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IN FOCUS RIVER CRUISING BOOKINGS FLOW FOR
The growth in river cruises seems unstoppable, as investment in ever-more stylish vessels continues. Maria Harding looks at the hot trends in 2012 and 2013….
n a year which has seen ocean cruising stuck in the doldrums, river cruising – its one-time poor relation – is steaming towards record growth, much of it via bookings from ocean cruise veterans in search of a more in- depth travel experience. “We’re very excited about river cruising because it’s attracting destination seekers who are familiar with ocean cruising but now want to explore destinations in more detail,” says Andrew Gardner, chairman of top online sales agency
Cruise.co.uk.
“Some people just want to climb onto a ship, relax and enjoy the onboard experience and they’re not too bothered where it goes,” Gardner says. “But now that ocean cruise passengers are discovering that river cruising can get them right to the heart of the world’s great cities, we’re starting to see a substantial crossover,
RIVER CRUISES I
spurred on by increasing coverage of the sector and the improvements being made to river fl eets.”
Those improvements have continued this year, with the world’s biggest operator, Viking River Cruises, adding six new `Longships’ to its fl eet and planning a further eight newbuildings by the end of 2013. Features of the new vessels include more balconies and bigger suites. Viking Jarl and Viking Alta – last of the Longships due to be built in the current expansion drive – will each, like the others, have two 445 sq ft Explorer and seven Veranda suites, featuring both a full balcony and a French balcony, while 39 Veranda staterooms will have full balconies and 22 will offer French balconies.
The new boats will also feature indoor/outdoor dining rooms and other innovations, including Sony High
Defi nition TVs and panels for solar power. They will be deployed along the Main, Rhine and Danube rivers – a refl ection that cruises on these rivers have enduring, large-scale appeal. “Rhone, Rhine and Danube cruises attract by far the highest level of demand,” says Geoff Lawrence, Sales and Marketing Director for Swan Hellenic ,which reintroduced its river cruise programme four years ago, and Voyages of Discovery, which launched one for the fi rst time this year. Their All Leisure Group-owned sister brand Hebridean Island Cruises has also dipped a toe in the river market, with four river sailings on offer this year – small beer compared with the 85
Below: Uniworld in Budapest. Opposite, clockwise from top left: Avalon passing Budapest; relaxation; Swan Hellenic on the Danube
30 September/October 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
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