TTG cruise editor Harry Kemble plots a course through the new ships and itineraries arriving in the river cruise sector during 2024 and 2025.
All too often and for far too long, the trade has seen river cruising as rather niche, preferring instead to focus on land-based holidays or ocean cruise product.
However, with the European river season now under way, TTG has identified some of the key events for the sector over the next two years to help meet demand from those agents keen to sell more river cruise.
We’ve picked out several river ship launches, new destinations, and never-seen-before itineraries so agents know what to shout about – and when – in the months ahead.
Emerald Cruises starts its new nine-night Danube Explorer and Highlights of Budapest itinerary, which includes stop-offs in five countries – Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic and Germany. Riverside Luxury Cruises will launch Ravel on 10 April followed by Mozart (pictured) five days later. Amadeus River Cruises’ 67-cabin Amadeus Nova, fitted with solar panels and a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system, also enters service this month.
APT’s Travelmarvel brand launches the 120-passenger Estrela (pictured). The operator claims the ship has the largest swimming pool of any ship on the Douro. Scenic, meanwhile, will begin operating its new Danube in Depth itinerary from Nuremberg to Budapest. Aqua Expeditions offers its second departure hosted by chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino on Aqua Nera from 17-21 September in Peru.
AmaMagdalena, the first of two AmaWaterways ships to launch on Colombia’s Magdalena River, begins its programme of seven-night itineraries. The line’s second Colombia-based vessel, AmaMelodia, arrives in June 2025. Tui River Cruises’ fourth vessel, Tui Al Horeya, launches with a seven-night sailing from Luxor. Licensed Egyptologists (pictured) will be on hand during sailings to answer guests’ questions.
Uniworld’s Elisabeth enters service with an eight-day Castles along the Rhine (pictured) sailing. APT, meanwhile, will launch two 154-passenger ships – Solara and Ostara – which will operate on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Riviera Travel’s 178-passenger ship Radiance will also debut this month.
AmaWaterways’ 102-passenger AmaSintra, with suites up to 323 square metres in size, enters service on the Douro. Uniworld will also launch a new 18-day land-and-cruise wine experience covering areas of France and Portugal, while Riviera Travel’s Riviera Rose (pictured) will also start sailing. Tauck will launch its new Romantic Capitals: Paris to Prague itinerary from 25 April.
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