Adventures by Disney Enters River Cruise Market

NEW YORK– Adventures by Disney is entering the river cruise game—and plans to leave the Mouse behind.

Through a partnership with AmaWaterways, Disney hopes to capitalize on the budding market for multigenerational river cruising. The two companies have planned an all-inclusive river cruising experience without any of the mascots or costumes that traditional Disney vacations are known for.

Five departures are slated for 2016 on the upcoming 160-passenger AmaViola, with four set to depart in May and a final departure set for the December holiday season. The eight-day, seven-night itinerary will carry passengers through Germany, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary.

“Our research shows our guests are very interested in doing intergenerational travel in a hassle-free, seamless kind of way,” said Ken Potrock, senior vice president of Adventures by Disney, at a press conference last night in New York City.

“We think [multigenerational travel] is not just a natural expansion of our business, but. . .  of the overall river cruising category.”

Eight Disney adventure guides will be present on each sailing in an attempt to meld the personality and intimate experience of Adventure by Disney guided tours with the European river cruise experience.

“We have been working with Adventures by Disney for more than a year now,” said Kirsten Karst, co-owner and executive vice president of AmaWaterways. “It has been fun to develop itineraries that now focus on families.”

Disney’s details
The AmaViola, a sister ship to the AmaSerena, is being built with family cruises in mind. A new expanded suite configuration, designed to accommodate families up to five people in size, is a key distinction between the two vessels.

“It has been specifically designed with families in mind to bring comfort and innovation especially for the families who want to explore Europe in a different style,” said Karst.

Interlocked rooms will enable larger groups than usual to stay in a shared space onboard. Most of the other amenities on board will remain consistent with the AmaWaterways brand.

Departure dates are set for July 7 to 14, July 14 to 21, July 21 to 28 and July 28 to Aug. 4, 2016. The final departure of 2016, on Dec. 22, will feature an exclusive Vienna Boys Choir Christmas performance in the Hofburg Palace Chapel.

Family focus
The plan is for cruisers to spend more time in port than they may be used to on the typical river cruise in order to showcase the local culture and historical landmarks under the guidance of Disney’s adventure guides.

“The time in port is really important,” said Potrock. “More time in port gives us more time to do more things.”

Three-day pre- or post-stay experiences will also be available in Prague for families who want to extend their European vacation.

“There are a lot of options to accommodate families with people of every generation,” said Potrock.

Teen beat
There will be separate activities on board for kids and teens, with the ship’s wine-tasting areas and chef’s table restaurant likely to hold youth-focused events during the day.

Children must be over four to get onboard, but the cruises are recommended for children ages eight and over.

While no dedicated child care professionals will be on board, guides will likely provide experiences for children so the adults can enjoy some downtime.

“People are expressing interest in getting more and more value out of their traveling,” said Potrock. “We think we’ve got the perfect product for them.”