RIVER cruising is taking centre stage at Cruise Month this week, as Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) month-long promotional initiative enters its second week.
The river sector is being celebrated as one of the rising and most innovative areas of international travel, with CLIA MD Joel Katz highlighting the opportunities available.
“Cruise lines are introducing new ships, new itineraries and new experiences, which together make river cruising one of the most exciting areas in travel,” the CLIA head said.
“With the rise in popularity of river cruising has come greater investment in new ships, setting new standards in design and style,” he said.
“We have seen a succession of new ship launches this year, including newcomers on the Rhine and Danube in Europe, on the Douro in Portugal, on the Nile in Egypt and on the Magdalena in Colombia,” Katz added.
Nine major river cruise lines make up CLIA’s membership, covering almost all of the world’s major river cruise destinations.
They include specialist ships operating in rivers across Europe, as well as in Asia, North America, South America, and Africa.
Cruise Month runs throughout Oct, and includes a special social media campaign using the hashtag #LoveCruise; digital advertising aligned with the four weekly themes; Cruise Month coverage in the media; and more – see pages 3 and 4. MS