River Cruising

The river cruise vacation market continues to grow with new river cruise ships and destinations being added each year. It is a predominantly all-inclusive product that appeals to travelers seeking destination-focused experiences while traveling on the rivers in numerous parts of the world.

“The river cruising business has been growing for decades in Germany,” says Ricarda Lindner, regional manager The Americas for the German National Tourist Office. “It is simply an attractive form of traveling for a lot of people. They can visit multiple destinations without having to change accommodation and without the hassle of packing or unpacking in each destination. Different English-speaking options of shore excursions are another plus and the vessels offer a great environment and comfort.”

Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president of AmaWaterways, says river cruising is a good choice for varied types of clients. “River cruising has certainly become a more mainstream vacation option that many travel advisors are proposing to all types and ages of travelers,” she says. “While river cruising did start off attracting retired travelers with time and money to spend, it has really become a very attractive option for anyone interested in discovering four or five countries during a seven-night period. For many people who are able to work remotely and take advantage of our free WiFi, combining several river cruises into longer stays allows them to get maximum benefit from the cost of airfares.”

The intimate size of river cruise ships is attractive to luxury travelers, according to Rudi Schreiner, co-founder and president of AmaWaterways. “Not only are there no line ups or crowds of people anywhere on board a river cruise ship, but the ease of getting on and off the ship in the destinations visited makes them so convenient and flexible,” he says.

In addition to offering a more intimate cruise experience, river cruising provides an in-depth or immersive look into a country. “It offers a stress-free and a leisurely way to travel from point to point, original regional vistas and an opportunity, during stops, to explore lesser-known sites and meet local experts and residents,” according to Agnès Angrand, deputy director USA of Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency. “[Included shore excursions] allow clients to take in up-close the unique destinations along the rivers that different regions have to offer—architectural heritage, food and wine, arts and crafts, etc.”

River cruises traditionally focus heavily on the destination. “By cruising overnight and docking conveniently in the center of towns and villages, river cruising effectively doubles the amount of leisure time that a guest can actually spend in the destination compared to other types of vacations,” said Schreiner. “There is no time wasted packing and unpacking, checking in and out of hotels, or waiting in airports; a river cruise allows guests to relax and wake up each morning ready to explore a new destination with the help of knowledgeable local guides.”

Angrand adds: “Pre-tours allow clients to experience their starting off point, a sort of introduction to the country, before setting sail. And post-tours do the same in reverse and provide a soft-landing as it were before the trip home.”