New Command, New Capacity: River Lines Line Up 2027

AmaWaterways has named its first-ever chief commercial officer, hiring longtime Tauck executive Steve Spivak to unify sales, reservations and revenue management under a single commercial strategy. The move, corroborated across six outlets, is a structural one: rather than a routine bio hire, Spivak's mandate explicitly centers on travel-advisor relationships, giving him authority over the levers advisors care about most. For agents booking AmaWaterways, the near-term watch items are concrete — commission structures, co-op and FAM programs, and trade support policies are all likely to be reviewed as the new leadership consolidates strategy ahead of 2027 river programs. No changes have been announced yet, but a newly created role built around advisor partnerships rarely stays static for long. Advisors with active AmaWaterways relationships should flag this appointment and watch for policy communications over the coming weeks.

CroisiEurope has unveiled its 2027 program, headlined by a new 32-guest Amazon vessel, the RV Brasilian Dream, alongside expanded sailings in Hungary, Greece, Spain and France and a longer autumn season. The actionable detail for advisors is the deadline: a 15% early-booking discount expires September 30, 2026 — just over a week from today — giving agents a concrete reason to reach out to clients now rather than let the window close. Beyond the discount, the new capacity and itinerary spread matter strategically: they diversify CroisiEurope's inventory beyond the Rhine and Danube corridor that has faced recurring water-level disruption in recent seasons, giving advisors an alternative to pitch clients wary of itinerary changes on the usual European routes. Worth a same-week client email for anyone sitting on the fence about a 2027 river booking.