How to Sell River Cruises

20.07.2023 - 11:52 / travelweekly.com / Kristin Karst / Cruises

Here are some key selling points travel advisors need to know about immersive river cruise experiences, cruise clientele expectations and popular destinations. 

The river cruise market continues to grow with new river cruise ships and destinations being added each year. If you are a luxury travel advisor who is not currently selling river cruises then you are missing out on a lucrative market segment. It is a predominantly all-inclusive product that appeals to travelers seeking destination-focused experiences while traveling on the rivers in numerous parts of the world. 

Brandon Cosinteno, co-owner and luxury travel advisor of Live Luxe Travel Co., an independent affiliate of Andavo Travel, a Virtuoso Agency in Indianapolis, Ind., is experiencing strong river cruise sales for his agency. “Our river cruise business has continued to grow over the past 12 months and looking forward, we continue to see an increased level of interest in river cruises,” he says. “We saw a lot of our luxury clients plan trips closer to home during 2021 and 2022, but now that the world is fully back open, they are looking for new experiences.”

Tourism board representatives among river cruise destination offerings agree with the strength of the river cruise market. “The river cruising business has been growing for decades in Germany,” says Ricarda Lindner, regional manager The Americas for the German National Tourist Office. “It is simply an attractive form of traveling for a lot of people. They can visit multiple destinations without having to change accommodation and without the hassle of packing or unpacking in each destination. Different English-speaking options of shore excursions are another plus and the vessels offer a great environment and comfort.”

Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president of AmaWaterways, says river cruising is a good choice for varied types of clients. “River cruising has certainly become a more mainstream vacation option that many travel advisors are proposing to all types and ages of travelers,” she says. “While river cruising did start off attracting retired travelers with time and money to spend, it has really become a very attractive option for anyone interested in discovering four or five countries during a seven-night period. For many people who are able to work remotely and take advantage of our free WiFi, combining several river cruises into longer stays allows them to get maximum benefit from the cost of airfares.”

Cosinteno adds that “river cruises are great for couples and seasoned travelers who want a different and unique experience. You can sell river cruises to a large portion of your client base if you sell it right.”

Betsy Patton (CTC,