The travel agency has been appointed as the UK representative for the European river cruise company Nicko Cruises, for both trade and direct sales.

The partnership will see Light Blue Travel, which is well-known for its USA river cruise tours with the American Queen Steamboat Company, move into the European river cruise sector to market Nicko’s four and five-star riverboats, sailing the Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Seine, Elbe and Douro rivers.

Nicko Cruises is one of the major players on European rivers, operating more than 30 vessels.

Cruises on the new five-star vessels, including Nicko Vision, launched in 2018, and Nicko Spirit, launching in 2020, will be marketed by Light Blue Travel.

The all-inclusive, eight-day English language cruises will include fine dining options, unlimited drinks, wifi and excursions and on-board gratuities, and can be booked with or without air or rail travel from the UK.

Tailor-made packages will also be available, with the addition of pre- and post-cruise nights.

To support trade sales, Light Blue Travel will be offering competitive commission levels, along with support including fam trips, face-to-face training and webinars. There will also be a launch trade incentive to reward those who make the first 50 bookings with £50 Lovetoshop Vouchers.

Commenting on the partnership, managing director Guido Laukamp said: “Nicko Cruises is very well-known and respected as a quality cruise operator across the German-speaking regions. However, the UK market is relatively untapped for us, but offers huge opportunity.

“With the introduction of English-speaking cruises and the appointment of Light Blue Travel, to raise awareness and generate sales, we look forward to welcoming more river cruise enthusiasts from the UK and Ireland.”

Light Blue Travel’s managing director Rupert Thomson said: “I am hugely impressed by Nicko Cruises’ product and portfolio, and with the unabated popularity of river cruising I see great potential for growth in the UK market.

“There is an increasing demand for holidays without flights and with rail travel to some of the European river cruise destinations being possible, I think this will be a major USP.”

In other news, Nicko Cruises will also be launching its new river cruise ship, MS Belvedere, next year.

For more information, visit lightbluetravel.co.uk.