Hold Back the River

They say you learn something new every day in life and as a Travel agent that is certainly true. The world is a very big place and there is always something to learn and this week I had a great time getting to know more about River Cruising. Its the fastest growing market in Cruise at the moment with lots of seasoned Ocean Cruisers making the switch over to the River Product. You would have to have been living on another planet to have not seen a Viking River Cruise advert on TV over the last few years. But apart from also seeing these adverts and sailing on a one day river cruise down the Rhine on a School Trip practising my German as a teenager, that was about as much as I knew until I attended a CLIA River Cruise Evening on Wednesday last week.

Its a bit like a speed dating night where you move around and talk to the Tour Operators and find out as much as you can.

Reps from Uniworld, Fred Olsen, Scenic, Riviera Travel, Great Rail Journeys joined us on a wet and windy night in Liverpool.

I particularly enjoyed hearing about Great Rail Journeys who we can book, they offer Rail from your nearest Train Station over to Europe’s Rivers. These tours are fully escorted from St Pancras  so no worries about connections and finding platforms. Perfect for customers who do not like flying or unable to fly anymore due to health. For just £1795pp you could sail along the Danube from Budapest to Passau with all meals, hotel and rail included. Sailing on the Amadeus Queen the ship has been specially chartered for British guests and you will even find they have Yorkshire Tea in your cabin onboard!

Next up was Scenic River Cruises with there 5* Luxury Product where everything is included, transfers from your home to the Airport all your excursions in every port  as well as all food and drinks. River Cruises port each day with no sea days it may look expensive but when you see whats included in the cost its actually really good value.

Its also not just all about the Rhine and the Danube I discovered how the most popular destination for 2019 had been Portugal’s Douro River, with a hot climate and world heritage listed sites along the banks its been the next place for new to River cruise passengers to move onto. Also making a comeback is the Nile, after the troubles in Egypt in recent years Nile cruising had pretty much been stopped with many boats being sold and re positioned but it seems there is a new demand for customers to tick the pyramids off on there Travel Bucket Lists and so watch this space….

Ive also been given the opportunity to try a cruise for 2 nights in April, I am going to be sailing from Vienna to Linz with Croisieurope  on the Vivaldi, im so excited to learn even more about this ever expanding product. Never mind hold back the River there will be no holding back me!