responsibly farmed seafood at home.

American Queen Steamboat Company and The National Trust for Historic Preservation

The American Queen Steamboat Company prides itself on keeping tradition and history alive along the Mississippi river and in the Pacific Northwest. Their river cruises focus on educating guests about cultural treasures along this route whilst also bringing the past to life in these parts of the US.

Their partnership with The National Trust for Historic Preservation involves a generous donation of $100,000, which the will be used to help protect sites such as the Willamette Falls Navigation Canal and Locks in Oregon. Places of interest in the Mississippi Delta Heritage Area and the Manhattan Project Historic Site in Washington will also benefit from the money. This fruitful partnership will ensure travellers choosing to cruise the Mississippi, Snake, Columbia, Tennessee and Ohio rivers can continue to enjoy this culturally rich part of the world.

Tauck and BBC Earth

Travel company Tauck have been teaming up with BBC Earth for a couple of years now in order to offer itineraries which focus on nature. The TV company were behind the documentaries Frozen Planet, Life, and The Blue Planet and are now lending their expertise to help create specific Earth Journeys for Tauck.

These Earth Journeys include African safaris, ventures into Antarctica, and trips to the Canadian Arctic to witness polar bears in the wild. Short films, created by BBC Earth, will also be shown on location to help guests learn more about the wildlife and the environment which they are in. Additionally, Tauck will have access to some of the advanced technology used during filmmaking, such as infrared night vision, long-range microphones, and underwater cameras.

If you would like to see how these partnerships are paying off, we can provide river cruises with many of these operators. Call us for more details or submit an online enquiry.