WHY IT RATES: In honor of Travel Advisor Appreciation Month, Riviera River Cruises is enabling travel advisors to easily experience its European river voyages for themselves for just $499 (or even free) when they book clients on a 2021 or 2022 departure of eight days or more. Their clients will also benefit by receiving a €400 ($482) onboard credit when booking through a travel advisor in the month of May. — Laurie Baratti, TravelPulse Associate Writer

In celebration of Travel Advisor Appreciation Month in May and National Travel Advisor Day on May 5, Riviera River Cruises is offering promotions for $499 or free FAM cruises for advisors, and up to €400 ($482) in onboard credit for their clients.

Throughout the month, advisors who book a client on a 2021 or 2022 European river cruise of eight days or more will be eligible for a FAM cruise of their choice for $499 per person for themselves and a travel companion. Additional bookings made in the 90 days after the FAM can result in refunds for both the advisor and their companion. The onboard credit promotion provides advisors’ clients up to €400 ($482) in credit per cabin for use on drinks in the lounge and restaurants, spa or salon treatments, souvenirs from the boutique or even gratuities.

“At Riviera, we’ve always been supportive of travel advisors and this is our way of saying thank you to them and their clients for making us their preferred river cruise line,” said Marilyn Conroy, Riviera River Cruises’ Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing North America. “The FAM promotion is an affordable—and possibly free—way for advisors to experience one of our European river cruises firsthand, while the onboard credit promotion will give their clients a little extra to spend on their own holiday. We appreciate all that advisors do for us and hope that they and their clients are able to take advantage of these offers.”

Details of the $499 or free FAM cruise promotion:

—Only one $499 per person FAM cruise is permitted per advisor.

—Applicable to new bookings for eight- and 15-day river cruises. For solo traveler cruises, two separate bookings must be made.

—The $499 per person FAM cruise will be available to travel advisors and one travel companion sharing a standard cabin, with the deck to be decided by Riviera River Cruises.

—FAM cruise can be on any eight-day itinerary in 2021 or 2022, with reservations made on a space-available basis up to 90 days before departure.

—FAM cruise includes a complimentary beverage package.

—Advisors who deposit one new booking in the 90 days after their FAM cruise will have their $499 refunded.

—Advisors who deposit a second new booking in the 90 days after their FAM cruise will have their companion’s $499 refunded.

—Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer.

—Not available to advisors who have previously won a FAM cruise, but have not yet departed.

Details of the onboard credit promotion:

—Onboard credit of up to €400 per cabin (€200 per person based on double occupancy) is available on select 15-day river cruises. Credit of up to €200 (€100 per person based on double occupancy) is available on select eight-day cruises.

—Credit may be redeemed only for onboard purchases, including gratuities with the exception of gratuities on Douro River cruises.

—Credit can’t be redeemed for cash and any amount left unspent at the end of the cruise will be forfeited.

Both are available with new bookings made and deposited through May 31, 2021.

Riviera River Cruises offers 20 itineraries on 10 rivers and waterways, including dedicated departures for solo travelers with no single supplement. Riviera’s fleet of 12 ships is one of the youngest in Europe, with spacious cabins and suites, and its cruises include fine culinary experiences, from splendid breakfasts to four-course dinners featuring international and regional specialties, as well as expert-led excursions to classic sights and lesser-known places.

Riviera guarantees exceptional value, promising never to add hidden surcharges or fees, and it doesn’t automatically include gratuities or drinks, so the choice is up to guests.

For more information, visit rivierarivercruises.com .

SOURCE: Riviera River Cruises press release.