AAA announces the winners of “Discovery Crew” cruise through the Netherlands and Belgium
DEARBORN, Mich., (March 7, 2019) – Seven Michigan eighth graders won a contest through AAA to participate in an 8-day AmaWaterways European river cruise in March.
The contest was open to all eighth graders across AAA – The Auto Club Group’s 11 states. A total of 56 winners were selected. The students won the contest by answering three essay questions and submitting a selfie showing their passion for travel. Each winner will be accompanied on the trip by a parent or guardian.
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AAA Discovery Crew - Michigan Winners
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The trip is from March 27 to April 4. Winners and chaperones will fly to Amsterdam, then sail on an AmaWaterways river cruise through Belgium and the Netherlands. AAA partnered with AmaWaterways and Allianz Global Assistance to provide the river cruise, flights, travel insurance, money for passports, and money to help offset the tax-impact of winning.
“We were amazed by the passionate responses from the many students who expressed their interest in going on this trip,” said Deborah Haas, Vice President, Travel Products and Services, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The winners chosen are different in many ways, but each shares a similar enthusiasm for travel. Soon, these students will immerse themselves in different cultures and see what it’s like to be an eighth grader in two different countries. This truly has the potential to be a life-changing experience.”
During the trip, students will follow a custom-designed itinerary with ports of call and shore excursions focused on learning about local history, art, science, nature, and food. Besides sampling local cuisine and visiting historic landmarks like the Anne Frank House, students will enjoy active hiking and biking tours that allow them to live out their passion for travel, like riding bicycles near the world-famous Holland windmills and walking through the largest flower garden on earth. On a more personal level, they will meet students at two different schools, to see what life is like as an eighth grader in Belgium and the Netherlands.
“Travel is so important to opening up understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures and people, and it should start at a young age,” said Rudi Schreiner, president and co-owner AmaWaterways. “We’re thrilled to partner with AAA to offer these eighth graders a very personal and immersive river cruise on which they’ll create memories that last a lifetime!”
MEDIA NOTE – Because of their age, AAA is only publicly releasing winners’ first name and last initial. AAA will coordinate media interviews with winners upon request, pending availability.
About AAA – The Auto Club Group
The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America. ACG and its affiliates provide membership, insurance, financial services and travel offerings to over 9.8 million members across eleven states and two U.S. territories including Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; most of Illinois and Minnesota; and a portion of Indiana. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 59 million members in the United States and Canada and whose mission includes protecting and advancing freedom of mobility and improving traffic safety. Motorists can map a route, identify gas prices, find discounts, book a hotel, and access AAA roadside assistance with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile. Visit AAA on the Internet at AAA.com.
About AmaWaterways
A family-owned company celebrating 17 years on the river, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 23 ships sailing Europe’s Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhone, Seine, Garonne, Dordogne, Dutch and Belgian Waterways and Douro Rivers, Southeast Asia’s Mekong and Africa’s Chobe River. The company is renowned for its innovative stateroom design featuring unique “twin balconies”; its wide choice of included shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options for the active traveler; and its award-winning dining—including The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, each ship features onboard amenities such as hair and massage salons and a fitness room, and many have heated outdoor swimming pools. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation including the upcoming launch of AmaMagna, who at twice the width of traditional river ships, will offer a new dimension in luxury river cruising. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travelers and families as well as group and charter options.
With the highest-rated ships in Europe according to the third edition of Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe & the USA, AmaWaterways has received countless honors and accolades including Cruise Critic’s Editor’s Pick Award for “Best for Active Cruisers” and 2018 AFAR Reader’s Choice Award for “Best River Cruise Line.”