Doing more onshore

The Palace at Versailles

For all the fuss river cruise lines make about their pretty ships (and don't get me wrong, most are a visual delight), the truth is that many of the most memorable river cruising moments don't take place on the water - they take place on land.

Yes, images of boats sell cruises. And yes, we all love to get a sneak peak of and visually approve of our sleek vacation accommodations before we journey out into the world. But in theory, those accommodations are just a means to an end, a literal vessel to bring us to the places we battle through long flights and jetlag to get to: the destination itself.

In recognizing that, river cruise lines are steadily highlighting and enhancing experiences that go beyond the hardware with ever more intriguing onshore programs. For instance, Crystal River Cruises has said that in addition to its onboard culinary program, its guests will have access to dining experiences at Michelin-starred restaurants. In fact, each 2017 Crystal river itinerary will feature at least one Michelin-starred dining opportunity, the first of which will be complimentary, the company has promised.

Tauck, a tour operator first and foremost, has repeatedly touted its emphasis on and investment in onshore experiences. The company recently announced that it would continue along that path by adding more and enhanced shore excursions for 2018.

Along those lines, Tauck has secured exclusive pre-opening visits to Versailles and after-hours tours of the Louvre (both of which have been piloted on select departures in 2017 and will be expanded for next year). In 2018, some river cruise passengers will also be invited to a private Tauck dinner inside the German Parliament building, and there will be an included lunch at Alain Ducasse's newest restaurant, Ore, in Versailles.

Hotel barge company European Waterways said that it has also noticed that passengers are asking for more immersive and experiential encounters ashore. In response, the company is adding excursions such as an exclusive tour of a castle garden in Scotland led by the head gardener, and the opportunity to try some fresh oysters after a private tour of an oyster farm. 

Castle at Loch Ness, Scotland

In recent years, European Waterways said that it has also worked to better curate its wine tastings excursions to passengers' tastes and to enhance the culinary experience by including more private cooking demonstrations with regional chefs.

You see, while it's definitely a close cousin of ocean cruising, river cruising is by nature of the restricted size of the vessels never going to be able to bank on the "ship as the destination" appeal that many blue-water behemoths benefit from. Thus, while the promise of a fetching ship and a comfortable mode of travel may lure many travelers to river cruising, it will ultimately be the "wow" moments onshore that are likely keep them hooked.

Viking, Crystal and navigating new waters

Less than one year after Viking launched into ocean cruising with the delivery of the Viking Star in March, Crystal Cruises announced that it would go from ocean to rivers, with the launch of its first river cruise ship slated for 2016.

So what are some of the potential advantages and disadvantages of each approach? Of bringing your past river cruisers onto new ocean ships and of introducing your ocean cruisers to your new river program?

The key to success in these ventures is likely the fact that ocean and river cruising are just similar and different enough to offer something both distinct and yet familiar to the other. They are products that complement each other perhaps more than they compete with each other. Yes, they’re both a form of cruising. But that’s just about where the similarities end.

And yet, it’s still a bit of a risk, right? If you’re Viking and you introduce your past river cruise passengers to ocean cruising and they realize they like ocean cruising more — maybe you’ve just lost some river cruise customers. Ditto Crystal introducing ocean cruisers to the rivers with the chance of converting some customers away from the company’s core product.

It’s hard to say whether that risk is higher in one direction or the other: Avid river cruisers might say ocean cruisers are bound to be courted by the central docking locations and intimate environments on river cruise vessels, and ocean cruisers might feel that once river cruisers come onboard they’ll never go back to smaller vessels with fewer amenities and shorter itineraries.

But clearly for Viking and Crystal, the benefits outweigh any potential drawbacks. Perhaps rather than lose their customers to other companies, they’d rather keep them within their fold by offering river cruisers ocean vessels and by offering ocean cruisers river vessels — keeping them in the family, so to speak.

Crystal opens reservation books for river cruises

Crystal's luxury ships will sail the Danube and Rhine rivers plus several waterways in France.

Crystal Cruises on Monday unveiled details of its five river cruise itineraries and opened bookings.

Inaugural voyages for the five vessels will be exclusively available for booking to members of Crystal Society, the line’s loyalty program, from Nov. 30 through Dec. 15, 2015.

The newly acquired Crystal Mozart, a former Peter Deilmann vessel, will sail its maiden voyage on the Danube River on July 13 after an extensive redesign. Crystal will reduce the number of suites and increase suite sizes, transforming a 203-passenger vessel into a 160-passenger one.

It will sail the 10-night “Danube’s Capital & Wachau Valley,” visiting Austria’s Wachau Valley as well as Dürnstein, Melk, Linz and Vienna in Austria; Passau, Germany; and Bratislava, Slovakia. It will also sail the 11-night “Countries of Eastern Danube” that will call in Vienna; Esztergorm, Kalocsa, Budapest, and Mohacs, Hungary; Vukovar, Croatia; Romania’s Iron Gates; Belgrade and Novi Sad, Serbia; and Bratislava, Slovakia. The Crystal Mozart will also sail several Christmas market and holiday cruises through Austria, Germany and Slovakia.

Additionally, Crystal has ordered the construction of four yacht-style river vessels at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Germany — the 110-passenger Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler, and the 84-passenger Crystal Ravel and Crystal Debussy.

The Crystal Debussy will make its maiden voyage on the Seine River on June 4, 2017, after which it will sail five-, seven- and 10-night voyages along the Seine. The ship’s smaller size will allow it to dock near the Eiffel Tower and guests can extend their stay in Paris, according to Crystal.

The Crystal Bach will have it first departure on the Rhine and Moselle rivers on June 18, 2017, and will sail a 14-night itinerary with stops in Amsterdam and Antwerp, Netherlands; Basel, Switzerland; and Rudesheim, Nijmegen, Cologne, Cochem, Koblenz, Mainz, Speyer, Kehl, and Breisach, Germany. It will also sail a 10-night Christmas markets trip in the region.

The Crystal Ravel will sail the Garonne and Dordogne rivers in France’s Bordeaux region beginning Aug. 8, 2017. There will be a seven-night Bordeaux, the Wine Region & Beyond itinerary that will begin with two nights in Bordeaux, before cruising to Cadillac, Pauillac, Blaye and Libourne, France, before heading back to Bordeaux.

The Crystal Mahler will make its maiden voyage on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers on  Aug. 29, 2017, after which it will sail the 16-night “Grand Europe” itinerary, the longest offered by Crystal. It will include overnights in Budapest, Vienna, Passau and Amsterdam.

Crystal Cruises parent agrees to buy German shipyard

The parent company of Crystal Cruises has agreed to acquire leading shipyard Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Global cruise and resort company Genting Hong Kong is to pay €17.5 million for 70% of a new shipbuilding business and a 50% ownership of the shipyard’s land.

The company will complete the acquisition of Lloyd Werft subject to the fulfilment of certain final purchase conditions.

The move follows plans for massive expansion of Crystal Cruises with the introduction of Crystal Yacht Cruises in December, Crystal River Cruises and Crystal Luxury Air in 2017 and new cruise ships from late 2018.

Genting Hong Kong signed a letter of intent earlier this year with Lloyd Werft to build Crystal’s ‘Exclusive Class’ polar-class cruise ships.

Lloyd Werft will also build luxury river yachts to sail to destinations in France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Genting Hong Kong chairman and chief executive, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, said: “Lloyd Werft has built and lengthened six of the ships owned by an affiliate of the company and has the expertise to build a series of world class cruise ships for the company, which will include the ‘Exclusive Class’ vessels for Crystal Cruises.

“Ownership in Lloyd Werft will enable Genting Hong Kong to leverage on the shipyard’s technical expertise and their well-established and long track record in the shipbuilding industry.”

Crystal president and chief executive, Edie Rodriguez, said: “With such great anticipation for Crystal River Cruises and Crystal Exclusive Class ocean vessels, we are incredibly excited about Genting’s groundbreaking investment in the Lloyd Werft shipyard that will contribute mightily to Crystal Cruises’ expansion.”

Crystal Cruises announces massive expansion plan

Crystal Cruises announces massive expansion plan

Crystal Cruise's Dreamliner

By Hollie-Rae Merrick

Crystal Cruises has announced a massive expansion plan which includes three new ocean ships and the line’s entry into yachting and the growing river cruise market.

The luxury line, which currently operates just two ships, today announced that over the next three years it would introduce new ships, a yacht and a plane.

Crystal chief executive and president Edie Rodriguez has signed a letter of intent with a German shipyard to build three all-suite vessels.

Rodriguez said: “We continue to think bigger, aiming to create unparalleled luxury experiences and adventures for our loyal and new guests, who – like Crystal – continue to seek broader horizons and new perspectives on the world.”

“We are ecstatic to continue pioneering new areas of luxury travel. Crystal’s newly expanded fleet will truly be travellers’ passport to virtually the entire world.”

Crystal chairman Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay said: “Our intent is to make Crystal Cruises the core of what will become the world’s premier luxury hospitality and lifestyle brand portfolio, not only for the immediate future but for years to come.”

The ships will carry rubber zodiac boats for expedition style cruising and the three builds will also be designed with polar ice-rated hulls to allow them to travel in the Arctic and Antarctica.

The first all-suite, all balcony ocean ship, which is being built at the Lloyd Werft shipyard, is expected for completion in late 2018 and will accommodate 1,000 guests.

Tan Sri Lim added: “Our vision and revolutionary plans for Crystal’s ocean vessels requires us to partner with a premium shipyard that has the expertise and resources to deliver the ‘Crystal Exclusive Class’.

“Lloyd Werft is synonymous with successful world-class new builds and luxury mega yachts, including Luna, the second largest expedition private yacht in the world, measuring at 337 feet long.”

Each ship will have 48 residences on board and travellers will be able to buy the residences as a second home. Those guests will have access to an exclusive restaurant and reception, as well as other facilities which are yet to be announced.

The line will also enter the river cruise sector in 2017 with two custom-built ships. The ships will operate under the new brand Crystal River Cruises.

In addition, Crystal will also gain a new 62-passenger yacht this December. The yacht, called Crystal Esprit, will have a 32-foot long boat for zodiacs, jet skis, kayaks and a two-person submarine. This brand will be called Crystal Yacht Cruises and Rodriguez hopes to add more yachts to the fleet eventually.

The yacht will sail around the Seychelles, Dubai and the Adriatic Coast between 2016 and early 2018, visiting the likes of Croatia, Venice, Montenegro and Greece.

The expansion of Crystal, which comes four months after Genting Hong Kong purchased Crystal from Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, also includes the plan to acquire a 60-passenger Boeing 787 under the new Crystal Luxury Air banner.