Jeri Clausing
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises last week announced it was building four new ships to replace existing vessels, the latest in ongoing efforts by river cruise lines to diversify and upgrade their offerings to meet growing demand for premium experiences.
The new ships, which Uniworld said will be built in the design of its five European Super Ships with fewer and larger cabins, more suites and more dining options, will replace ships on the Nile in Egypt, the Douro in Portugal, the Mekong in Vietnam and the Volga in Russia.
The company also announced it would renovate and upgrade its River Countess vessel, which sails from Venice.
Uniworld's upgrades were announced the same week that AAA Travel released an analysis of cruise booking data from the last 12 months showing an emerging trend of vacationers increasingly selecting smaller-ship voyages on luxury ocean and river cruise lines.
AAA Travel says its cruise sales have increased substantially in the last year, while bookings of suites on large cruise ships and sailings on small, luxury cruise lines have exploded, by high double-digit percentages in some cases.
The data certainly validates efforts by river cruise lines both domestically and abroad to continue raising the bar and diversifying their offerings as an increasing number of travelers seek out more luxurious, more unique, more personalized and more active experiences across river cruising and the entire global travel spectrum.
"Cruise travelers today are not shying away from paying for premium experiences," said Bill Sutherland, senior vice president of AAA Travel. "Whether opting for an upgraded suite class on a large cruise ship, or increasingly, splurging for all-inclusive luxury on a small riverboat, travelers are seeking special opportunities to elevate their cruise vacation experience."
And like Uniworld, other river cruise lines are responding.
Crystal Cruises, for instance, upped the bar on luxury river cruises when it entered the market two years ago. It now has five ships with larger cabins and small passenger counts sailing in Europe.
This month, American Cruise Lines launched its first European-style river boat, the American Song, which it says has the largest, and some of the most luxurious cabins in the domestic cruise industry. The ship was sold out on its inaugural cruise and through the end of the season. A sister ship launches in the spring.
CroisiEurope has three new boats coming online, including brand new ships on the Rhone and Douro and a completely renovated Victor Hugo on the Rhine.
And, of course, 2019 will bring AmaWaterways' much anticipated AmaMagna, which will be the largest ship of Europe's rivers. The 194-passenger vessel will be 72 feet wide, almost twice the width of AmaWaterways' existing river cruise ships. More than half of the 98 staterooms will be suites of between 355 and 710 square feet, featuring step-out balconies, seating areas and bathrooms with double vanities.
It will also feature a Zen Wellness Studio with a large area for group fitness classes, a juice bar, treatment rooms and nail and hair salons.
The sun deck will house a large heated pool, a hot tub and a pop-up bar. The rear of the ship will have a watersports platform complete with small touring boat, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.
AmaWaterways also has two other ships launching in 2019 as it continues its efforts to attract a more diverse passenger base through partnerships with companies like Disney and Backroads and speciality cruises, including those with golf and wine itineraries.