Boom in Europe River Cruises Makes Agent Expertise Critical

This is Part One in a series on trends in the fast-growth river cruise segment, including where it’s headed and advice for agents.

River cruising is expanding at a dizzying clip – especially in Europe. It is also more competitive than ever, as lines work to distinguish themselves from the pack.

With so many river cruises now in Europe, travelers need the expert guidance of their travel professionals more than ever. For agents, knowing what sets river cruise lines apart – and what makes them similar – is key.

Here are important factors to think about when recommending the right European river cruise for your clients.

Choice of ship
River cruise ships are limited in size and scope by factors both natural and manmade, including low-slung ancient bridges and the Main-Danube Canal, which links the North Sea to the Black Sea.

So unlike their blue-water counterparts, river cruise vessels won’t ever be destinations onto themselves. Nor are they likely to feature extreme design innovations.
 
“Ship sizes are fairly standard. They are all the same width, 11.5 meters, and they can’t be longer than 135 meters or taller than about seven meters. Everything has to fit,” said Patrick Clark, managing director of Avalon Waterways.   

Style more than substance
Making everything fit into those ships has resulted in a cavalcade of configurations. Cruise lines have angled walls, offset hallways and added retractable glass to create “unique” spaces atop the same footprint.

Sill, design changes tend to be more style than substance on river ships. One notable exception: Tauck’s new Inspiration Class ships coming in 2014. An innovative loft design for the first time creates windows that open on bottom-level staterooms.

Battle of the balconies
Do balconies matter? They do on ocean cruises. But on river cruise vessels, balconies come with a trade-off, said Avalon’s Clark. “You either take space away from the stateroom or you reduce the number of staterooms. In the end we decided that it was more important to keep the space inside the stateroom.”

Avalon’s “open-air balconies” consist of a seating area next to a 10X7’ floor-to-ceiling window that can be opened.

Other permutations of the balcony concept include French balconies, which are sliding glass doors that open up against a protective railing. Full step-out balconies or verandahs are now fairly common. And some lines feature suites with both a full balcony and a French balcony.

Scenic Cruises’ ships feature a retractable glass window that transforms a “sun lounge” into an open-air balcony.

Dining choices
An afterthought in the early days of river cruising, dining options are more plentiful these days. Choices include indoor-outdoor bistros, cozy wine bars and pop-up barbecue stations.

Among the more creative venues: the River Café on Scenic Cruises’ ships, where guests can grab a sandwich, pizza or gelato.

“Sixty percent of our guests are taking advantage of the River Café. Instead of going to the dining room, they’re grabbing a sandwich and taking a nap,” said Anna Wolfsteiner, senior vice president, international sales and distribution, for Scenic Tours.

All about ‘all-inclusive’
Nearly every river cruise line claims to be the “most all-inclusive.” Here’s what you should know.

For the most part, river cruises include daily shore excursions. Many offer a selection of excursions grouped by activity level, cultural interest or even mode of transport.

A few lines offer onboard bicycles. A-Rosa includes kayaking, rafting, jeep tours and even horseback riding on some itineraries.

If your clients prefer to do their own thing, consider Scenic’s new Tailormade program. The GPS-guided system lets passengers tour the port on their own and provides a running commentary.

Beyond shore excursions, all-inclusive can mean that some or all of the following are included in the price: free wi-fi, butler service, room service, unlimited alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, premium liquors, transfers and gratuities.

Some lines, such as A-ROSA, also include airfare from 11 gateway cities.  

Destinations rule
In the end, destination is still the top deciding factor for clients.

Which destinations in Europe are most in demand? The Danube River between Nuremberg and Budapest and spring tulip sailings on the Rhine are top-sellers.

France’s Rhone and Saone rivers are gaining in popularity as centers of food and wine. Viking and Uniworld will also venture into the Bordeaux region in 2014 on the Garonne, Gironde and Dordogne rivers.  

The Seine from Paris through Normandy is also becoming more popular.  AmaWaterways, Scenic and Tauck are now offering Seine cruises. And, the Douro River in Portugal offers the bucolic landscape of the oldest wine-growing region in the world.

“My clients still are looking primarily for the destination. They want to know where they’re going and what they can expect to see. That’s what matters most to them,” said travel agent Bob Braderman of All About Cruises and Travel in Wilmington, Del.

Next time: Cruise line’s record-breaking expansion in Europe