CroisiEurope taps U.S. river cruise market

CroisiEurope, the largest and most experienced river cruise operator in Europe, has announced the addition of four new ships to its fleet for the 2016-2017 season, including two new river ships and two new canal barges.

MS Carmargue has been relaunched; it sails on the Rhone River.

Although many Americans are not really familiar with this line, it’s worth checking into. CroisiEurope has provided affordable European river cruises for nearly 40 years. Two years ago it decided to go after the American market in earnest, since there is high demand in the U.S. for European river cruises. CroisiEurope opened a U.S. call center in 2013 and has exponentially increased sales since then. In 2014, the company carried 200,000 cruise passengers, more than 8,000 of them Americans.

Based in Strasbourg, France, this family owned company operates almost 50 vessels that sail along Europe’s most famous rivers, canals and coasts. Guests are treated to an on-board gastronomic dining experience designed alongside Michelin-starred chefs, unlimited beverages, and free Wi-Fi. The line appeals to many nationalities, so most ships have an international atmosphere with an English-speaking crew.

MS Symphonie offers popular Danube River cruises.

CroisiEurope hopes to attract cruisers with lower prices (all services are handled in-house rather than contracting with third parties) and by offering different destinations than some of the larger, more well-known lines like Viking, Uniworld, and AMA Waterways.

CroisiEurope will have 39 vessels in its 2015 fleet following the additions of the Loire Princesse and the 132-passenger Gil Eanes on Portugal’s Douro River and the relaunch of the 104-passenger Camargue on the Rhone. 2016 will see the addition of four new vessels described below.

Elbe Princesse: This 80 passenger, innovative paddle wheeler will sail on the Elbe and the Moldau between Berlin and Prague beginning in Spring 2016. This ship will visit Berlin, Magdeburg, Wittenberg, Meissen, Dresden, Litoměřice and Prague; 

Apsara Princesse: This colonial-style boat will join the four other vessels already sailing along the Mekong. With a capacity of 60 passengers in 30 cabins, this ship will sail on the Mekong from Angkor to Ho Chi Minh City. This ship will visit Siem Reap, Angkor, Tonle Sap, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Tralach, Koh Chen, Phnom Penh, Châu Đốc, Sa Đéc, Cái Bè, Mỹ Tho and Ho-Chi-Minh City; 

Daniele Barge: Sailing along the Briare Canal between Burgundy and the Loire Valley, this ship boasts 12 contemporary cabins that can accommodate 24 people. This ship will visit Briare, Léré, Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre, La Chapelle-Montlinard, Marseilles-Les-Aubigny and Nevers; 

Dining room of MS Symphonie

 Deborah Barge: With 12 cabins and a capacity of 24 passengers, this modern ship will take an unprecedented route on the Garonne Canal. The ship will visit Toulouse, Castelsarrasin, Moissac, Valence-d’Agen, Agen, Serignac-Sur-Garonne and Damazan.

If you’re looking for a cruise in Europe, Mediterranean, Russia, Vietnam or Cambodia, one of the new ships may be just what you’re looking for. For more information about CroisiEurope, visit, www.croisieuroperivercruises.com or call (800) 768-7232.

Photos from croisieuroperivercruises.com