Riverside Luxury Cruises Takes Big Steps Forward in Season Three

Riverside Luxury Cruises is in just its third season of operation, but it feels like it has been on the Canadian scene for longer.

Some of that high profile is thanks to Peter Ouzounov, Senior Director of Sales, Canada, who has tirelessly promoted the brand since joining the company in June 2023. 

He was no stranger to the industry, having working in inside sales and as a BDM for the Globus family of brands for “15 great years.” But Ouzounov is happy to be focusing on a single travel style, and one that has gained quick acceptance from the high end of the Canadian river cruise market.

“The reaction has been so good, right from the get-go. It has been so cool to be a part of a start-up and to help build the brand,” Ouzounov told Travel Market Report Canada.

Riverside had a bit of a head start, when parent company The Seaside Collection, a German luxury hotelier, purchased the five-strong river fleet from Crystal Cruises, after that company’s parent, Genting Hong Kong, ran into financial problems and filed for bankruptcy in 2022.

The Crystal ships were known as the most luxurious vessels plying Europe’s waterways, so there was some immediate credibility. And The Seaside Collection brought its own cachet – one of its properties, the Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia on Gran Canaria, is a member of the prestigious group The Leading Hotels of the World.

Currently, Riverside Luxury Cruises operates three of the former Crystal river vessels and will add the remaining two in 2028 and 2029. 

But while the hardware is of that renowned Crystal quality, Ouzounov is quick to say that Riverside is “not a continuation of that brand.” Riverside delivers something unique, he says – “a luxury hotel on the river that offers very individual experiences.”

All staff members are employees of Riverside, Ouzounov notes, which is not always the case with European river cruise operators, which sometimes use staffing agencies to fill out their crews.

“We hire them and train them in the Riverside way. You can see how happy they are and that has a big impact on guests.”

As with any luxury hotel experience, dining is an essential ingredient in the Riverside formula. “It’s like going to an upscale restaurant in the city,” Ouzounov said. “We offer 2- and 4-person tables so guests can dine when and with whom they choose. A meal on a Riverside ship is a beautiful thing.”

As with any new brand, it has taken a little while for Riverside to gain critical mass, Ouzounov said, but the hard work is starting to bring strong returns.

“Those who knew the ships from before understood the potential. And once people have cruised with us, they become advocates and are emotionally invested. And now, with new partnerships with luxury leaders like Virtuoso and Ensemble, we’re ready to move up to the next level,” Ouzounov said.

“We are just going to continue to really refine the experience and keep getting the word out.”

Over 70% of Riverside guests are from North America, and Canada is the second-largest market for the young brand. Travel advisors are a nearly exclusive sales channel – Ouzonov says B2B bookings are in the high-90s.

As Riverside’s third season comes to a close in the second week of December with the final Danube and Rhine Christmas market sailings, Ouzounov and his colleagues will be busy preparing for season four, kicking off in April in the south of France.