CALABASAS — AmaWaterways has become the first U.S.-based river cruise line to resume sailings, with a series of charters in Germany for local guests.

Done in collaboration with German tour operator e-hoi, the charter sailings take place onboard the AmaKristina. Germany recently gave the green light to resume limited cruising for German passengers only in accordance with the EU’s Healthy Gateways joint action preparedness program.

All of AmaWaterways’ sailings will resume with the line’s newly enhanced health and safety protocols in place, which are in line with the EU Healthy Gateways guidelines and recommendations from the CDC, the World Health Organization, IG RiverCruise and other official authorities. Protocols include pre-boarding health questionnaires and daily temperature checks for guests and crew. The crew has also received in-depth updated training, with each ship in AmaWaterways’ fleet featuring a designated public Health Officer to oversee the application of all protocols.

AmaWaterways’ executive vice president and co-founder Kristin Karst, who also serves as godmother of AmaKristina, said she is “honoured” that the ship is the first to sail in Europe this summer.

“With these sailings, we have been able to put into practice and perfect our enhanced health and safety protocols while demonstrating that travellers can enjoy our unforgettable river cruise vacations with peace of mind,” she said. “Since we started AmaWaterways 18 years ago, we’ve been passionate about creating luxurious, authentic and inspiring river cruises for every traveller. The personal connections and warm service experienced during an AmaWaterways river cruise remain as important as ever to us, and the new health and safety protocols just add additional peace of mind for our guests while onboard.”