River Lines Provide More Choices For Active Travelers

Scenic Gem. Photo: Rolf Heinrich, Köln

Agents can add Scenic to the growing list of river cruise operators that are reaching out to a more active, and younger, demographic by offering guided and independent bicycling programs.

Scenic’s new river cruise cycling itineraries focus on the bucolic region of the Danube and in Bordeaux, with the option of extending trips with land stays in destinations such as Champagne and the Loire Valley.  Its program features cycling guides and a bike mechanic plus a support vehicle that will follow each group.

“We started out offering electric-assist bikes on our ships maybe six or seven years ago, and we still have e-bikes for people who might need some help, especially going up hills, but now we provide road bicycles as well. We’re responding to what our customers have told us they want,” said marketing director-USA Bill Spaeth.

Those bike rides often include other activities—Scenic’s Bordeaux cycling routes include the Arcachon Bay coastal region and the Médoc and Sauternes regions include visits to local markets along the way and cycling the historic Saint Émilion wine region includes lunch and a wine tasting.

Scenic in not alone in trying to broaden the appeal of river cruising.

AmaWaterways’ ships always carry a few dozen bicycles and safety helmets, free for clients to use throughout Europe.  Passengers can opt for a guided bike tour or explore on their own.

Adventures by Disney is pioneering a family river cruise program, now offered on the Danube aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaViola, and next year on the Rhine aboard AmaKristina. On these trips, customized activities include biking, canoeing, horseback riding and zip-lining.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection introduced a Danube River biking itinerary back in 2015 and added more this year. It is again expanding the popular product with several new biking-themed cruises on the Danube in 2017.

According to Scenic’s Spaeth, the early days of river cruising catered to an older demographic.

“They were less active, less immersive trips, where the ship was used as a floating hotel and entertainment center.  When we entered the market in 2008, the product already was evolving quickly into a more active and immersive one,” he said, adding that the average age of a river cruiser is going down.

Spaeth would put the average age on Scenic sailings at 63, but that doesn’t define ability, he said. “The more active programs you have the more younger clientele you’ll have.” Spaeth said that in many cases, a first-time Scenic passenger is in the 60 to 70 year old age range, “and they realize it would be perfect for a multigenerational trip. They’ll bring back their kids and sometimes grandkids because they know there’s a range of activities everyone can enjoy.”

Bicycling programs, Spaeth said, bring a lot of joy to customers, especially those who haven’t been on a bike in years. “You see the smile on their faces when they get back to the ship and you know the experience made them feel like a kid again. Their cheeks are red, they’ve had the wind in their hair. It’s the greatest thing to see.”

Some agents also are seeing the river cruising demographic slowly change.

Eric Ardolino, of A&S Travel Center, Wallingford, CT, said he took a group of 64 on a Danube cruise earlier this month with “more clients in their 40s and 50s” than on any previous river cruise groups he has sold.

“They want to go back. I am finding that younger people are interested in a river cruise, which is essentially a luxury cruise but in a river setting. My group was astounded by the excellent service,” said Ardolino, who booked the group on a Viking longship.

“People start doing river cruising once they decide they want something different from the Caribbean and European [blue water] cruises.  However, river cruises aren’t hopping at night – it’s not the kind of cruise where you’re going to be dancing in a disco until one in the morning,” Ardolino said.

He said he thinks that bicycling and other active programs will continue to help broaden the river cruise passenger demographic.