Lindblad Expeditions CEO Natalya Leahy on expanding into Europe river cruising
Lindblad Expeditions will launch river cruises on the Rhine next year in partnership with charter-only operator Transcend Cruises. The cruises will sail under the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions brand and will be its first time sailing on Europe's rivers. River cruise editor Brinley Hineman spoke with Lindblad Expeditions CEO Natalya Leahy about the company's foray into the market and what it hopes will be just the beginning of the venture.
Natalya Leahy
Q: Lindblad is known for expedition cruising. How will you apply that approach to the Rhine?
A: We don't just take people to places, we show them how to see it. Everywhere we go, we surround people with true experts who can explain and guide our guests on how to see the place, how to fully appreciate the history, the cultures and nature, the wildlife of the location, how to photograph it. And that extends onboard, as well.
Q: How will this differ from other Rhine cruises?
A: I really believe it's going to be a very unique experience. Sophisticated travelers are looking for very authentic, intimate experiences of the destinations when they go to places like this, and I think that's exactly what we are planning to offer: an intimate, sophisticated, enriching destination and experience, both off and on the ship.
Q: You already operate river cruises on the Nile and the Amazon. What led you to expand to Europe?
A: River cruising is something that we know from extensive research that our guests desire, but they don't want to do it on this mass product that's available. They want to do with the intimacy of a small ship and, really, in that National Geographic way, when they're in a small group with true experts from destinations. The company, even before I joined, had been sort of thinking through this. I also had been intrigued for awhile, even before I joined Lindblad, because I do think there is something about creating a more intimate, more in-depth experience that is not yet on the market. ... The European rivers are just a natural extension of what we have already done, and that desire to experience the history and the culture of the place with National Geographic experts has been confirmed multiple times.
Q: What led you to charter with Transcend Cruises?
A: It just makes sense to partner with a great partner who already has a perfect ship for us, rather than invest our own capital. That's the reason we did a long-term agreement, because we really do believe that this is a long-term commitment to the destination and will continue to grow. It's important for our partner that it's a long-term relationship, but it's also important for us because we can really invest behind it and promote the destination. ... It just makes sense to have it through charter. It's significantly faster execution but also enables us to really synchronize it with the other destinations we offer to our guests so they don't conflict.
Q: The plan you announced calls for two Rhine itineraries, each with four departures, starting in 2026. Are you considering expansion?
A: For sure, 100%. That's why it's a three-year agreement. So we plan to start with eight voyages that we are publicizing now, and for sure the ambition is in '27 to offer more, and '28, hopefully, to offer more. We want to expand summer and then, hopefully, some winter. I think that people will love Christmas markets.
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