River cruising is becoming increasingly popular as more people discover how easy it is to visit some of the Continent’s most iconic cities by boat.
Figures for last year won’t be released by the Passenger Shipping Association until May at least, but with operators reporting that river cruises are selling well, it would be fair to expect an increase.
Viking River Cruises managing director Wendy Atkin-Smith says: “We had to turn customers away last year. It has driven people to realise the need to book early. Bookings for this year have gone mad.”
APT sales manager Europe Melissa Hackney says the company carried about 500 UK passengers last year and is looking to double this in 2010. The company owns one-third of AMA Waterways and is taking an exclusive two-year charter on AMA’s new vessel Amabella, which it helped to design and which launches on May 9 .
Last year was not without casualties. Peter Deilmann saw its US and German markets collapse, sending it into administration. It stopped operating river cruises in October 2009 and its vessels were sold to Germany’s Nicko Tours.
However, there was plenty of new capacity. Australia’s Scenic Tours had a full year operating four of its so-called ‘Space-Ships’, while Viking launched one and AMA Waterways launched two new river vessels. Scenic is operating an expanded Europe programme in 2010, and is looking to boost the 15% of sales it makes through the trade.
Between these three companies they offered more berths on Europe’s top rivers, the Rhine and Danube, which attracted 14,700 and 13,100 British river cruisers in 2008, way ahead of Europe’s other favourite waterways – France’s Rhône and Seine, and the Douro in Portugal.
Operators are bringing more quality into the market, which is attracting bookings. Scenic Tours UK general manager Chris Townson says: “We’re selling from the top down. Deluxe and junior suites are doing really well.”
Unusually, some of Scenic’s vessels have balconies big enough to sit on. That is a big selling point in a market where the scenery as you cruise is an important part of the experience. This is alongside the prime benefit that you come on board, unpack, and your floating hotel takes you to so many of Europe’s top cities – Cologne, Venice, Budapest and Nuremburg – as well as historic towns and picturesque villages.
With so much included in the price, river cruising is not a cheap option, so commission is high for agents who take time to get to know the market and jump on the bandwagon.
Danube
What’s the attraction? A winning combination of the great cities of Vienna and Budapest, with a little Strauss (remember the Blue Danube?) thrown in. Sail for eight nights or longer, all the way to the Black Sea.
Highlights: The Hofburg Palace in Vienna, from where the Habsburgs ruled Austria for 700 years; Sacher Torte, at one of the city’s tea houses; in Budapest, the Chain Bridge, Heroes’ Square and the Castle District, filled with narrow streets, cafes and restaurants; the Iron Gate gorge, dividing the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains and narrowing to just 150 metres at one point; Linz, the centre of Austria’s wine-growing region.
Sample product: AMA Waterways has a 15-day Grand Danube cruise from Nuremberg to Rousse in Romania or vice-versa. It starts at £2,813 in July and August cruise-only including excursions and wine with dinner. 0800 389 9811
Rhine
What’s the attraction? Sail all the way from Amsterdam to Basle in Switzerland, passing through Germany and France, past magical scenery and visiting some of the top cities in Europe en route.
Highlights: Strasbourg, with its old street cafes and a French/German culture; Rüdesheim, famous for the Drosselgasse, a long street packed with shops and bars; Cologne, with its 2,000 years of history; Koblenz, one of Germany’s most picturesque towns, with narrow streets, alleyways and ancient churches.
Sample product: Scenic Tours has a 15-day Jewels of Europe cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest, or vice-versa, starting at £3,195 per person departing March 3. It includes flights, transfers, gratuities, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, and excursions. 0161 236 2444
Seine
What’s the attraction? The chance to add a few days in Paris, where most cruises start and end.
Highlights: Monet’s Garden at Giverny; the 14th-century courthouse in Rouen where Joan of Arc was sentenced to death and the Market Square where the deed was done in 1431; the Normandy D-Day landing beaches. In Paris, see the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and Notre- Dame Cathedral.
Sample product: Viking River Cruises has a seven-night cruise from Paris to Giverny, Vernon, Rouen, Les Andelys and Conflans and back from £1,295 per person departing November 7. It includes travel by air or Eurostar, transfers and excursions. 020 8780 7900
Rhône
What’s the attraction? As this passes through Beaujolais country, definitely the wine, but there are some lovely historical towns along the way too.
Highlights: Avignon’s medieval walled city, home to the Pont d’Avignon (actually called the Pont St-Bénezet) and the Palais de Papes, where popes lived between 1309 and 1377; Lyon, known as the gastronomic capital of France, with a cobbled old town and gothic and renaissance architecture; Vienne, home to a 14,000-seat Roman amphitheatre and a temple built in 25BC in honour of the Emperor Augustus and his wife Livia.
Douro
What’s the attraction? Most definitely the port (the drink that is), but the scenery is spectacular too.
Highlights: Visiting a wine lodge in Porto, the city after which the famous drink was named, for a tasting; Régua, the centre for port wine production, for more tastings and excursions to Vila Real, founded in the 13th century, or Lamengo to see the 18th-century Nossa Senhora dos Remédios pilgrimage church; Vega de Terrón, the jumping-off point for tours to Salamanca, over the border in Spain.
Sample product: Elegant River Cruises has an eight-day Week on the River Douro cruise from Porto to Salamanca and back from £1,495 per person departing on March 21, including flights, transfers, excursions and wine, beer or soft drinks with dinner. 0800 988 5856
