Sharing the Joys of River Cruising
River Cruising Expands Market
Over the past few years, river cruising has become an increasingly popular vacation option. Today, thanks to affordable pricing and innovations by several top river cruise lines, the category’s sales continue to skyrocket. river cruise sales are up 67% in 2009 vs. 2008.
There are several reasons for the growing popularity of river cruising. First, many of the world’s finest destinations cannot be reached by traditional cruise ships. These much sought-after spots can, however, be reached by river cruising vessels. Then, there are the ships themselves. River cruise ships typically transport less than 200 passengers, offering an intimate “boutique hotel” feel. Cabins are, in some cases, more spacious than on larger ships. And, there is no shortage of evening entertainment including piano players, singers and local talent. Today’s river cruise ships even feature gyms, swimming pools and Wi-Fi.
A variety of new innovations by three top river cruise lines have contributed to the category’s rising popularity. Examples include:
Avalon Waterways
“In preparing for 2010, Avalon announced a renewed focus on unique themed river cruise vacations, dubbing their approach ‘passion travel’,” “An emphasis on wine, music and other cultural traditions is being marketed and attracting the attention of avid cruisers seeking a new experience.”
Uniworld
“Uniworld has really committed to upgrading their ships and services this year “Our 2009 Uniworld bookings continue to increase, primarily because of the line’s two new ships and emphasis on technology and amenities.”
The new vessels include the 160-passenger River Beatrice and the 82-passenger River Tosca. Both have new hi-tech features including iPOD docking stations and flat-screen TVs, as well as new pool areas with cabanas, hotel-style beds, pillow menus and L’Occitane bath products.
Viking
“Viking is one river cruising line that should not be left out of the mix when talking about innovation in 2009,”“Most significantly, Viking has redesigned their itineraries and ships in Russia in response to consumer demand, which is satisfying customers looking for shorter, aggressively priced China and Europe voyages.”
One example of this is Viking’s new 10-day China Discovery, which includes three days in Beijing and a six-day Yangtze River cruise. A new 8-day Imperial Danube sailing begins and ends in Passau, letting travelers will enjoy an intimate journey through Germany, Austria, Hungary and Romania.
Amawaterways have added new ships along with a new itinerary from Amsterdam to Switzerland. Bikes are available for passengers along with free internet.
There are several reasons for the growing popularity of river cruising. First, many of the world’s finest destinations cannot be reached by traditional cruise ships. These much sought-after spots can, however, be reached by river cruising vessels. Then, there are the ships themselves. River cruise ships typically transport less than 200 passengers, offering an intimate “boutique hotel” feel. Cabins are, in some cases, more spacious than on larger ships. And, there is no shortage of evening entertainment including piano players, singers and local talent. Today’s river cruise ships even feature gyms, swimming pools and Wi-Fi.
A variety of new innovations by three top river cruise lines have contributed to the category’s rising popularity. Examples include:
Avalon Waterways
“In preparing for 2010, Avalon announced a renewed focus on unique themed river cruise vacations, dubbing their approach ‘passion travel’,” “An emphasis on wine, music and other cultural traditions is being marketed and attracting the attention of avid cruisers seeking a new experience.”
Uniworld
“Uniworld has really committed to upgrading their ships and services this year “Our 2009 Uniworld bookings continue to increase, primarily because of the line’s two new ships and emphasis on technology and amenities.”
The new vessels include the 160-passenger River Beatrice and the 82-passenger River Tosca. Both have new hi-tech features including iPOD docking stations and flat-screen TVs, as well as new pool areas with cabanas, hotel-style beds, pillow menus and L’Occitane bath products.
Viking
“Viking is one river cruising line that should not be left out of the mix when talking about innovation in 2009,”“Most significantly, Viking has redesigned their itineraries and ships in Russia in response to consumer demand, which is satisfying customers looking for shorter, aggressively priced China and Europe voyages.”
One example of this is Viking’s new 10-day China Discovery, which includes three days in Beijing and a six-day Yangtze River cruise. A new 8-day Imperial Danube sailing begins and ends in Passau, letting travelers will enjoy an intimate journey through Germany, Austria, Hungary and Romania.
Amawaterways have added new ships along with a new itinerary from Amsterdam to Switzerland. Bikes are available for passengers along with free internet.
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