Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Marilee Crocker
    • Paul M. Ruden
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle
" "

Now Is the Time to Book Christmas Market River Cruises

by Dori Saltzman / March 29, 2022
Now Is the Time to Book Christmas Market River Cruises

Photo: Roman Babakin / Shutterstock.com


If you’ve got clients interested in Christmas Market cruises, get on the phone today. Don’t wait. They’re selling out fast! That’s the message Travel Market Report is hearing over and over again from river cruise operators.

“Now is the time,” said Steve Born, CMO at the Globus family of brands, which includes Avalon Waterways. “As the weather starts to heat up, the inventory starts to melt for those Christmas cruises.

Nearly 80% of the capacity on Avalon’s Christmas time cruise cruises is sold out.

At Tauck, 35% of its Christmas Market cruises are entirely sold out and 35% have limited availability, with the Danube and Rhine itineraries the most booked up, Tom Armstrong, corporate communications manager at Tauck, told TMR.

Though demand for Christmas Market cruises typically shoots up in spring, this year it’s more pronounced than usual, executives said.

“Our Christmas Market sailings are always a customer favorite, and demand is especially high for 2022 following two years of cancellations during the pandemic,” said Ellen Bettridge, president, and CEO of Uniworld River Cruises. “We’ve actually exceeded pre-pandemic booking levels for our 2022 holiday cruises.”

Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways said they’re seeing much the same thing.

“After so many missed celebrations over the past two years, friends and family are eager to reconnect and this desire is driving demand for special experiences like our Christmas Market cruises on the Rhine and Danube,” she said. “River cruise bookings for 2022 are looking very strong, particularly for departures in the second half of the year.”

Both Karst and Born mentioned that part of the uptick in demand is driven by guests on canceled sailings rescheduling for this year.

“Unlike a regular year, those are a bank of additional cruisers that are going to be acting,” Born said.

Karst added that simplified entry requirements and reduced travel restrictions in Europe have “encouraged many guests to re-schedule trips, particularly the Christmas Market cruises, which are only available four weeks of the year.”

Some Capacity Left
All of the river cruises TMR spoke with still have some capacity left on the Christmas Market cruises, but all said they expect that to go quickly.

“We still have availability on most departures, but with pent-up demand for these unique experiences, we do expect most 2022 Christmas Market cruises to be full,” Karst said. And that’s with added capacity from the AmaSiena and AmaLucia on the Rhine River, and a longer season of the AmaKristina on the Rhone.

“We encourage those who are dreaming of sailing, whether solo or with a multi-generational family group, to reach out to their travel advisor to ensure they can secure the itinerary and stateroom of their choice.”

Viking River Cruises also added capacity for 2022. And, like AmaWaterways is seeing most of it fill up quickly.

“In response to the strong demand we have seen for these voyages over the years, we introduced several new holiday itineraries along the Rhine, Danube, and Seine rivers beginning this year,” said Richard Marnell, executive vice president of marketing at Viking. “While there is still availability for the 2022 holiday season, many sailings already have limited capacity, so we encourage those who are interested to book soon.”

Uniworld’s Bettridge echoed Karst and Marnell. “I’d encourage advisors to get their clients booked without delay to ensure that their preferences are met for this season.” Uniworld has six Christmas Market itineraries for advisors to sell.

Born told TMR Avalon has capacity left on 34 departures (spanning eight itineraries).

“There’s still a wide range of availability, but my advice to advisors would be not to wait.” That’s particularly true for Avalon’s Panorama suite staterooms, he added, which are always the first to book up.

Born added that the capacity they have isn’t concentrated on any given time frame. Avalon’s “Christmas Time on the Danube” sailings have space in early November, while the line’s “Festive Season in the Heart of Germany” sailings still have space for late November up to mid-December.

Of its four Christmas Market river itineraries, the best selection of cabins for Tauck is on its “Yuletide Spirit: Brussels to Amsterdam” cruises, which has space on three of four sailings. Armstrong also said the line has good availability on all three departures of its family-specific itinerary (Holiday Magic: Danube Family River Cruise).

  22
  0
" "
Related Articles
River Cruise Lines Prepare to Deal with Low Water Levels on the Rhine
AmaWaterways Adds Second River Cruise Ship to Egypt
Flavours for Foodies: A Culinary Guide to European River Cruises
The Travel Institute Is Offering Bonus Commissions on AmaWaterways Bookings
AmaWaterways Extends Portugal River Cruise Season through End of December
How Is the War in Ukraine Affecting the European River Cruise 2022 Season?
AmaWaterways Offers Temporary Housing for Ukrainian Refugees
AmaWaterways Hasn’t Changed 2022 Itineraries Yet, But Will ‘If Necessary’
What Advisors Need to Know About AmaWaterways’ 2022 Season
AmaWaterways’ Gary Murphy to Retire in April

MOST VIEWED

Brought To You By
  1. Princess Cruises Forced to Adjust Alaska Sailings After White Pass Rail Road Decision
  2. River Cruise Lines Prepare to Deal with Low Water Levels on the Rhine
  3. Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements
  4. Lufthansa Group of Airlines Will Change its Distribution Cost Charge Starting in September
  5. SAS Pilot Strike Intensifies, Another 250 Flights Canceled on Monday
  6. Here Is Some of the New CDC Guidance on Cruise Ship Travel

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. River Cruise Lines Prepare to Deal with Low Water Levels on the Rhine
  2. Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements
  3. Canada Will Restart Random COVID-19 Testing at Airports Next Week
  4. Southwest Airlines’ Flight Credits Will No Longer Expire
  5. U.S. Passport Wait Time Is Now 8 to 11 Weeks for ‘Routine Service’
  6. Viking Cruises' New Octantis Is So Much More than Just a Cruise Ship
" "
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
As Regent Launches New Season, the Cruise Line’s Underrated Value Sticks Out
As Regent Launches New Season, the Cruise Line’s Underrated Value Sticks Out

Regent, with its all-inclusive fare, is "sometimes cheaper than even the luxury or premium lines." 

Read...
How Some Travel Advisors Succeed Selling Luxury Cruises
How Some Travel Advisors Succeed Selling Luxury Cruises

What makes the luxury cruise segment so impactful for travel advisors?

Read...
Onboard Octantis, Viking Cruises is Hiding an Educational Speakeasy
Onboard Octantis, Viking Cruises is Hiding an Educational Speakeasy

“The Hide” is a space on Viking’s expedition-style cruise ship, Viking Octantis, that’s intentionally under-advertised to guests. 

Read...
Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Islander II Receives Traditional Blessing
Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Islander II Receives Traditional Blessing

The former Crystal Esprit has been officially renamed and is ready for its inaugural sailing. 

Read...
Viking Cruises' New Octantis Is So Much More than Just a Cruise Ship
Viking Cruises' New Octantis Is So Much More than Just a Cruise Ship

Viking Cruises' newest expedition ship Octantis is not your average cruise. 

Read...
Atlas Ocean Voyages Names James Rodriguez as President and CEO
Atlas Ocean Voyages Names James Rodriguez as President and CEO

Rodriguez will fill the role vacated by Alberto Aliberti, who left the company in July.

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
lux cruise outlook
CP White Paper
Multi-Gen Outlook
Distribution Outlook (1)
New to Cruise Outlook
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/tfv3DmvN5mY/0.jpg
Windstar Knows the Way to Tahiti
About Travel Market Report Mission Editorial Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News|Leisure Travel|Land Vacations|Cruise|Canada Retail Strategies|Well-Being|Luxury|Training
© 2005 - 2022 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy