Disney Corporation, an ocean cruise operator, will enter river cruise business in 2016. The move is tipped to be a game-changer in the river cruise segment, as it will be the first family-oriented product in the sector. Alan Lam reports.
In partnership with AmaWaterways, Disney has announced that it is to offer family-focused river cruises on the Danube from the 2016 season.
The planned seven-night itinerary will cover the distance between Budapest in Hungary and Vilshofen in Germany on a new AmaWaterways vessel, namely AmaViola, which is being custom built for the family market with cabin configurations that can accommodate up to five passengers. Disney is also designing shore excursion programmes with families in mind.
The ship will have four suites with beds and pullout sofas that can hold a family of four, and chairs that can be converted into an extra bed. There will also be six sets of adjoining cabins that allow members of families to share accommodation spaces.
The new venture aims to open up a new market in the river cruise business, as until now, it has been catered for adult travellers only. “We think the Disney brand will bring families to the river cruising category,” said Ken Potrock, the Disney executive in charge of this project, “and we think that’s very exciting development for the industry.”
The cruises will be sold via Adventures by Disney, the corporation’s tourism division. Initially there will be five departures, on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th of July, as well as a Christmas cruise departing 22nd of December. The ports of calls will be Vilshofen, Passau, Linz, Melk, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. Passengers can also add an optional two nights of sightseeing tour to Prague at either end of the sailing, extending it to a nine-night itinerary.
The cruise line will offer archery, strudel making, historic castle visits, interactive Disney games and an array of other family-orientated activities both on board and on land. In all there will be five or six activities to choose from each day, far more than those found on most other current river cruises.
In addition to the ship’s regular staff, Disney will provide eight “adventure guides” on board each sailing.
The cruise is recommended for children of age eight upwards, with a minimum age limit of four.
Prices will be $4,179 per person, based on double occupancy.
Starting small, Disney has plans to expand this new venture in the coming years. This will be a transformational development, perhaps the beginning of a new era in the river cruise sector.