Riverside Luxury Cruises, part of the company that also has the well-known hotel brand Seaside Collection in its portfolio, has recently started offering luxury river cruises and with success. To convince potential travellers, Kees Kooijmans makes 3D films on board the cruise ships. He takes potential passengers by the hand virtually.
Riverside Collection
‘Ideal for travellers looking for a quick retreat’
The fledgling cruise line Riverside Luxury Cruises was founded less than two years ago with the ambition to focus on the higher river cruise segment with various recently renovated ships. Andrea Kunze, Director Sales & Marketing Europe at Riverside, says that this second official year of sailing, the cruise line is offering more than 170 departures on 52 different routes, with the duration of the voyages varying between 3 and 23 nights. “Our booking numbers are strong, with our 4-5 day river cruises proving to be particularly popular. These shorter trips offer guests the chance to enjoy personalized 24-hour butler service, exquisite meals, and unique excursions in a compact time frame. Its mix of luxurious accommodations and immersive experiences in scenic and historic locations appeals to travelers. In general, there is a high demand for our shorter, but equally luxurious river cruises.”
Target audience
Who mainly choose Riverside’s cruises to date? Kunze: “Our main target group consists of discerning travellers who are looking for luxury and personalised service on river cruises. This includes well-traveled individuals who appreciate high-end amenities, exclusive excursions, and gourmet dining. They value a boutique experience with a focus on comfort, privacy, and unique destinations. These travelers typically look for high-quality cruises that fit into their busy schedules while providing an immersive and unforgettable experience.” According to Kunze, the cruise line distinguishes itself from other river cruise operators by its “unparalleled focus on luxury and personalized service, unique experiences and star-level culinary offerings.” 
Development
Of course, the shipping company is still in the process of development and expansion, and therefore focuses mainly on guests who are looking for a luxury getaway without long-term commitments. “These flexible options are ideal for travelers who want to explore specific destinations or enjoy a quick retreat, which encourages bookings during quieter periods.” Kunze: ‘The Dutch market is certainly an interesting and important part of our business strategy. Our cooperation with retail partners is going well and we value our relationships.’ 
River cruise ship in 3D
‘Virtually explore the ship’
On a luxury river cruise on the Danube, scanning an entire ship for 3D videos. With this challenge, Kees Kooijmans (travel studio Travel Slide) boarded the Riverside Mozart on behalf of Captain Cruise to scan the entire ship with the Matterport Pro 3 camera. Among other things, he uses this to make 3D videos, which potential customers and agents can use to walk through the ship. As it were. Kooijmans boarded the ship in Passau for a short cruise to Vienna, including excursions. The Riverside Mozart is a spacious cruise ship, recently renovated and equipped with all conveniences and the latest gadgets, says Kooijmans. He mentions the lighting in the cabins, adjustable in four positions from bright to romantic, and as a surprising experience the heated toilet seat… The ship has spacious cabins of at least 20 square meters and the service level is high. The Riverside Mozart can accommodate up to 135 passengers and 90 crew members. The ship has four decks, four restaurants (for breakfast, late breakfast, lunch and dinner), a wellness area and a large gym. Along the way, Kooijmans visited the abbey in the town of Melk on the Danube, a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of Austria’s biggest tourist attractions. He also took a walk through Vienna. ‘For me, I had to get up at half past six every day, to scan the ship completely without people. But breakfast, at a table by the window with a view of the passing landscape, made up for a lot.’
3D scans
Kooijmans’ challenge: during this cruise, scanning the entire ship with his Matterport Pro 3 camera, a special camera with six lenses, which rotates six times per scan. ‘The best part is the 3D presentation that makes it possible to walk over and through the ship via your phone or computer screen.’ Finally, Kooijmans’ opinion after his trip: ‘In my view, a river cruise is less massive and more personal. A big advantage is that you always see land and the risk of getting seasick is minimal. It’s a fascinating city trip to different places, no traffic jams and without packing and unpacking your bags.’ 
CroisiEurope
“With 52 ships, we can offer flexible solutions.”
Since the shipping company is already present on all the main rivers in Europe, CroisiEurope’s growth opportunities lie not so much in expanding the destinations but more in making the product known ‘river cruises’, says Managing Director Gualtiero Togneri. ‘In some countries, the river product is still unknown, just like in the Netherlands. In Amsterdam, more than 2000 stops are made every year with masses of foreign tourists, but the Dutch themselves have hardly discovered the product yet.’
Bookings
Togneri says that summer is not necessarily the most important season for river cruises, and that it is precisely during this time that you can pick up great promos for customers, especially for families with children under the age of sixteen who can travel for free. “Because of the variety of our destinations, more than 170 routes in 37 countries, you can sail all year round. 2024 is already well booked – with 2019 already past 22% – and sales for 2025 are in full swing. One of the best-selling cruises is from Porto on the Danube towards Salamanca, between the Portuguese vineyards and five of the most beautiful locks in Europe. You have to book almost a year in advance for that.’
Theme cruises
Finally, he says that the Rhine and Danube cruises often attract an older audience due to the short distances and easy accessibility of cities, among other things. But other destinations such as the islands of Croatia, the French canals and rivers or distant destinations such as the Mekong or southern Africa attract a younger audience. ‘In addition, themed cruises are an important part of our offer. Think of musical cruises (e.g. with opera performance in Verona), Biennale in Venice, bridge cruises, French wine tastings or gastronomic cruises. Our ships with a limited capacity of 20 to 200 pax are ideal for this.’
advantages
Booking with a large shipping company like CroisiEurope has its advantages, according to Togneri. ‘With 52 vessels, we can offer a flexible solution in the event of low (or high) water levels. Instead of cancelling a cruise, we can switch passengers to another ship. Other advantages are our standard all-in with free drinks at the table and bar, French gastronomy and the possible use of Dutch guides.’
cooperation
‘We currently have a cooperation agreement with Captain Cruise and Bookunited, but unfortunately the current Dutch market is still driven by the high demand from end customers for sea cruises that are doing extremely well. A river cruise, which is still unknown to the retail sector, is not going to be offered as a fully-fledged alternative to a package holiday any time soon. Every agency has customers from the age of 40 in their database and they are eligible for our product. We have a repeater rate of 78% within three years.’
Practical tips
‘Within our collaboration with agents, we generally give higher commissions than what is applied on average in the market. Give our product a chance, for example by visiting a ship when our ship is in Amsterdam. A supervisor from the agency or someone else will join for free. We can send out a joint mailing for something like this. You can also contact us for other marketing proposals or collaborations.’ 
Advertorial
With the Jong Intra Vakanties on the water
River cruises: a special way to travel For many people, a river cruise is the ultimate combination of holiday and relaxation. You will be welcomed on board, unpack your suitcase once and make a tour of beautiful places. Through the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France and across the Danube. From short cruises close by to 17-day cruises far into Europe. A river cruise is the ideal way to see a lot by traveling at a relaxed pace. For example, you don’t have to worry about the routes, parking, and packing and unpacking your suitcase. Throughout the year, our team of specialists is looking for new ships and sailing routes. The team looks at the environment and the possibilities and, together with the shipping companies, they take care of the implementation of new programs. The programs of the existing trips are also reviewed every year. The range of river cruises within our portfolio is extensive. We offer cruises by:
- The Netherlands and Belgium
- Germany
- Across the Danube
- Across the Seine and Rhõne
- Christmas (Market) & New Year’s Cruises
De Jong Intra Vakanties has seen an increase in the popularity of Christmas, Christmas market and New Year’s cruises in recent years. Singles, girlfriends and couples who love to escape the hustle and bustle of Christmas at home and immerse themselves in the Christmas atmosphere of a city. During the Christmas period, the ships are completely transformed into a Christmas atmosphere. While enjoying a delicious drink and cozy music, the Christmas experience is central. De Jong Intra Vakanties offers a varied range of cruise ships. We offer 3-, 4-, and 5-star ships. Today’s ships are extremely comfortable and the kitchen brigades are perfectly trained. It doesn’t matter which ship you’re staying on, the crew is there for you. The advantages of a river cruise are great. Besides the fact that it is the ultimate way to travel carefree and relaxed, it is a big plus that the hotel travels with you. Meals are included and conviviality is guaranteed with onboard entertainment. The crew members are available 24/7. There is always a maximum number of passengers on board, so you don’t get the feeling that the ship is crowded. Finally, the river cruises have fixed prices and guaranteed departures. 
Featured: mps Horizon
A cruise with the family mps Horizon offers an unforgettable experience. On this popular and comfortable ship, which makes many departures for the Jong Intra Vakanties, we welcome many regular and many new guests every year. Bea, our tour guide, welcomes the guests with open arms and shows them around the ship and is there for all questions from fellow travelers. This way, your customer always has a point of contact for de Jong Intra Vakanties on board. The ship has three decks: the sun deck, the central hall and the promenade deck. On the promenade deck is a spacious lounge with a large bar and dance floor. Once a week, a musician on board provides a pleasant evening with live music (on the other evenings there are quizzes and entertainment). The elegant cabins have a modern and spacious appearance. The cabins all have a television, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, safe, large windows that can be opened and a bathroom with shower, toilet and sink. In short, a very relaxed way of travelling with all facilities together. To start the river cruise well-rested, it is possible to book a pre-night. The staff is happy to help, take you to your cabin where you will stay for the entire cruise and in the evening it is possible to have a drink at the bar.
Our tip
The 8-day river cruise with the mps Horizon from Rotterdam. Step on board in Rotterdam and be enchanted by the Romantic Rhine. The large cities and picturesque villages along the Romantic Rhine are a feast for the eyes. The cities of Nijmegen, Düsseldorf, Andernach, Koblenz, Cologne and Duisburg are on the program. In short, you can book a river cruise with de Jong Intra Vakanties. View our entire range of river cruises on SmartOnline or in the river cruises brochure.
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