Cruise and Ferry Review - Summer/Spring 2020

2 4 3 EUROPE: V IEWPOINT Growing Europe’s river cruise sector Cruise Europe has created a dedicated new organisation to help river cruise lines work more closely with the region’s ports, destinations and other important stakeholders F ounded in 1991 to promote cruise destinations, ports and shore excursions across Northern and Atlantic Europe, Cruise Europe (CE) now has 145 members and associate members – and it expects to welcome more in 2020. Last September, CE launched a new River Cruise Europe (RCE) division, which has its own dedicated vision, mission and key objectives. RCE aims to develop a self-supporting community that is committed to promoting and growing Europe’s river cruise industry. Currently, there are 40 members, including river cruise lines, tour operators, insurance brokers and other related suppliers. Some are also members of CE. It’s only takes a small financial investment to become part of this community because we expect an in-kind contribution, such as members sharing knowledge or hosting events. RCE welcomed 25 members at its first meeting in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 21 November 2019. Committee leaders Monic Van der Heyden and Veit Hürdler gave introductory presentations and challenged members to come up with topics to discuss over the next few months. The three main ones include how to ensure docking places for all ships; how to collect and share data about ports, berthing spaces, destinations and nearby hinterland; and how we can share the story of the river cruise industry with municipalities and locals to encourage support for the sector. RCE members are invited to attend the annual CE Conference, which will take place in Edinburgh, Scotland from 17-19 March 2020. As always, we’ll be joined by multiple high-profile cruise executives who will share their expertise during presentations and panel discussions. We’re already expecting a record turnout. In addition, RCE will moderate a river cruise panel at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami, Florida this April. Here, delegates will be able to meet RCE and CE members from across Europe at the CE Pavillion, which is always a popular meeting place. CE will also bring the cruise industry together at its annual Monday reception before the main conference starts. This year, we’ll be at Shelborne South Beach from 4-7pm on 20 April. CFR Jens Skrede is managing director of Cruise Europe Jens Skrede: Cruise Europe Left to right: Honorary RCE member Gerhard Scoff joins RCE chair Monic van der Heyden and board member Veit Hürdler at the committee’s first meeting in Amsterdam