Monday, June 7th, 2021
Restrained optimism
River cruise ships are running again
After the first ocean-going cruise ships, it is now time to cast off on the rivers as well. The first providers are starting today. Even if much is still uncertain: Bookings are picking up after a loss in 2020 worth millions. And even now the ships are not being used to full capacity.
The first ocean cruise ships have long since expired – now their smaller siblings are also daring a new start on the rivers when the corona numbers are falling. The “Nicko Vision” is to start this Monday from Frankfurt in the direction of the Rhine, as announced by the provider Nicko Cruises in Stuttgart. On June 15, the Bonn competitor Phoenix Reisen also wants to open the 2021 season in Cologne with its new cabin ship “Antonia” on the Rhine past the many castles with the destination Basel.
“We are in a spirit of optimism. We are happy that things are starting again,” says Nicko Cruises spokeswoman Sandra Huck. “Bookings have been picking up again since the beginning of May.” Nicolas Conte from the online travel agent kreuzfahrten.de confirms this for the entire industry: “People finally want to leave again, but they don’t yet know exactly how things will go with Corona.” The shipping companies “simply have to set a first date with their season starts, even if some things are still uncertain”.
Less need for advice than in the previous year
Phoenix Reisen boss Benjamin Krumpen speaks of less need for advice than in the previous year: In the meantime, presumably more than half of the river cruise guests – a rather older clientele – have been vaccinated twice. So they felt more secure. According to Krumpfen, Germany’s corona rules continue to apply on river ships. “Only with vaccinated guests is there a difference from before: You can now sit together at tables for four and six in the restaurant.”
Overall, both travel providers speak of a reduced occupancy rate of around 80 percent for safety reasons. There has been no vaccination in 2020 – the past year has severely affected river cruise providers. Nicko Cruises spokeswoman Huck reports: “In 2020 we had to cancel a total of 123 departures on the Rhine and tributaries as well as the Elbe.”
Phoenix Reisen Managing Director Krumpen says: “In 2020 we lost 450 to 500 million euros in sales and lost 50 million euros due to Corona. In 2021 we could, at best, be in the black.” Both companies, each with around 110 employees, do not provide complete sales and loss figures. Thanks in part to short-time work, however, nobody has been fired, they say in unison.
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