Frommer's EasyGuide to River Cruising by Fran Golden

Author:Fran Golden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: FrommerMedia
Published: 2016-07-24T16:00:00+00:00

THE EXPERIENCE This is river cruising Euro-style, which is a different experience than river cruising built for Americans by American companies. If river cruising is compared to a floating hotel, CroisiEurope is like staying in a floating European bed-and-breakfast. Meals are European in taste and delivery, service is of a European standard, and entertainment has a European flare. You have to be up for the different way things are done across the pond.

CroisiEurope is run by three generations of the Schmitter family who founded the Strasbourg, France-based company in 1976. The Schmitters know river cruising and the European waterways well. And they also know they have some changes to make if they are going to continue to successfully court the U.S. market.

Since turning its focus more seriously towards the American market, CroisiEurope has been building and renovating ships that are more in line with the higher-quality interiors and amenities that Americans expect from European river cruises. The company starting building a new generation of vessels that kicked off in 2014 with the launch of the 84-passenger Lafayette on the Rhine—this new class of CroisiEurope ships feature sleek and modern interiors with colorful accents such as Missoni-printed blankets strewn across the beds and eclectic decor such as funky chandeliers and colorful furnishings. The new generation includes the 96-passenger Loire Princesse and the 80-passenger Elbe Princesse that launched in spring 2016. CroisiEurope is also investing in offering greater variety in its onboard meals and giving passengers more choice in general, such as with some new included excursions.

PASSENGER PROFILE Perhaps because of its more accessible pricing, CroisiEurope tends to attract a younger clientele, passengers in their 40s and 50s with the average age being about 50 years old. As mentioned, it’s an international mix, with about 20 percent coming from North America, 30 percent being English speakers from elsewhere (such as Brits and Australians), and 50 percent European passengers, mostly French and German speaking.

Dining options CroisiEurope vessels have one main dining room, which serves French and European cuisine. Breakfast is buffet style, and lunch and dinner served as sit-down, three-course meals paired with complimentary wine. In fact, all beverages including water, juice, coffee, tea, beer and wine are complimentary. The food on Croisi ships has been notoriously so-so compared to other river cruise lines The company traditionally offered one entree at lunch and dinner, compared to the overabundance of options on other lines. But CroisiEurope has acknowledged that it needs to step up its food and beverage program game and is beginning to offer more options and (hopefully) at a higher quality, too.

Activities CroisiEurope offers lectures and demonstrations during its cruises. When groups that speak different languages are traveling on the same vessel lectures will be provided according to language (so a Spanish speaking group will be offered a presentation or demonstration on a given topic at one time, and an English speaking group will be offered a lecture at another time).

CHILDREN’S PROGRAM CroisiEurope allows children as young as infant and toddlers on

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