Industry veteran Stuart Perl has been named the UK marketing and sales lead for a new river cruise line set to launch next year.
Riverside Luxury Cruises, operated by family-owned German hotel group Seaside Collection, has one ship in its fleet – Riverside Mozart – which was acquired from Crystal Cruises in September.
Passengers will be able to sail on the ship, called Crystal Mozart when it was operated by Crystal Cruises, from April 2023. It will call into destinations including Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary; Passau, Germany.
Perl will oversee the line’s sales and marketing activities in the UK, Ireland and parts of Europe.
His previous roles include international sales and marketing director at Seabourn, EMEA marketing director at Cunard and, most recently, UK and Europe managing director at AmaWaterways.
Perl said: “I am so pleased to be part of the leadership team of this exciting new venture.
“Offering exquisite cuisine and the highest standards of personal service on the rivers, Riverside Mozart will become the leader in true luxury river cruising for discerning guests.
“We look forward to working with our trade partners who would like to join us on this exciting journey.”
Gregor Gerlach, who owns Seaside Collection with his sister Anouchka, said his family had been watching the market to buy river cruise ships for “a number of years” when the opportunity to buy Crystal Mozart arose.
“We didn’t hesitate for long,” he said. “With only 100 to 150 guests on board the Riverside Mozart and around 80 crew, we can offer the highest level of personal service on the rivers.
“River cruise ships are much closer to the topic of luxury than the ocean ships.”
A launch event attended by local industry professionals was held in Vienna last week. Similar launch events will take place in London in late November, said Riverside Luxury Cruises.