How to Become an AmaWaterways Travel Agent

We’ve put together an in-depth guide below on how to become a travel agent for this luxurious river cruise line. But if you’d prefer to get answers right away, just click vacationlab.io/join to chat live with our team and learn firsthand how to become a travel agent for AmaWaterways, and gain access to all our other travel partners as well. Best of all, clicking the link is completely free - no dues or fees from us, ever!

AmaWaterways is a staple when it comes to river cruising. This is a company that started sailing some of the most popular rivers in the world back when river cruising was still in its baby steps, all the way back in 2008. Since then, it has grown into one of the biggest names in the industry, collecting awards as the best river cruise line in the world and operating a fleet of about 30 vessels that sail in Europe, Africa, Asia, and, most recently, South America.

If you want to try a river cruise but aren’t sure which ship to book, AmaWaterways is usually a safe option. They have modern ships with multiple dining venues, a focus on wellness, included shore excursions in the base fare, and some of the biggest staterooms in the industry. As you can see, they’re pretty solid, and reviews on forums like Reddit show that most passengers are very happy with them.

AmaWaterways has a strong focus on Europe, sailing rivers like the Rhine, Seine, and Douro, but they also cruise the Nile in Egypt and the Magdalena in Colombia. They do not sail in the United States. A cruise with them usually starts at around $2,600 per guest, and that price can go up to $5,000 or more depending on the itinerary.

River cruises are getting more and more popular, and you can certainly help guests plan their next trip on AmaWaterways. VacationLab is here to help you every step of the way. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about becoming an AmaWaterways travel agent, from the benefits of researching the river cruise industry to basic commission splits. We will cover:

• Benefits of Becoming an AmaWaterways Travel Agent
• Skills Required to Become an AmaWaterways Travel Agent
• Finding an AmaWaterways Host Agency
• The Best Host Agency for AmaWaterways
• Tips for Those Starting Out
• Training Courses for AmaWaterways
• Getting Paid
• Free Stock Library
• AmaWaterways Travel Agent FAQ

Let’s get started!

AmaWaterways is pretty big in the river cruise industry

You know how people always go for Apple when they don’t know much about computers but want something reliable and high quality? It’s kind of like that with AmaWaterways. They're a recognizable brand in the river cruise industry and have been around for almost 20 years, consistently offering top-notch service, great food, and modern ships. If you browse Cruise Critic or forums online, you’ll see that many guests recommend AmaWaterways to people who want to try a river cruise. The client base is there, and you can definitely specialize in AmaWaterways to build your name as a travel agent.

AmaWaterways is Still Growing

AmaWaterways is a staple in the river cruise industry, and it’s only getting bigger. Not only are they introducing new ships every year, but they also just started sailing in South America as of March 2025. Yes, they now have brand-new vessels cruising in Colombia! There’s a good chance they’ll expand to the Amazon River in the future and, who knows, maybe even sail in the United States someday. They’re a recognizable brand that keeps growing, and you can definitely help people book these exciting new itineraries right now.

AmaWaterways cares a lot about Travel Agents

AmaWaterways is increasingly guiding guests toward travel agents, and did you know that you can access their Travel Advisor Portal directly through the official website? Even when you're just browsing cruises, the site asks if you're a travel agent - proof of how much the company values advisors in the booking process. It also makes things easier for travel agents, with special deals and offers clearly highlighted as you explore the site.

River Cruises are going to be HUGE

River cruising is becoming more popular with each passing year. In fact, bookings for 2026 are already 30 to 40% higher compared to 2025. More cruise lines are entering the river cruise market, with the latest being Celebrity Cruises, which has just ordered 10 ships set to sail rivers starting in 2027, 2028, and 2029. American Cruise Lines, for example, has debuted a new class of ships in 2025, with more coming in 2026. The market is huge, and it will only get bigger in the next decade.

Communication Skills

Strong communication skills are always important for a travel agent, and they’re especially great when working with AmaWaterways. As a travel agent, you need to share information in a clear and easy-to-understand way. That’s even more important when dealing with a river cruise line, since there’s a good chance your guests will be reaching out for the first time and want to understand how river cruising differs from ocean cruising. You’ll also be contacted mostly by guests in their 50s and up, so maintain a polite tone and show your expertise in the field.

Stay Up to Date with Everything AmaWaterways-Related

As a travel agent, it’s important to be well-informed about the suppliers you’re selling. AmaWaterways has a fleet of about 30 ships, with more being introduced almost every year. They sail through dozens of destinations and along some of the most iconic rivers in the world, from the Seine to the Nile. You should definitely be familiar with their destinations, what’s included in the cruise fare, stateroom categories, shore excursions, and more.

You need to research things like:

• Prices
• What’s included in your cruise fare
• The overall vibe of their ships
• Main Destinations
• Food onboard
• Are shore excursions included?
• …and more!

Hey, you’re already browsing one of the best host agencies around! We have a lot of information about AmaWaterways on our sister website, Famvia, and plenty of travel agents across the globe that can help you with this cruise line. 

VacationLab is becoming an expert when it comes to river cruising, with guides focused on AmaWaterways, A-Rosa, Viking, American Cruise Lines and several other names. We’d love to have you here, of course, but here are some tips for choosing a host agency:

Look for host agencies that:

• Have a good track record and good online reviews
• Offer an interview process and listen to you
• Share commissions with you fairly (typically starting at 70% for the travel agent)
• Are as fancy as AmaWaterways!

VacationLab is the best host agency if you want to focus on AmaWaterways, other cruise lines, theme parks, and even beach resorts. Here’s why!

• No experience as a travel agent? That’s fine! We are here to lend you a hand.
• We have a fun interview process and listen to what you have to say!
• We offer SORS - our very own Travel Dashboard to help you manage bookings and travel rewards. Yes, SORS like in sorcery, it’s that good.
• We provide exclusive courses, like Mastering Travel Social Media, to support travel advisors of all backgrounds.
• Our commission split starts at 70% and can go as high as 80%.
• We have hundreds of guides and reviews on our sister site, Famvia, covering major cruise lines, theme parks, and beach resorts. This includes AmaWaterways as well!
• We’re experts when it comes to river cruises, with in-depth guides on A-Rosa, Viking, American Cruise Lines and even the upcoming Celebrity Cruises river cruise offerings.
• We’re always ready to listen, chat, and lend a helping hand!

Become an AmaWaterways expert

Rule number one when you're a travel agent: you need to master what you're trying to sell. After all, if someone comes to you asking about AmaWaterways or river cruising in general, you need to answer their questions like you own the topic. You should know the basics, like the average price of a cruise, what’s included in the fare, onboard activities, and more.

VacationLab's sister site, Famvia, offers free guides covering everything about AmaWaterways, including pricing, stateroom options, restaurants, and destinations. Check it out, learn all about AmaWaterways, and grow your knowledge with online training courses!

• Planning a Cruise on AmaWaterways
• AmaWaterways Room & Dining Options
• AmaWaterways Ships & Destinations

There’s a lot of information there, so use this guide to familiarize yourself with AmaWaterways before trying the training courses!

Prepare for your Interview

When applying for a host agency, it’s important to research both the agency itself and the travel supplier. In this case, you should look into AmaWaterways before your interview so you at least know the basics. What is AmaWaterways all about? Who is it for? What are their main destinations, and what’s included in the cruise fare? Are they all-inclusive? Well, technically they aren’t, since you’ll need to pay for alcoholic drinks outside of regular meal times, so it’s important to be aware of those details.

Stay calm, ask thoughtful questions to show your interest and knowledge, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming an expert at selling AmaWaterways.

Commission Payout

Commissions are usually processed 30 days prior to the client's departure.

AmaWaterways Travel Agent Rates

While specific commission percentages are protected by NDA (“Non Disclosure Agreement”) between all travel partners/travel suppliers and the host agency, you can assume that commission percentages range from 10% up to 20% (depending on the type of booking).

AmaWaterways typically pays a base 15% commission on the cruise fare, with smaller percentages on add-ons. Be sure to keep an eye on your status in the Travel Agent Portal for updates, special promotions, or commission incentives.

Let’s try a simulation taking into account a 7-Night Europe’s Rivers & Castles for two guests on a balcony cabin.

• Total cruise fare: $12,800
• Less NCFs (non-commissionable fees): -$300
• Base commission (15%):  15% of $12,500 = $1,875
• Your share at 70% split: $1,313

That’s pretty good, especially considering you can book dozens (or hundreds) of cruises like this one and really build a steady client base!

AmaWaterways Travel Agent Salary

Your salary will depend on several factors, including the number of bookings you make, the size of your client base, and the cost of each trip. On average, we expect the annual earnings for an AmaWaterways travel agent to range from $50,000 to $90,000.

AmaWaterways Training Course

You can actually access AmaWaterways’ travel agent hub directly from their main website, which is a really cool touch. The hub can be accessed through this link and takes you to a homepage where you can register either your host agency or yourself as a travel advisor. That’s the page you’ll need to visit after you’ve joined VacationLab!

After you register through their travel advisor portal, you’ll get access to several helpful tools like marketing materials, webinars, and a booking engine. You’ll also find AmaAcademy there - the main training course you should take to specialize in AmaWaterways. 

AmaAcademy is a self-paced program that offers certifications and even access to special deals upon completion. For example, it’s common for AmaWaterways to offer gift cards when you book new cruises shortly after finishing certain course modules.

AmaWaterways Travel Agent perks

Completing AmaAcademy and becoming an AmaWaterways-certified travel agent gives you access to several great perks. These include invitations to FAM trips for as low as $690, gift cards, special promotions, educational sailings in Europe that cost as little as $900 and official certifications you can use to show clients that you're a true expert when it comes to AmaWaterways.

CLIA Training

You might also want to look into CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) and complete specific courses there. CLIA certification brings numerous benefits, as you can see here.

VacationLab gives you access to thousands of images and videos from major cruise lines to theme parks and beach resorts.

By joining us, you'll also gain access to our exclusive database, making it easy to showcase images and videos to your clients based on what they’re looking for.