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In the past 10 years, the number of passengers taking river cruises has grown by 15 percent, and while the overall numbers (261,000 annually) pale in comparison to ocean cruising (10.7 million annually), the numbers of big-boat cruisers have only grown by 5.4 percent, according to Cruises Line International Association.
I recently had the chance to meet and talk with Torstein Hagen, the Chairman of Viking River Cruises, which won our annual Readers' Choice Award in 2010. (The 2011 poll is currently live through April 15 and you can cast your vote here; Viking is currently coming in second to Avalon Waterways.)
As ocean cruises have added on more and more services for customers (water slides, ice bars, zip lines), river cruises have had to be more selective with their offerings. On a 95-cabin boat there's only so much space, and there are very strict limitations in terms of length and depth. "We don't try to be everything to everyone," Hagen told me. (Viking, however, is forging a new path in 2012, with four new boats, the Longships, that have 200 square foot balconies attached to each and every cabin—an innovation in the river cruise world).
More central, perhaps, to the increasing appeal of river cruises is the true all-inclusive nature of the pricing structure. While ocean cruise lines sell their itineraries at a low cost, once you're aboard, you'll be upsold on everything from coffee beverages to merchandise. (The one exception is Royal Caribbean, which is now selling an 'all you can drink' cruise.) Meanwhile, a higher ticket price for a river cruise doesn't have any surprises: fuel surcharges, WiFi, daily shore excursions—they're all included.
When I asked Viking's Hagen if you could pick up your own bottle on one of your daily walks about a picturesque European town and bring it to dinner, he acknowledged that there technically is a $6 corkage fee, "but you'll never actually get charged. In fact," he said, waving his hand toward Richard Marnell, the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Viking, "let's just do away with that once and for all. Done!"
If you haven't yet voted for your favorite River Cruise Line, you can do so here.
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You may want to check your facts about the following statement:
"Viking, however, is forging a new path in 2012, with four new boats, the Longships, that have 200 square foot balconies attached to each and every cabin".
Not only are the balconies not 200 square feet, but there are several cabins that do not have a balcony at all.
Posted By Bill on March 29, 2011, 8:13 AM
"Meanwhile, a higher ticket price for a river cruise doesn't have any surprises: fuel surcharges, WiFi, daily shore excursions—they're all included."
Actually, there are surprises. Some lines add port charges. On the "included" shore excursions, they tell you the local guides do not get paid by the cruise; they want you to give them a hefty tip. Some "inclusion". Not only do they want you to tip the waiters and cabin attendants but also the captain, the engineer, the cooks. As as far as the "included" tour managers, they want you to give them BIG tips. I read that some river cruise lines will start adding fuel surcharges. Bottom line: many surprises and many advertised "inclusions" are actually extra cost.
Posted By Jerry Mandel on March 31, 2011, 2:11 PM
I would appreciate any information on the tipping on River cruises. This is my first River cruise.On the Ocean cruises we had the shipping line add $10-11 a day/person which was split with the entire crew. I asked our travel agent and really did not get a clear answer.
Posted By Emily on March 31, 2011, 6:26 PM