Demand for river cruises is so high that the phone in Beth Schulberg’s office is constantly ringing.
On the other side are hopeful passengers who want to know what the river cruise boom is all about, said Schulberg, owner of Cruise & Travel Specialists in Lake Oswego, Ore.
And these customers have more options than ever before. About 20 river vessels debuted this year, and a similar number is expected next year. And looking beyond, 2027 will be a particularly important year for the rivers sector.
At least 25 new ships are expected to debut that year, and at least one new line is expected to launch. Celebrity River Cruises will enter the market with two ships and promises more ships soon.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises says its 2027 expansion will be its largest ever with three new ships and one charter vessel. Tauck said the two new constructions and new journeys scheduled for 2027 represent the largest growth in the company’s history. AmaWaterways plans to add three ships during the year, while Amadeus River Cruises, Viva Cruises and Emerald Cruises & Tours each add one new ship. Viking plans to add eight ships. Domestically, American Cruise Lines plans to add three ships, with the same number expected to be added in 2028.
Despite the growth, travel advisors are not concerned that the industry will reach saturation point.
“If you look at the numbers in the ocean, (the river) doesn’t even scratch the surface,” said Michelle Wiseman Kredi of Krusin with Kredi in Fort Lauderdale. “People are just starting to discover this type of travel. It’s a really sustainable and wonderful way to travel and immerse yourself in different countries. The American public is starting to understand that, too.”
Celebrity River Cruises is scheduled to launch in 2027 along with Celebrity Compass (pictured) and Celebrity Seeker. Photo Credit: Celebrity River Cruises
As the capacity of river lines increases, destinations are also being added. In 2027, Viking will expand to India’s Brahmaputra River, Viva will launch Po River cruises in Italy, and Riviera Travel will sail the Mekong River for the first time.
And according to Kredi and other advisors, the river cruise customer base is poised for expanded growth in 2027 with Celebrity’s entry into the industry.
Bethge President Laura Hodges said during a panel discussion at the CruiseWorld conference in Fort Lauderdale earlier this month that the line sold out priority access reservations in minutes for Royal Caribbean Group guests eager to test the waters.
Viking is scheduled to launch its first river cruise on the Brahmaputra River in India in 2027. Photo credit: Viking
But where will the ship dock?
The shipbuilding boom raises one concern for Schulberg.
“I’m not worried about having too much inventory. I’m worried about where on earth they’re going to dock,” she said.
According to CruiseMapper, a website specializing in cruise ship tracking, there are 687 river cruise ports in Europe. Competition for space is fierce, and ships are often tied together, forcing passengers to pass through neighboring ships to disembark.
An example of how difficult it is to find the best space was shared by Viking CEO and Chairman Torstein Hagen. He said in an earnings report that the line had struggled for seven years to secure docking rights in front of the Eiffel Tower.
As an advisor, Schulberg said it’s important to know where ships will dock because they may have to visit less desirable locations instead of prime locations in the heart of a destination.
One solution for the route would be to visit smaller, lesser-known ports, such as small ocean cruise ships, or for riverside communities to build new dock space to attract visitors. But Schulberg said concerns about overtourism in Europe may not mean all destinations are keen on adding cruise tourism infrastructure.
Kredi said he would also like to see more docking locations. But she added that the way to combat Europe’s limited space is to leave Europe.
Latin America has significant potential for river cruises, she said. Amazon river cruises are already growing in popularity with new options, and AmaWaterways has launched a river cruise in Colombia this year. Rudi Schreiner, board chairman and co-founder, said more growth is expected as a river cruise destination.
“We know our guests care,” Kredi said. “I think global expansion is genius.”
