Don’t get us wrong, river cruising is already incredibly hip – in fact it’s so hip Australians are literally selling out river ships years in advance.
According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia’s latest figures, there was an incredible 62 percent swell in total Aussie passengers on river vessels in 2014 compared to the prior year.
This huge growth is part of the reason lines launch several new vessels every year.
But let’s be honest, while the sector is evolving, right now there’s a pretty clear demographic for river cruisers and it’s not exactly the younger crew.
G Adventures is hoping to change this ‘tude’ towards the sector by introducing new river cruising itineraries that cater specifically to its younger group of travellers.
The collection of nine new itineraries set themselves apart from existing tours by stripping away the all-inclusive element and adding more active land tours and opportunities to visit and support local communities.
Belinda Ward, G Adventures’ Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, recognised river cruising as a fast-growing segment and said the new itineraries open up the ‘wonderful style of travel’ to a wider range of travellers.
“We know Australian and Kiwi travellers love a water-based adventure, so we’ve expanded on the success of our Marine travel style to bring a small-group river-cruising experience – an innovative approach to a traditional form of travel.”
Belinda Ward, G Adventures Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand
Each vessel in the fleet is purpose-built to cruise its unique environment and features large open decks. Every cabin comes complete with windows and a private bath.
As with all G Adventures tours, group sizes are small (22 to 30 passengers) and travellers come from all over the world. A knowledgeable Chief Experience Officer who is locally trained to develop guests’ understanding of the wildlife, cultures and ecosystems of the regions leads every trip.
“Our river cruises encompass the best of G Adventures travel with small groups on a small vessel, they enable travellers to see the interior of some of the world’s greatest places,” she added.
The collection of nine itineraries vary in length from eight to 10 days and explore iconic river systems in Cambodia, Vietnam, India, France and Peru.
Departures begin in 2016, and include trips such as the Ganges River Cruise Encompassed, Burgundy River Cruise Experience and Mekong River Cruise Adventure which see travellers sailing through local villages and include land excursions such as winery tours, bike tours and visits to ruins and temples.
Earlier this year, G Adventures opened bookings for a brand new mass-market cruise up the West cost of South America. The cruise is scheduled to depart next year.
