Calling all Yanks: Europe river cruises

Australian-based Scenic Cruises is bringing its high-touch, all-inclusive, luxury Europe river cruise experience to the U.S. market, reaching out to agents and consumers in a bid to grow the share of its customers who come from the States.

With a new office and dedicated sales team led by VP of sales and distribution Carl Monticelli, Scenic this week is visiting agents and customers in New York and California to officially roll out its 2014 schedule.

At last night’s presentation on Long Island, Monticelli and his team showed off Scenic’s two new ships, the Scenic Jade and the Scenic Gem, which bring the line’s total to 10.

New this year is the Scenic Tailormade program, a GPS-based guided tour system that lets travelers plan their own on-shore excursions, follow the directions, and get a running commentary of the sights around them.

A slightly lower-tech new product, electric-assisted bicycles, helps you get around, and pushes you uphill if you get tired.

There’s also two new ships, the Scenic Gem and the Scenic Jade, plus a completely refurbished Scenic Tsar.

The Gem will carry 123 passengers on a new Gems of the Seine River Cruise, an 11-day round-trip from Paris that will visit Normandy in time for the 70^th anniversary of D-Day.

The ship has been specially designed to meet French navigational requirements that allow it to operate in the tidal river around Normandy, so it can get closer than many ships, Monticelli said.

To the east, the Tsar will take 125 guests, 93% of them in rooms with balconies, to Russia and the Ukraine.

All Scenic Cruises are all-inclusive—and that means all meals in all dining rooms, including all specialty restaurants, and all shore excursions.

Also free are wi-fi and in-room minibars; wine, beer and soft drinks; butler service; and transportation to and from the airport.

Each ship holds about 150 passengers and has a high percentage of balconies.

While virtually all of its guests are English-speaking, until now Scenic’s customers have been about 80% Australian. Another 15% come from Canada, where Scenic opened offices five years ago.

About 5% have come from the United States through the Canada office, but that’s a figure the company hopes to grow quickly.

Scenic still is developing its U.S. travel-agent incentive program, which it will announce shortly, and also is talking to U.S. incentive houses about meeting and incentive programs for corporate customers, Monticelli told TravelMole.

Several Swiss companies have taken groups around Europe on the intimate, upscale ships, he said.

By Cheryl Rosen