Does the photo above look dated? Indeed it is. What you’re seeing is stateroom 135 on Peter Deilmann’s Mozart. This was my stateroom on a Danube river cruise in 2008. I enjoyed the ship, which you can read about (and see more photos) in my story, Size Matters: Peter Deilmann’s Mozart.

Mozart has had quite the journey since then. Two years after my trip, Peter Deilmann ceased operations, leaving the so-called “Queen of the Danube” sidelined for a few years. But like a cat with nine lives, Mozart would sail again. In 2015, Crystal Cruises purchased and extensively refurbished her, transforming the vessel into a true luxury river cruise experience. I was there for Mozart’s christening in 2016 and wrote about her remarkable transformation in Crystal Mozart: What Sets Her Apart.

Then came another turning point. Crystal Cruises went bankrupt during the global pandemic, once again leaving Mozart’s fate uncertain. But in 2022, Riverside Luxury Cruises stepped in, giving new life to the legendary ship. On Sunday, I’ll step aboard the familiar vessel once more for a four-night Danube sailing. I’ll share what’s changed for Mozart and what remains the same.

For now, I can say this: Travel advisors here in Vienna are raving about Mozart. They’re attending the American Society of Travel Advisors’ (ASTA) River Cruise Expo, an event showcasing most major river cruise companies. Some advisors are staying onboard the ships docked along the Danube, while others, like me, are in hotels nearby, but we’re all invited to lunches, dinners, cocktail hours, and ship tours. The Expo provides an invaluable opportunity for travel advisors and media to compare ships and see how each cruise line sets itself apart.

Challenges Facing River Cruising & Silver Linings

Beyond ship tours, ASTA’s River Cruise Expo featured educational sessions, panels, and keynote speakers discussing key industry trends. Economic concerns – such as the fear of recession – were on the minds of some operators. However, the travel advisors I spoke with reported no slowdown in bookings. In fact, many are busier than ever. That said, one advisor mentioned that a client had recently downgraded their cabin category to save money, a sign that some travelers are now watching their budgets.

Another topic of discussion? Overcrowding in popular ports. Authorities in Amsterdam announced plans last year to half the number of annual river cruise visits by 2028. With more ships entering the market, docking space is becoming a critical issue in many of the popular destinations. In some ports, ships already tie up side by side, meaning your balcony view could be another ship’s balcony – giving new meaning to the old AT&T jingle, Reach Out and Touch Someone. A potential silver lining? Increased demand may lead to the discovery of lesser-known river towns, offering fresh destinations for seasoned river cruisers.

Another trend that caught my attention was what may be a slight shift in river cruise seasonality. Avalon’s Pam Hoffee showed a slide during her presentation reading “Summertime and the Sailin’ Is Easy | Quieter Cities | Better Deals | Active Experience.” Hoffee suggested that we’d all done too good a job promoting the shoulder seasons as the ideal time to river cruise and avoid the crowds. Indeed, demand has shifted somewhat to spring and fall. As a result, summer has become something of a low season. Savvy travelers may find unexpected opportunities to cruise during this time.

Water levels were another hot topic, especially given that the Danube has been experiencing low water levels this month, making navigation difficult for some ships. At a dinner last night on AmaBella, AmaWaterways’ co-founder and CEO Rudi Schreiner, told us that such disruptions affect only about 5 percent of river cruises. “That’s a low percentage,” one advisor acknowledged. Cruise lines have also become more adept at handling these challenges, implementing almost seamless ship swaps to ensure minimal disruption for travelers.

During the same dinner, one advisor pointed out that our week in Vienna marked five years since the World Health Organization declared Covid a global pandemic. It’s remarkable that most river cruise companies navigated and survived the difficulties presented by the pandemic. As a show of confidence in the future of river cruising, Celebrity Cruises recently announced that it would throw its hat in the arena by launching 10 river ships beginning in 2027.

One Company I Knew Little About: Learning More About Amadeus

At a lunch on Amadeus Nova, I had an interesting conversation with Marcus Leskovar, executive vice president of Amadeus River Cruises, about the company’s unique business model. Unlike most competitors, Amadeus unbundles certain aspects of the river cruise experience – shore excursions, for example, are not included. Gratuities, however, are included. Additionally, Amadeus directly hires its hotel and food & beverage staff rather than outsourcing to companies like Sea Chefs, which handles hotel management, catering and more for several river cruise companies. According to Leskovar, these factors allow Amadeus to offer fares that are 20 percent to 30 percent lower than competitors. One travel advisor told me that she suggests Amadeus to her clients who have sticker shock when shopping other companies. I found Amadeus’ approach intriguing and look forward to making deeper comparisons in the future.

This week in Vienna has been a whirlwind, and what a lovely host this city has been. No wonder it consistently ranks among the world’s most livable cities – it’s certainly a place I could call home. But all good things come to an end and so does my time in Vienna.

Auf Wiedersehen Wien!