Key trends in river cruising discussed at the CLIA Ireland & Britain Riverview Conference 2024 in Amsterdam include an increase in solo travelers, year-round sailings, longer itineraries, and more active excursions for passengers of all ages.
Of those attending the conference, 70pc were there for the first time. A record 540 delegates had the opportunity to visit 11 river cruise ships, and hear CLIA’s plans to help further raise the profile of the river sector with the trade.
During the conference, Andy Harmer, MD CLIA London, announced that five new river cruise training initiatives and activities are being launched this year:
- A new virtual RiverView learning course. The course will take learners on a river cruise journey from Amsterdam to Bucharest, focussing on both the Rhine and Danube river experiences.
- River cruise starting to appear in CLIA’s virtual ship tours library from April.
- An in-person river cruise residential event. Scheduled for the latter part of 2024, more details will be announced in due course.
- The first dedicated river cruise dinner for key stakeholders and agent partners, which will take place in Glasgow on April 30.
- Online countdowns on the CLIA website to the launch of each of the 15 new river cruise ships that set sail this year.
Cruise lines used the opportunity to update delegates on developments. AmaWaterways and A-ROSA Cruises are catering to passengers’ desire for active experiences, with options like bikes, hikes, and graded excursions at different walking paces. AmaWaterways’ AmaMagna ship features facilities for fitness enthusiasts, including a pickleball court.
Companies like Riviera Travel are addressing misconceptions about river cruising and offering dedicated solo sailings with no single supplements to meet the strong demand from solo travelers, particularly females.
Lines in the river cruise industry are responding to passenger demand by adding longer itineraries, extending sailing seasons to operate year-round, and providing pre- and post-cruise extensions in major cities like Vienna and Budapest. Sustainability is also a focus, with initiatives like solar panels on ships to reduce environmental impact.
AmaWaterways anticipates 2024 as a pivotal year for river cruising, with a revival of the sector post-Covid and increased demand leading to the launch of 15 new river ships, including three on the Douro River.
VIVA Cruises’ newbuild river ship, VIVA ONE, was among the ships moored at the conference, offering industry leaders and travel agents will have the opportunity to view the vessel.
The ship, with 88 cabins accommodating 176 guests, features double beds, junior suites, and two restaurants. VIVA Cruises, established in 2018 as the in-house tour operator of Swiss shipping company Scylla AG, has since expanded to an eight-ship fleet sailing on major European rivers.
APT Travelmarvel hosted agents at the opening night session.
The CLIA rivercruise conference 2024 will be followed by the ASTA exposition in the Hôtel Mövenpick in Amsterdam.
