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American Express launches wave sale, counselers see demand for river, small ship cruises

American Express launches wave sale, counselers see demand for river, small ship cruises
American Express Travel's 2015 cruise sale kicked off Tuesday in tandem with wave season. Until Feb. 28 the sale will offer savings, upgrades and free amenities for 19 participating cruise lines, including Celebrity, Princess and Royal Caribbean.

Deals are outlined here.

For example, Uniworld is offering $150 per person savings on select 2015 Europe and Asia river cruises, and AmaWaterways has $500 to $2,000 savings per stateroom.

According to a recent survey of more than 200 American Express Travel counselors throughout the US, Canada and Mexico, 56% said river cruising will be a top trend in 2015, followed by 37% who see more small ship cruising.

Travel counselors reported an increase in requests for river cruises in Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa. Counselors also noted customers are seeking intimate experiences on smaller ships.

American Express card members who book the cruises during the sale can take advantage of the Pay with Points program, which allows them to earn and pay for all or any portion of a trip with Membership Rewards. They will also earn one extra Membership Rewards point on each dollar they spend per booking.