Travel agents have welcomed the news that ultra-luxury cruise line Explora Journeys is planning to launch river cruises for the first time, with the inaugural itineraries due to go on sale next year.
However, several have told Indulge they’re concerned that too many operators are entering the market, which could cause overcrowding on some rivers.
It is already difficult for cruise lines to get berths in Porto on Portugal’s popular Douro river, they said, with some being forced to moor far from the city centre.
Ponders Cruise & Travel Managing Director Clare Dudley said: “Explora entering the market is an exciting move, but I do worry that rivers will become saturated.
“It is good to have more choice, and Explora’s ocean cruise ships are exceptional, so it is exciting to see what they will do differently on the river.
“There certainly seems to be demand for more river cruises, but my concern is that there aren’t enough places for passengers to embark and disembark and ships will end up too far out of town.
“For example, Porto is a highlight of a cruise on the Douro, but already some ships can’t get into the city and you don’t want clients to have to be coached around.”
Luxury travel agent Kirsty Van Wyk of KVW Luxury Travel, which is part of the Experiential Travel Group said: “I like Explora, but my biggest reservation is overcapacity on the rivers.
“We’ve already got Celebrity launching next year and part of the USP for river cruising is that it not chokka, but already I’ve had a client who booked a balcony cabin on the Danube and they woke up alongside another ship. That’s frustrating.”
While she said she was sure cruise lines will be able to fill the additional capacity, Kirsty said there are already many luxury cruise lines for customers to choose from in Europe.
“But at the end of the day, if you’re an ocean cruise line with a massive client base, I guess it’s a no-brainers to move into river cruising.
“And when you look at longhaul, there might be more need for additional ships, as long as the destination can handle extra capacity and it doesn’t cause issues for the local populations.”
One agent, who didn’t wish to be named said: “The Douro is definitely struggling with too many ships already. It’s only a short river, but it’s very popular.
“In some ports, on some rivers, you can have multiple ships docked alongside each other. River cruising is an excellent way to travel, but you don’t want it to become too crowded.”
Explora Journeys has yet to announce its itineraries or give an indication of the number of river ships it will have. However, Celebrity Cruises has confirmed it plans to have up to 20 river ships by 2031, with the first two launching next August.
This week, Saga said it was also planning to offer more river cruises, after seeing its profits increase more than 50%.
Panache Cruises Chief Commercial Officer Anna Perrott said Explora would likely bring new customers into the river cruise market.
“We are incredibly excited to see Explora Journeys enter the river cruise market. In a relatively short space of time, Explora has made a significant impact in disrupting the ultra-luxury ocean cruise sector, bringing a fresh approach, exceptional product quality, and a new audience to cruising,” she told Indulge.
“We believe they have the potential to do the same within river cruising, helping to elevate the sector, attract new guests, and further strengthen the appeal of luxury river travel. It’s a very exciting development for both the industry and consumers.”
Managing Director of cruise.co.uk Tony Andrews said: “We are thrilled that Explora Journeys have made the decision to enter the river cruise market. Their proposition is top quality, and this new venture will be a real treat for river cruise travellers.
“New brands can also introduce river cruising to customers who may not have considered it before, including those who already enjoy ocean cruising. For agents, this creates opportunities to reach new audiences and offer existing customers something different.”
Image shows cruise ships on the Douro
