The new routes and players in the 2018 river cruise market
The river cruise 2018 market evolves apace with more players, European routes and vessels.
Tauck’s trio of routes
Tauck has three new river cruises for 2018. Sailings include routes between Krakow and Berlin, Milan and Amsterdam, and Paris to Provence. These new itineraries include shore excursions such as dinner in a historic Polish salt mine, a gala Imperial Evening in Vienna, a private boat ride on Lake Como and a pastry class at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. The line has also redesigned two river vessels, ms Esprit and ms Treasures.
Visit:Â tauck.com.au
Riviera for less
British river cruise company in 2018 Riviera Travel continues to make forays into the Australian market withs its firms stance on competitive pricing. The company, a major player in the UK over the last 30 years, doesn’t “discount” or surcharge, but prides itself on fare transparency.
The company operates 250 cruises on nine European rivers. On Riviera ships, tips and alcohol are not included in the fare. However every cabin has tea and coffee-making machines and the line waives single-supplement fees.
Visit:Â rivieratravel.com.au
Crystal Bach makes waves for river cruise in 2018
Luxury line Crystal Cruises’s second river cruise ship in 2018, Crystal Bach, is turning heads as the first of four Rhine-class ships planned for river cruising. The all-balcony, all-suite vessels will have butlers for every room category, king-sized beds, walk-in closets, Etro robes and slippers, wall-mounted flat-screen HD TVs and Nespresso machines. Crystal’s farm-to-table, Michelin-inspired cuisine will be served in multiple, open-seating eateries: the elegant Waterside Restaurant, Bistro cafés and the exclusive Vintage Room and the Palm Court. Earlier this year, Travel + Leisure voted Crystal River Cruises as the World’s Best River Cruise Line.
