Hot-ticket river cruise products for 2021

A number of surveys in recent months have shown river and small ship cruising to be a big seller for 2021 as some ocean cruisers seek to avoid larger ships and the unpredictability of international travel.

And high-end travel sellers say the some of the hottest-ticket items right now are for river barges and Turkish schooners, both of which offer easy buyout options for family and friends who are leery of mingling with strangers.

Liam Dunch, who oversees Europe products for Abercrombie Kent, says its river barge offerings are more popular than ever. He compared them to floating private villas.

“Barge cruising encompasses so much of what we’ve learned to appreciate over the last few months at home,” he said. “It’s all about traveling at a slower pace to immerse yourself in one region and spending time outside: biking along picturesque towpaths, strolling through uncrowded local villages or simply watching the passing scenery from a cozy deck chair.”

He said chartered barges offer one of the most relaxed ways to  experience Europe away from the crowds.  And with full buyouts, guests can direct their own menus and itineraries and make tweaks as they go.

“One highlight is relaxing as a private chef prepares farm-to-table meals with the freshest ingredients from local markets, served al fresco on deck,” Dunch said.

The barges can carry as few as six guests or up to 18. Prices for seven-day, private charters begin at $3,438 per person and include cabins with ensuite bathrooms, meals, beverages, guided sightseeing and entry fees.

George Morgan-Grenville, founder of the U.K.-based luxury tour operator Red Savannah, said another popular private cruise product, and one they expect to expand due to ever-growing interest, is gullets: small, wooden Turkish schooners that also usually carry between six and 18 guests.

“They have sails but are typically powered by engines,” he said of gullets, calling them a “brilliant way” to discover the Lycian coast in Turkey or the islands of Croatia.