New for 2015 The ways upstream - Higher standards and better facilites -
go trend-spotting with Maria Harding
W
Ever-more exotic itineraries, increased product inclusivity and more cruise and stay options are the key river cruise sector trends picked out by industry players and observers. Berlitz ship reviewer Doug Ward, who’s moved
on to the fast-growing sector with a new guide to European river cruising, sees more drinks- included products as a major trend, along with more `immersive’ shoreside experiences involving contact with local residents of river cruise ports. He also thinks alternative restaurants (or at least one per riverboat) featuring local cuisine could be a trend, but doesn’t foresee many other changes to river cruise `hardware’ because of size constraints. “Onboard facilities won't change much
because size is governed by the length and width of the locks that riverboats need to negotiate on Europe's waterways,” Ward says.
THEMES & BOUTIQUES Gabrielle Alam, Croisieurope’s UK Head of Sales & Marketing, agrees that more in-depth encounters with river cruise destinations are on the cards. “Themed cruises – like our current WW1 itineraries and our `walk and hike’ cruises in new destinations such as Germany – are growing in popularity, as is demand for a more offbeat style of vessel, like our new paddlesteamer Loire Princess, which enters service next April (2015). Further-afi eld cruises along the Mekong and Burma rivers are also still very much in vogue", said Alam. But India is an even hotter destination with the Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection (sold in the UK through Titan Travel) launching a new cruise-and-stay tour from New Delhi to Kolkata in January 2016, including seven nights onboard the Ganges Voyager II. “India is one of the world’s most complex, colourful, and exotic destinations,” says Uniworld president Guy Young. "This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity even for our best-travelled guests.” AmaWaterways is also in search of the
ever-more-exotic, having added cruises along Burma’s Irrawaddy and the Mekong, Zambezi and Chobe rivers to its portfolio. General Manager
Fay McCormack says demand for far-fl ung itineraries goes hand in hand with demand for higher standards and better onboard facilities. The next vessels to be launched by the operator, AmaVista and AmaSerena (both due to enter service in Europe next year), will feature a host of innovations including interconnecting cabins - a `fi rst’ for the river cruise sector.
ONBOARD ADDITIONS Other new features will include deck-top swimming pools, walking tracks, spa and massage areas, more dining venues and new `Mozart Cafés' featuring speciality teas and coffees. “Client expectations are growing, and we are developing our fl eet in line with them,” says McCormack. She agrees with Doug Ward and Gabrielle Alam that these expectations extend to a more inclusive product onboard pricing and livelier tour options ashore. Some AmaWaterways river cruises now include wine, and the company has expanded tour options to offer more food-themed excursions, visiting local markets and food producers to explore local cuisine and learn how regional dishes are prepared. “We have themed sailings covering special
interest subjects like wine or beer tasting and Jewish heritage and even have our fi rst- ever knitting cruise in December 2014.” •
sellingtravel.co.uk 2014 STATS IT'S A SIMPLE FACT
AGENTS WHO ARE MARKETING TO CLIENTS IN THEIR 40S AND 50S ARE INCREASING THEIR SALES OF 10-DAY OR SHORTER CRUISES. THE AVERAGE AGE ON SHORTER CRUISES SEEMS TO BE MUCH YOUNGER THAN ON LONGER CRUISES.
15% 15%
The increase in the number of travel agents selling river cruising
The average increase on the
size of staterooms on new river cruise ships
River cruises can cost up to 50% less than an ocean cruise
50%
Above: Onshore tour options are being expanded by river cruise operators to offer food and wine-themed excursions and tours exploring local cuisine.
hat is next for river
cruising? We
river cruising 71
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