Operations management
Rise of the river cruise
Even a global pandemic wouldn’t stop river cruise lines from taking to the waterways of Europe in summer 2020. Elly Earls speaks to Marcus Leskovar, executive vice-president of Amadeus River Cruises, and Rudi Schreiner, co-founder and president of AmaWaterways, to fi nd out how their experiences last year have prepared them to capitalise on pent-up demand from ocean cruisers in the months and years to come.
a limited way, during a global pandemic. And yet the rivers of Europe were far from empty for much of last summer. While the AmaKristina continued to cruiseAmaKristina continued to cruise up and down the Danube, 15-vessel river cruise
W a limited way, during a global pandemic. And yet the
rivers of Europe were far from empty for much of last summer. While the
up and down the Danube, 15-vessel river cruise line Amadeus managed to keep half of its fleet inline Amadeus managed to keep half of its fleet in business, with passengers enjoying itineraries that
business, with passengers enjoying itineraries that took them along the Rhine, Seine and Danube and
took them along the Rhine, Seine and Danube and into the famous wine regions of southern
France.into the famous wine regions of southern France. Of course, it wasn’t entirely business as usual.
ith its closed-in environments and focusith its closed-in environments and focus on socialising, cruise travel was perhaps an unexpected industry to endure, even in
brought in an epidemiologist to make sure they’d
on socialising, cruise travel was perhaps an unexpected industry to endure, even in
brought in an epidemiologist to make sure they’d covered all bases, which included more frequent
covered all bases, which included more frequent cleaning and disinfection, medical examinations
cleaning and disinfection, medical examinations and Covid tests for all members of the crew before
and Covid tests for all members of the crew before a new departure, as well as the removal of any
a new departure, as well as the removal of any items that could be shared among passengersitems that could be shared among passengers such as magazines, bar snacks and playing cards. Meanwhile, AmaWaterways were only using the top two decks of the AmaKristina, as well as limiting
such as magazines, bar snacks and playing cards. Meanwhile, AmaWaterways were only using the top two decks of the AmaKristina, as well as limiting the ship’s capacity from 160 to 100, moving the
the ship’s capacity from 160 to 100, moving the dining tables further apart and installing plexiglass
Of course, it wasn’t entirely business as usual. Stringent new health and safety protocols were quickly conceived and implemented. Amadeus even
Stringent new health and safety protocols were quickly conceived and implemented. Amadeus even
dining tables further apart and installing plexiglass dividers in the lounge. It also introduced pre-
dividers in the lounge. It also introduced pre- boarding health screenings, Covid tests for crew and daily temperature checks for everyone on board.
boarding health screenings, Covid tests for crew and daily temperature checks for everyone on board.
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World Cruise Industry Review /
www.worldcruiseindustryreview.com
Amadeus River Cruises
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