Travel Advisors Find River Cruises a Bigger Opportunity Even With Hurdles
Photo Credit: The Viking Truvor on the Volga River in Russia Wikimedia Commons / Alexxx1979
Skift Take
Travel advisors would do well to thoroughly explain the differences between ocean and river cruises. While some travelers have concerns about getting on any kind of cruise, travel advisors could attract a lot more bookings if they quell any concerns travelers have about river cruises.
River cruises took an enormous beating during the pandemic as many of them — both in the United States and Europe — were cancelled. But as river cruise companies have announced plans to resume sailing in Europe this summer, such excursions are becoming a popular option for travelers.
And one of the major beneficiaries of the surge in interest in river cruises is travel advisors. Although travel advisors still face major hurdles in getting their clients back on ships, they're using the benefits of river cruises to overcome travelers' concerns after a year of bad press about the safety of ocean cruises. Advisors are pointing out that river cruise ships have fewer people on board, and the itineraries allow cruisers the freedom to deboard more often.
The numbers certainly back up many travel advisors' belief in a pent-up demand for river cruises. "Our bookings are 400 percent of this time last year and within 20 percent of pre-pandemic booking levels," said Annette Stellhorn, an
