River cruising set for unparalleled growth

Graham Clubb the UK Chairman of Viking River Cruises has announced the companies intention to increase the size of their fleet from 21 to 50 vessels within the next five years.

He also said that Trade sales saw an 80% rise in 2007 and that Viking River Cruises intend to introduce ‘no-fly’ cruises, using Eurostar from the UK, on the rivers Seine, Rhone and Rhine.
Additional flights from more regional airports are also being introduced.

Stuart Perl, managing director of Peter Deilmann River and Ocean Cruising, said: “We are looking at increasing the size of the fleet specifically because of the increase in demand from the UK market.”

9 river cruise vessels are currently operating alongside their ocean-going cruise ship.

The number of passengers from the UK who took a river cruise last in 2007 was around 118,000, with Viking cruises prices averaging about £2,200 per person cruise-only rates with Peter Deilmann came in at around£1,400 pp.

Revenues being much higher than the £1,000 average cost of a cruise on Ocean Village, or £1,500 with P&O Cruises.