The ever increasing popularity of river cruising

[notamermaid]

The next announcement. A new ship for Amadeus River Cruises, the Amadeus Riva in May 2023: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/cruise/amadeus-river-cruises-to-launch-new-ship-in-2023

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

On 4/24/2022 at 11:13 PM, notamermaid said:

The "Argo" is pushing the "Viva Two" and was spotted in Austria

The duty for taking the hull to the Netherlands has been taken over by Zasavica at Regensburg and the pushboat with its transport is now on the Main. This is a standard procedure. On the Rhine I have seen another ship employed as well. Some hulls are tied alongside a barge and travel to the Netherlands that way. This means it is double width, that is of course only possible where the lock is wide enough or where - as is the case on the Rhine in the area where this hull will possibly be pulled - there are none.

 

This is a photo gallery of the Zasavica III pushing hulls over the years: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/photos/of/ships/shipid:4160846/ship_name:ZASAVICA IIIVRABAC#2901948

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

A report on the latest Viking river cruise ships to be christened, delayed due to you-know-what:

https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Viking-Radgrid-and-its-sisters-sail-to-the-heart-of-France?ct=river

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

We have a new arrival! The Amadeus Cara has been christened in Cologne: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/amadeus-river-cruises-christens-latest-vessel

 

And the ship spotters of Binnenschifferforum have already seen her: https://www.binnenschifferforum.de/showthread.php?98730-Amadeus-Cara-KFGS-02339509&p=442499#post442499

 

Safe travels to her always.

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

Hmm, okaayy...:

Quote

"And then there's the way [other lines] have approached the whole concept of cruising, which is very often to get the guests onboard at any price and to use that opportunity when [they] have a captive audience to sell themselves; that's totally against our philosophy."

 

Quote: "We are marketing like there's no tomorrow..."

 

For your interest, here is an interview with a certain Norwegian born man:

https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Torstein-Hagen-Viking

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

Expanding on the post of 30 April, here is another UK article on the Amadeus Riva (I had missed it in June): https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/new-ship-and-itinerary-added-by-amadeus-river-cruises-for-2023

 

There is an early booking discount, not just for the Riva. The new itinerary on the Moselle and its tributary the Saar is this one: https://www.amadeus-rivercruises.com/river-cruises/cruise/show/malerische-mosel-saar-2023.html

Which is actually not on the Riva but the Brilliant.

 

notamermaid

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by notamermaid
wrong link

[notamermaid]

Another ship! The Emerald Luna has been christened: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/travel-agents/emerald-cruises-christens-ninth-river-ship

 

Safe travels to her always.

 

notamermaid

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

Cruise Industry News says the Crystal river fleet (the 4 new ships) "continues to sit in limbo," but "Rumors suggest [Crystal Mozart] has been sold."

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27879-here-s-what-happened-to-the-former-crystal-cruises-fleet.html

 

Anybody know anything?

 

[notamermaid]

Not sure why the article calls it a rumour that the Crystal Mozart has been sold. Several weeks ago we established here on CC with the help of spotting several articles (also in German language) that the Crystal Mozart is now the Mozart and is "owned" by a Hamburg company. Whether that means it actually has the ship in its possession or it kind of will operate it and the real owner in the background is a bank I do not know. But it is clear that there is someone looking after ship. Does the article mean a "proper" company that will operate the Mozart as an addition to its river cruise fleet? If so, I have not heard anything new.

 

Neither have I read anything about the other river cruise ships.

 

If people want to have an eye on the Mozart, perhaps the ship spotters will find out more in due course: https://www.binnenschifferforum.de/showthread.php?110800-Mozart-KFGS-04805980&p=439899#post439899

But I would guess that media attention is as much (or as little) internationally as it is in Germany.

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

A bit of news from the Germans. Nicko Cruises has launched the 2023 itineraries and opened them for bookings: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/nickos-2023-itineraries-include-slow-cruising-concept

 

Nice to read that they include a visit to the Federal Horticultural Show in Mannheim. If you like flowers and landscape gardens this is an event to mark in your calendar.

 

notamermaid

 

 

 

[Canal archive]

Very interesting concept, will this be tha way to go?

[notamermaid]

The Amalucia has finally had her christening in Rüdesheim. Naturally, this has been in the industry news but also in the local newspaper. Here are the two articles by travel weekly US and UK. Quite a different focus and style in the articles, interesting:

https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/AmaLucia-christening-ceremony

 

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/travel-agents/amawaterways-christens-latest-vessel-on-the-rhine

 

An article from Canada:

https://ca.travelpulse.com/gallery/cruise/amawaterways-christens-its-26th-river-ship-in-germany.html

On the right you can click on a video interview with Kristin Karst. I like her happy, slightly bubbly nature. After all those years in the US she still sticks out from the crowd with her strong German accent.

Would have loved to be at the ceremony. Alas, I was busy elsewhere and could not travel to Rüdesheim.

 

A belated welcome to the rivers to Amalucia. Safe travels always.

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

Exciting news for me from a different country - Switzerland! This is an unusual constellation but from a German perspective an interesting move that I heartily greet with a "thank you, will certainly consider you". Thurgau Travel is in Switzerland and are now expanding onto the German (!) market. I read that the company is opening an office in Berlin and will publish a catalogue for Germany. Now you could argue that with Arosa, Amadeus, Nicko, Phoenix, Viva and whoever I may have forgotten the German market may be saturated but I do not believe so. I think there is room for Thurgau Travel with their slightly different itineraries (they do have some charters in cooperation with some of the companies mentioned above). Yes, I have looked at their offers for years and did the window shopping. Now I can walk into the shop!! The Edelweiss is one of my favourite ships on the Rhine and sails nice itineraries. Also an interesting itinerary is the wine-themed Saarbrücken to Mainz or even better Mainz to Regensburg. Or Nancy to Saarbrücken, one of my favourites. Or how about Kiel to Hannover? The most unusual one they offer in Europe though is on the smaller ship Fluvius: Amsterdam to Paris. Yup, you can go that way as well, without having to be on a coach: https://www.thurgautravel.ch/reisen/fluvius-flandern-wallonien-und-picardie/

 

In short: the company may not be available on the English-speaking market and it is all in German and French but if you can accept that and live in those two countries or have a travel companion in those countries paying the bill, have a look at the offers.

 

Oh, and my post could help with inspiration for a river cruise company employee looking for new places. Meaning: there is more between and beyond Amsterdam and Basel.

I know they have been getting more inventive, I just want them to keep up the good work.

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

I seem to have missed this interesting theme cruise on the Amadeus Cara. A classical music cruise this autumn: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/amadeus-cara-sailing-classical-music-themed-itinerary

 

From the Lüftner website: https://www.lueftner-*****/en/river-cruises/cruise/show/classical-music-on-the-rhine-2022.html

 

Nice variations on the standard route Amsterdam - Basel: Utrecht/Ijsselmeer and Cochem.

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

The 2023 brochure of Amawaterways is out: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/amawaterways-releases-new-brochure-for-2023

 

Classical Music on the Danube sounds really interesting.

 

notamermaid

 

[Canal archive]

We’ve sat on the sun deck in Bordeaux listening to an exceptionally good father and son duo who played just about every good guitar genre. On our return it was a French folk singer our CD at the time was just a little music orientated. I can think of nothing better than cruising on the rivers of Europe to the strains of some of the most beautiful music ever composed and it certainly does not have to be classical. Mind you it’s that time of year at the moment ‘The Proms’  wow consider a full blown orchestra belting out the best of them as your cruising with a glass of bubbly - heaven.

[notamermaid]

I missed this article when it came out but I guess it is not too late to book - a wine- themed cruise by CroisiEurope to mark the new Beaujolais when it is released: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/croisieuropes-burgundy-sailing-marks-beaujolais-nouveau-wine-release

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

Staying with CroisiEurope. The company has released its cruise programme for 2023. And there are early booking discounts: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tour-operators/croisieurope-publishes-187-page-2023-cruise-brochure

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

Getting to your river cruise by train is something offered by river cruise lines sometimes but how about making the train journey a proper part of the experience, a rail and sail itinerary. This is Uniworld's Venice and the Swiss Alps as described by travel weekly: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Uniworld-river-cruise-and-rail-tours-in-Europe?ct=river

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

Long, longer, longest - river cruise

 

German Phoenix Reisen is marking its 50th anniversary in 2023. The brochure is out and features the standard river and ocean cruises  and the return to Asia. The new ship on Europe's rivers, the Alisa, will enter service in 2023. I have written about her elesewhere. An anniversary needs a special offer though so, yes, you may have guessed it, a 50 day river. The ship chosen for this adventure is the MS Alena.

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28182-new-phoenix-brochure-river-and-coasts-2023.html

 

50 days is 49 nights, isn't it, so we cannot really say that the Phoenix offer is longer than the Amawaterways offer. The North American company has chosen the AmaMora for this journey in 2024 that as a special has new ports that the ship will visit along the lower Danube: https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28250-amawaterways-launches-longest-river-sailing-onboard-the-amamora.html

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

The Orsova shipyard in Romania has put their latest river cruise ship baby onto the water and sent her on the way to Den Breejen in the Netherlands to be completed. The hull is the (Project) Rheingold. What is special is the fact that this is a so-called on spec build. So, question is: which company will own/operate the ship? Here is the info on this unusual project: https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/den-breejen-shipyard-begins-building-an-on-spec-river-cruise-ship-1

 

The ship spotters on Binnenschifferforum have found her in Orsova and then with the trusted "Argo" pushing her in Austria.

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

The Rheingold has been spotted on the Danube in Germany and the tried and tested method of transfer continues with the Argo having handed over duty to the pushboat Zasavica III. Now I need to keep checking, I think the time on the Canal and Main is about three days. I have missed several hulls, will I be able to see this one live on "my" river this time? The problem is the handover at Gustavsburg on the Main when a barge will have the hull attached to its side for the journey on the Rhine,  that is the last leg to the shipyard in the Netherlands. I cannot be sure which barge it is from shiptracking sites.

 

Orsova shipyard is already busy working on the next ship, by the way, and from the photos it looks as if it is be ready to be launched soon.

 

notamermaid

 

 

[Canal archive]

Notamermaid isn’t it interesting that regardless of the water issues the covid hitches the staffing challenges there are still companies with the wherewithal and forethought to support the river traffic industry. I know that many of these vessels where contracted before the low water challenges but nevertheless they were not cancelled or suspended. Hopefully we will all come out the other side being able to afford the full joys of cruising the rivers of Europe and it not being overcrowded.

[notamermaid]

Most have indeed managed well, the demise of Crystal being the big exception. But that came not from river cruising but the strategy of the conglomerate as a whole. I am still a bit angry about them pulling the German shipyard down with them. Flexibility, banks in the background and faithful customers has helped the companies through the challenges. Apparently, European companies still see room to grow and space on the rivers. It partly stems from the thought that niches (i.e. not often sailed regions) and themed cruises will keep on attracting repeat and new customers. And we know some have moved from ocean to river.

3 hours ago, Canal archive said:

Hopefully we will all come out the other side being able to afford the full joys of cruising the rivers of Europe and it not being overcrowded.

Personally I could do with a bit of cash to do so (is there a way to do a "fund my river cruise"? - only kidding).

 

In the past, I have voiced my criticism of the rapid expansion of Viking and the filling of all the same ports again and again with new ships of many different companies. I like to see inspired variation of ports and a willingness of customers to go along with that. I think It is working to a nice extent. Thurgau Travel has just jumped from Switzerland, the company base, over to the German market with an office in Berlin. Viva Cruises caused surprise when they offered the first ever Winter cruises in January/February in Germany. I admit that I was skeptical about people taking up the offers but according to the company those were a success. Viva Cruises is offering them again in 2023.

 

The North American companies have also made a great effort to offer new itineraries within the limitations that they have put on themselves with the large river cruise ships being restricted to certain rivers and canals. Much to see apart from Basel to Amsterdam to Basel or Nuremberg to Budapest with the standard stops. Both are great routes of course.

 

My big wish: a sailing Rotterdam to Strasbourg by a river cruise ship in honour of the first steamship sailings and the first sailing of the steamship "De Rijn" this far up the river in 1825. The first years were mainly transport of goods and passengers that had a reason to go places, but soon the idle folk with relaxation and touring in mind followed. And the English coined the word tourist, read Byron and then came to the Rhine. The rest as they say is history.

 

By the way, "De Rijn" was the design of the German-born engineer Gerhard Moritz Roentgen and his company was the "Nederlandse Stoomboot Maatschappij".

 

Perhaps a river cruise company will look into that...

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

On 9/21/2022 at 11:13 AM, notamermaid said:

The Rheingold has been spotted on the Danube in Germany and the tried and tested method of transfer continues with the Argo having handed over duty to the pushboat Zasavica III.

The folk on Binnenschifferforum have uploaded some great photos: https://www.binnenschifferforum.de/showthread.php?112345-Rheingold-KFGS&p=447498#post447498

 

notamermaid