CroisiEurope UK sales director John Fair has said that he feels encouraged by the number of bookings the company has had for its 2021 river cruises so far.

Fair said: “While our main focus remains on working with our agent partners and direct customers on bookings directly affected in 2020 by the pandemic, we now have 2021 fully on sale with a 15 per cent early booking offer in place.

“I’m pleased to say we have had some new bookings for various rivers in Europe (not huge numbers but a start), which is encouraging and shows that there is still a determination and willingness to book a 2021 river cruise.

“That is good not only for us as a brand, but also the industry in general.”

Fair added: “All current 2021 messaging is low key and via social media. There are no plans for a more detailed marketing plan at this moment in time but that will happen at some (as yet unspecified) date.”

CroisiEurope, Europe’s largest river cruise operator, has cancelled all cruises up to and including 15 June 2020 due to the global suspension of sailings as a result of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The cruise line’s 2021 itineraries are now fully on sale.

Sailings include European and worldwide rivers and canals, including the Rhine, Danube, Mekong, Seine, Loire, Douro, Guadiana, Guadalquivir, Irrawaddy, Amazon, Yangtze and Chobe.

Other river cruise lines have also noted positive demand for their 2021 programmes, including AmaWaterways, which has just opened bookings for its 2022 voyages, citing early demand.

Visit croisieurope.co.uk for more information.

Our view:

The cruise industry is facing an unprecedented and ever-changing situation, and we are committed to keeping you informed with the most up-to-date news. However, we firmly believe that the cruise industry will bounce back. When it does, we’ll be on hand to help you get back to selling the cruises that people love.