Cruise and Ferry Review - Summer/Spring 2020

1 0 4 The ships’ top decks will offer areas for relaxing in the sun, as well as spaces for exercising and playing games INTERV IEW Where the river flows Sam Ballard asks Chris Hackney about TUI Group’s first foray into the river cruise sector T raditionally viewed as the outdated side of an industry that was innovating at breakneck speed, the river cruise sector has lived life in the slow lane – until recently. Now when it comes to cruising, there are few places more exciting than the river industry. The rise of the rivers is a well-charted tale. As hardware improved, more travellers took notice and the advantages of river cruising became ever more apparent: the ability to dock in the centre of destinations, multiple cultural immersion opportunities and the chance to see incredible sights as the vessel sails through the heart of a country. The number of players has steadily increased, too. In 2020, TUI joined the list of a growing number of ocean ship operators that are launching their first river vessels. “Cruise is hugely exciting and has a lot of growth potential,” says Chris Hackney, managing director of cruise for TUI UK & Ireland. “River cruise continues to go from strength to strength and we think it’s the perfect time to introduce river cruising to TUI customers – both new and existing. Our river ships will have a relaxing and intimate feel and, given they are much smaller than ocean ships, launching them as adults-only vessels felt like a natural move for us.” TUI River Cruises will launch with three ships – Isla, Maya and Skyla – named after destinations with close associations to water and rivers. All three ships will be marketed primarily at British customers and cruise on Europe’s most popular rivers: the Danube, Rhine and Moselle. The line hopes to draw on the experience it has garnered from Marella Cruises, its UK ocean cruise company, according to Hackney. “We think it’s the perfect time to introduce river cruising to TUI customers”