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