Transcend Cruises Welcomes First Custom-Built Charter-Only River Cruise Ship

Transcend Cruises welcomed its first custom-built river ship, dedicated solely to the charter market. The MS Connect was officially named and welcomed into the fleet on Aug. 3, 2026, during a ceremony in Dordrecht, Netherlands.

Attendees at the ceremony included the ship’s godmother Marja van Bijsterveldt, the former Dutch Minister of education, culture, and science; Dirk Heijkoop, mayor of Hardinxveld-Giessendam; Gregg Marston, CEO of Transcend Cruises; Matthew Shollar, founder emeritus; and Transcend executives.

“With MS Connect, we are completely redefining river cruising for groups. Every detail of this ship has been purpose-built for meetings, incentives, conferences and exclusive events,” said Marston. “Our goal was to create a flexible, premium and sustainable platform that meets the needs of today’s event organizers while delivering experiences that simply cannot be replicated on land.”

At 442 feet in length, with four decs and accommodation options for up to 120 guests in 60 flexible staterooms (rooms can be converted into 30 two-rooms suites if needed), MS Connect is a first-of-its-kind vessel for the charter, incentives, and MICE industry.

The ship features five versatile event spaces suitable for large conferences, smaller meetings, workshops, networking events, and family gatherings. State-of-the-art audiovisual technology, reliable high-speed, and extensive digital branding capabilities enable companies to showcase their brand throughout the journey.

Food, beverages, and service can be fully tailored to the requirements of each group. The onboard offering is complemented by an approximately 2,580-square-foot wellness and fitness area.

United Waterways is responsible for the vessel’s operational management.

MS Connect is the first of four ships planned through 2028, though Transcend has long-term plans for up to 12 river cruise ships purpose-built for the charter market.