NATIONAL Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is one of many ocean lines that has launched European river cruise itineraries for the coming years (CW 14 May).
However Lindblad is not simply following others into the market, Vice President Lesa Bain told Cruise Weekly.
The expedition specialist chooses new markets to expand into based on the opportunities available, and its recently inked partnership with Transcend Cruises (CW 07 May) is a perfect fit, she explained.
“[Lindblad’s Director of Expedition Development Charter Ships Bill Robinson] was very specific on the type of ship he was trying to find for rivers in Europe…[he] wanted to look at rivers from a more thoughtful approach,” Bain explained.
This patience has paid off, with the first two departures, setting sail on the Rhine from Apr already sold out.
Transcend’s 120-guest Connect (pictured), the ship that will operate the new European river itineraries, answered all the questions Lindblad was asking.
These included sustainability and responsible tourism considerations, local employment, power consumption, and more.
“There are no single-use plastics, which we don’t have on any of our ships, and haven’t for many years,” Bain added.
Developing the correct product is just as important as having the correct ship, Bain added, with Lindblad aiming for “more thoughtful” itineraries.
The cruise line wanted to focus on developing full days in-destination, she said, as opposed to the half-day tours operated by other river brands.
“The best way to think about everything we do is thoughtfulness, about how we look at the place,” Bain explained.
“It’s feeling like you’ve understood it and you’ve seen it, you’ve been a part of it…those itineraries are certainly going to allow that because they’re a little bit slower-paced.”
Highlights of Lindblad’s first European river season will see it sail from Amsterdam to Brussels and Cologne to Basel. MS
