AmaWaterways shared the way it commits to sustainability by sharing a short video showcasing current initiatives to eliminate single-use plastics, minimize food waste and contribute positively to the preservation of our planet’s precious water resources.
“We are seeing a renewed interest from our travel partners and guests about sustainability, which we felt made it timely to introduce our new video on the topic,” said Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice-president of AmaWaterways. “Protecting the environment and enriching the communities we visit is an ever-present responsibility. It is important to share our sustainability efforts, as it enables eco-conscious travelers to select companies that resonate with their values. We are proud of our initiatives, and we will keep building each new ship and itinerary with sustainability in mind.”
To reduce overall plastic consumption, AmaWaterways uses paper straws, refillable glass water bottles as well as refillable Pure Herbs soap and shampoo dispensers in all staterooms and provides biodegradable Tetra Pak water containers for excursions. In addition, luggage tags are made from 100% recycled plastic bottle material and are now delivered to guest staterooms on board ships in Europe, reducing the line’s carbon footprint. The usage of the myAmaCruise app and electronic travel documents has also virtually eliminated paper consumption both pre-cruise and on board.
AmaKristina was the first river cruise ship in the industry to receive the prestigious Green Award, which recognizes ships in Europe for their quality, safety and environmental performance. Since then, another 19 river cruise ships in AmaWaterways’ European fleet have earned the Green Award certification. All ships are able to connect to shoreside electric power, which further reduces fuel consumption and noise levels while in port. AmaWaterways has lessened unnecessary food waste from large-scale buffets by serving a la carte lunches on board European ships.
While operating sustainable, environmentally friendly ships is fundamental to AmaWaterways, both Zambezi Queen and AmaMagna go above and beyond with eco-friendly features. Zambezi Queen, which explores the Chobe River in Africa, uses a five-stage water purification plant, employing river water in the showers and tap aboard. The ship’s water jet propulsion system replaces a conventional system, ensuring there is no damage to the riverbed. Throughout the night, the ship operates on battery power and only the low-emission generators run throughout the day.
In 2023, AmaMagna welcomed a brand-new feature: solar panels on the awnings of select staterooms, producing energy equivalent to charging 20 Teslas/hour. AmaMagna operates on a 10-engine diesel/electronic hybrid system, a first for the river cruise industry, which allows for less fuel usage and reduces noise levels. Even though the ship is twice the width of traditional river cruise ships, this new configuration of the engines is capable of reducing fuel consumption by up to 20 percent depending on river conditions.
“Travel, when done responsibly, is a force of good in the world,’’ said Rudi Schreiner, co-founder and president of AmaWaterways. “The beautiful natural surroundings along the banks of the world’s iconic rivers like the Danube, Rhine, Nile, Mekong and Magdalena River in Colombia are precious resources, and it is up to AmaWaterways – and all river cruise lines – to do everything we can to preserve these environments for future generations to enjoy. We have taken measures to drastically reduce overall plastic consumption on our ships, and we continue to explore new ways to enhance our efforts in all other areas of sustainable tourism.”
This article was originally published at River Cruise Advisor.
