CRUISES - RIVERSIDE LUXURY CRUISES IMPOSES ITS LUXURY ON THE WORLD OF RIVER CRUISES (Germany)
At IMEX Frankfurt 2024, Denis Kiesow, Sales Manager Europe for Riverside Luxury Cruises, talked to us about the strengths, ambitions and new products of the Hamburg-based river cruise company in Europe. |
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CRUISES - RIVERSIDE LUXURY CRUISES IMPOSES ITS LUXURY ON THE WORLD OF RIVER CRUISES (Germany)
At IMEX Frankfurt 2024, Denis Kiesow, Sales Manager Europe for Riverside Luxury Cruises, talked to us about the strengths, ambitions and new products of the Hamburg-based river cruise company in Europe. |
Category: Europe - Germany - Industry economy
- Tourism
Article written by Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine on 2024-06-13
Riverside Luxury Cruises, a division of Seaside Collection, is the fruit of a passion for the hotel industry inherited from their father by Hamburg residents Gregor and Anouchka Gerlach. The marine and sailing environment, for which they have always had an affinity, gave them the idea of creating floatinghotels on Europe's rivers.
In January 2022, the bankruptcy of Crystal Cruises provided an opportunity to bring their idea to life. Seaside Collection, which by then had hotels in Europe and the Maldives, acquired five boats from the former Crystal Cruises fleet.
A fleet of elegant boats
The Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Ravel and above all Crystal Mozart formed the first exceptional fleet of the luxury river cruise company, Riverside Luxury Cruises. After being renamed, all now form a harmonious fleet, and have been or are being included in a refurbishment programme to ensure the comfort and modernity expected by passengers.
The flagship of the fleet, Riverside Mozart, formerly Crystal Mozart, has undergone a major refurbishment and was relaunched under the Riverside banner in April 2023. This iconic boat now sails the Danube, offering itineraries from three to fourteen nights, and crossing Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, and Romania. With 81 cabins, the Mozart can accommodate 162 passengers, in suites ranging from 20 to 82m², “the largest, the Owner Suite” describes Denis Kiesow.
The two sister boats, Riverside Ravel and Riverside Debussy, with a capacity of 55 suites, made their debut under the colours of Riverside Luxury Cruises in August 2023 and March 2024, and now sail the Rhine, Rhône and Saône rivers respectively.
As for the Riverside Bach and Riverside Mahler, they are chartered and do not form part of the itineraries offered by the company.
Comfort and personalized service on board
Riverside Luxury Cruises' commitment to excellence is reflected in the range of services on offer. As well as a cruise where everything is included - meals, drinks, tips, transfers, and even some excursions - the facilities on board are designed to enhance the experience.
As Mozart is the masterpiece of Riverside's collection, her passengers can enjoy a wellness centre with spa, saunas separated for men and women, steam room and gym, and an indoor pool with counter-current swimming, not to mention the outdoor pool. Debussy and Ravel offer a gym and a spa with massages and beauty treatments.
While the suites on board Riverside are spacious, ranging from 17 to 82m², which Denis Kiesow says is “very unique for river cruises”, all the suites also include a butler service. “It's quite nice to have them, but not every guest chooses the Butler,” says the European Sales Manager.
In addition, the emphasis is of course on exceptional culinary experiences, with a menu of local and seasonal products that evolves with each stopover. The experiences vary, and passengers can, for example, enjoy a barbecue prepared on one of the outside decks. Service is at the heart of the experience, and with a staff-to-passenger ratio of one to two, the quality of service is second to none.
Exclusive excursions
For Denis Kiesow, Riverside's competitive advantage lies in its unique immersive and cultural experiences. The itineraries are designed to allow passengers to discover the hidden treasures of European cities, from cycling tours and wine tasting in the Beaujolais valley, to visits to historic châteaux along the Rhine, and gastronomic explorations in Lyon and Avignon.
Architecture and design, art and cuisine, history and nature are all themes explored on each cruise. Guides, experts, and lecturers embark on each boat to host evening events or accompany cruise passengers on special excursions.
Strategic expansion
The acquisition of the Crystal Cruises boats is part of Riverside Luxury Cruises' bold expansion strategy. The aim is to position the company as a leader in the luxury river cruise market. By diversifying and broadening its itineraries, as well as upgrading its recently refurbished boats, Riverside Luxury Cruises is making its mark on the most demanding cruisers.
Thanks to this expansion, Riverside is also differentiating itself from other cruise operators by offering combined itineraries on several rivers. Passengers can extend their journey by combining itineraries on the Danube, Rhône, Saône and Rhine.
This growth is justified by Riverside Luxury Cruises' ambition to redefine the standards of luxury river cruising.
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