Seatrade Convention River Cruising Highlights
By Anne Kalosh
With two new brands, new leaders, new destinations and markets, river cruising’s dynamism was on display during the recent Seatrade convention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
At the cruise industry’s biggest annual gathering, small, Quirky-sized ships had their moments in the spotlight with conference sessions on luxury cruising, hotel brands taking to the seas, expedition cruising and this lively river cruise panel.
From left, Transcend Cruises’ Matthew Shollar, American Queen Voyages’ Cindy D’Aoust, Riverside Luxury Cruises’ Jennifer Halboth, AmaWaterways’ Janet Bava and session moderator Gabriele Bassi. * Photo: Anne Kalosh
Subscribe to our monthly small ship cruise email
Subscribe to QuirkyCruise.com for monthly curated newsletters highlighting our top small cruise ship reviews, round-ups & offers!
Riverside Luxury Cruises
Start-up Riverside Luxury Cruises will begin sailing with two vessels, one on the Danube this month (April 2023) and the other on the Rhone in June with an eye to “[owning] the affluent river cruise market,” in the words of Jennifer Halboth, CEO for the Americas.
Riverside, an offshoot of Germany’s Seaside Collection, a hotel group run by Hamburg’s Gerlach family, plans to operate the five vessels that previously sailed for Crystal River Cruises, targeting international customers.
This first season, the former Crystal Mozart, renamed Riverside Mozart, will sail the Danube, while the former Crystal Ravel will ply the Rhone as Riverside Ravel.
The former Crystal Mozart is resuming service as Riverside Mozart for start-up Riverside Luxury Cruises. * Photo: Crystal River Cruises archives
Transcend Cruises
As announced at the Seatrade convention, one of the Riverside vessels, the former Crystal Mahler, will be chartered by another new operator, Transcend Cruises, for an early start, in August.
Transcend Co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer Matthew Shollar sets his sights on a newbuild in 2025.
What Transcend Cruises’ planned newbuild will look like. * Rendering: Transcend Cruises
Meanwhile, Mahler is to sail for Transcend through 2024.
Transcend will not market to individuals but instead is designed to meet the special needs of groups.
Each cruise will be a customized charter for such uses as corporate meetings, events and incentive travel; affinity and alumni groups; families (for gatherings like reunions, special birthdays or weddings); tour operators; lifestyle brands; and travel agencies’ groups.
The former Crystal Mahler, now owned by Riverside Luxury Cruises, will be chartered to another start-up, Transcend Cruises, beginning in August 2023. * Photo: Crystal River Cruises archives
Destination Storytelling
American Queen Voyages has a new leader in President Cindy D’Aoust.
In her first months she has been highlighting destination storytelling and a partnership with America’s Test Kitchen.
New Itineraries for AmaWaterways
And the venerable AmaWaterways is branching out into South America with sailings on Colombia’s Magdalena River in 2024, noted Janet Bava, chief marketing officer.
This supplements Ama’s presence across Europe, on Africa’s Nile and Chobe, and Asia’s Mekong.
RELATED: Details on AmaWaterways plans to cruise Colombia’s Magdalena River.
AmaWaterways will branch out into South America with cruises on Colombia’s Magdalena River. * Photo: Shutterstock
New Customers for River Cruising
River cruising is still battling the perception that it’s just for seniors, Riverside’s Halboth said. “The trend is traveling together. It may be a family, or couples who were in each other’s bubble during the pandemic.
“We believe luxury travelers are underrepresented in the river space,” she added. “We’re going to pick up where Crystal took off and take it higher … I want us to own the affluent river cruise market.”
Her target: The family of five who spends a week skiing at Beaver Creek.
As on the oceans, multigenerational travel is booming, and this introduces younger people to the segment.
AmaWaterways is attracting younger travelers who want to learn about history and culture, and immerse themselves in the destinations. * Photo: AmaWaterways
D’Aoust, who hosted a President’s Cruise aboard the classic American Queen steamboat to open her company’s 2023 season, told about a group of 18 onboard: grandparents, parents and children, two of them pregnant moms.
“Who chose the cruise? The youngest,” after seeing a YouTube video, D’Aoust said.
The multigenerational travel trend is introducing younger people to river cruising, according to American Queen Voyages’ Cindy D’Aoust. Here, the classic American Queen steamboat in New Orleans. * Photo: American Queen Voyages
Something for Everyone on a River Cruise
American Queen ports on the Lower Mississippi offered ATV adventures, alligator encounters and Cajun traditions.
“The guys did their own brunch: Doritos and beers on [the paddle-wheeler’s] rocking chairs,” D’Aoust quipped at the Seatrade convention. “They were building their own experience. Their mom did a different experience, their grandma did something else.
“There is literally something for everyone,” D’Aoust said. “The greatest thing about river cruising is the flexibility to make the experience your own … We just build more activities and people come.”
“We all offer a variety of experiences,” Bava agreed, adding that Gen Xers are taking to river cruising with their families. “We can attract younger travelers who want to learn about history and culture and immerse themselves in the destinations.
AmaWaterways’ Janet Bava, second right, makes a point on the Seatrade river cruise panel. * Photo: Anne Kalosh
“River cruising is a great entry product for people who haven’t cruised,” she added.
Transcend, meanwhile, is focused entirely on group business, drawing those who’d typically plan events at land venues.
“We see Transcend as opening the market to people who may never have considered cruising at all,” Shollar said.
New Destinations, Longer & Shorter Cruises
AmaWaterways keeps adding destinations. In 2024, the line will field 24 vessels on itineraries that visit multiple countries or immerse travelers in a single one, like France or Colombia.
People are seeking longer trips because airfare is so costly, Bava said. “Seven River” journeys of 46 nights are an option.
In branching out to South America, Ama is building two vessels for Colombia’s Magdalena with voyages between Cartagena and Barranquila plus an optional land extension to Medellín. And next year a second Nile vessel, AmaLilia, will join 2022’s AmaDahlia to meet demand for Egypt.
Bava said river cruising also introduces people to lesser known destinations: “Nobody has Rudesheim in their bucket list but they go and fall in love [with it]. Or Bratislava.”
“Because we’re a private event venue, all our itineraries start with our guests’ wishes,” Shollar noted. He pointed to the popularity of Holland and Belgium, where most lines go just at tulip time. Catering to groups, Transcend can visit places they desire, even “off season” when there are fewer crowds.
The line also plans to use less frequented landing sites that still can deliver access to the shore experiences people desire.
“There are literally hundreds and hundreds of docks along these rivers and all kinds of fun things to explore,” Shollar said.
Riverside will be introducing more daytime sailing and staggering arrival times at ports.
Imagine sitting at the pop-up bar on Riverside Mozart’s top deck, gliding through a beautiful region on a summer day, Riverside’s Halboth said.
Some shorter three-, four- and five-night sampler cruises are planned that travelers can pair with land programs.
The Lower Danube has much to offer, she added, with areas that are very different from Western Europe. Belgrade, for example is “a fabulous city.”
At American Queen Voyages, the choices now go beyond rivers to itineraries on the Great Lakes, the coasts and expedition-style travel in Alaska. Longer trips are popular among upscale consumers, D’Aoust said, and with air travel still challenging, there is much for Americans to discover “in their own backyard.”
RELATED: Anne Kalosh reviews the new Ocean Victory in Alaska.
Authentic Experiences
The Seatrade convention panelists said river cruising fully revolves around the destinations.
“People want authentic experiences” in dining, entertainment and activities, according to D’Aoust.
Her line has always focused on the culture of the regions it visits, with local entertainers, menus of regional specialties and Riverlorians onboard delving into the history. There’s jazz on Lower Mississippi cruises, and wine tasting in the Pacific Northwest. The America’s Test Kitchen partnership will highlight local culinary traditions.
American Queen Voyages offers menus of regional specialties and local wines. * Photo: American Queen Voyages
Three family-owned bakeries in ports from New Orleans to Memphis deliver fresh baked goods early in the morning, with American Queen Voyages telling their stories onboard.
In one town, instead of hiring professional entertainment, the line invited a high school band to perform and paid them with money for uniforms, D’Aoust said.
Shollar noted river cruisers step ashore in the heart of town and are “embedded in the destination.” While ocean cruises offer port overnights here and there, river cruising is “all overnight.”
As Bava observed: “We all became wine aficionados during COVID.” Sailing in Europe gives the opportunity to sample and learn about wines, whether Vienna rieslings or rosés in the south of France.
“The destination comes alive on the ship,” she said. “More and more people are coming onboard to learn about the wines.”
Cheers to river cruising!
Sailing in Europe gives the opportunity to sample and learn about wines. * Photo: AmaWaterways
Don’t miss a post about small-ship cruising, subscribe to QuirkyCruise.com for monthly updates & special offers!
© This article is protected by copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the author. All Rights Reserved. QuirkyCruise.com.
HEIDI SARNA
