When it begins cruising next year on a former Crystal River Cruises ship, a German luxury hospitality group's newly launched river cruise line aims to attract both a familiar and younger clientele.
The former Crystal Mozart will be the site of the first European river cruises when it is renamed theRiverside Mozart. The double-wide vessel will be home to many of its Crystal crew members.
The availability of the ship was a selling point, but it was not the main reason for wanting the Mozart.
The Crystal River Cruises' first river ship set the standard of luxury on the river, according to Halboth. That is the intention of the collection. They want to have the same level of hotels on the river.
It's related.
The 35-year-old ship, originally built for Peter Deilmann Cruises, will retain most of its structural components and signature amenities while undergoing renovations, with only a few new design elements being incorporated into the refurbished vessel.
The ship will feature butler service for every suite, four restaurants, an indoor swimming pool with a current machine, a hot tub, saunas and steam baths, a large gym and two pop-up bars on the top deck.
There won't be any cosmetic touch-ups on the riverside Mozart because of its parent company and predecessor. Halboth said that some of the former Crystal River Cruises staff will return to their previous roles at the hotel and restaurant.
She said returning Crystal guests would like it.
There were former Crystal employees in Europe who came over toRiverside. The level of luxury on the river will be delivered by being able to build upon the Crystal story and make it unique in the future.
There are plans to expand and possibly buy more of Crystal's four former ships, which have not yet been reported as sold, but the company is considering all options to grow its fleet.
The river cruise client is usually older than the younger market. The company has offices in the U.K. and Europe, as well as a new one in the U.S., which it hopes will bring in the European, American and Canadian markets.
Halboth said they wanted to go younger than the normal luxury market and target people in their 40s and 50s. We won't wait until people are 60 to get them on this product. We want them to join us soon.
The company said it will need to rely on travel advisors. Instead of offering its base commission of 18% this year, Riverside Cruises is currently offering 21% commission on all future bookings to jump start interest. Advisers at the ASTA River expo will be introduced to theRiverside Mozart.
"They can go back to their former Crystal clients, which are great targets, but also if they sell any luxury small-ship cruises -- Sea Dream or a Regent or a Silversea -- these are going to be great targets."
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