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River cruise market has huge potential
The market for river boat cruising has only scratched the surface and could represent as little as 5% of future demand, believes Kristin Karst, co-owner and vice president of the California-based Amadeus Waterways.
“We’ll be adding two more ships in 2008, 2009 and 2010,” she said. The cruise line’s oldest ship is circa 2006.
Twelve different itineraries are being operated this year. They include a 7-night Holland and Belgium Tulip Time Cruise, two Rhine and Moselle cruises, several Danube cruises combined with Prague, plus three cruises of Central Europe featuring Serbia, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria, with a 3-night extension program to Istanbul.
She says one reason for the cruise line’s popularity is its luxury features that include:
- Free internet.
- Free bicycles and the possibility for passengers to get off the ship and peddle to the next stop.
- All staterooms have an Infotainment System with Internet, Movie and Music Library & English Language TV stations.
- The cruises are all-English with a non-smoking environment.
- Free and unlimited wine and beer with meals.
- About 83% of the rooms have balconies.
Rudi Schreiner, the former President of Viking River Cruises Inc. and Jim Murphy, the former owner and CEO of Brendan Worldwide Vacations, launched Amadeus Waterways in 2002.
The company focuses on maintaining a strong business relationship with its select and well-known tour operators and specialized travel agents in the US, Canada, Ireland, UK, Scandinavia and Australia.
The cruise line is popular with tour operators and agents.
“We’re a family run business and also we are known as a luxury product at a low price,” said Ms Karst.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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