River Cruising Grows, With Plenty of Room for Newcomers
Photo Credit: G Adventures' river boat for small group tours on the Amazon River in Peru. G Adventures
Skift Take
River cruising is evolving as the former niche grows to meet demand from cruisers who are tired of ocean cruising. Smaller companies can innovate and experiment in river cruising more readily than in ocean cruising, creating a diverse set of experiences for cruisers.
Ocean cruising is in the midst of unprecedented growth, with dozens of new ships set to sail by 2020. Quietly, however, the river cruise industry is undergoing a similar transformation.
Longtime leaders like Viking River Cruises continue to grow in order to meet demand while driving down costs for their cruisers. Newcomers and smaller players alike are adding to their presence in the market too, bringing more intimate tours and ship experiences to their passengers
"River cruising still has a long way to go," said Richard Marnell, senior vice president of marketing at Viking Cruises. "The percentage of people who have tried taking a river cruise is way lower than the percentage who have tried an ocean cruise."
The statistics surrounding global river cruising show that the the industr
