River Cruising’s Return Is Welcome

The past few years since the COVID-19 lockdowns have been rough ones for the passenger cruising industry, but as a story in this issue notes, a recovery is underway.

Most surveys of passenger cruising forecast numbers either just below those of 2019, or slightly ahead of them. While demand is up for all categories of blue- and brown-water cruising, in North America, demand for Mississippi River cruises leads the way, according to one market study. Most encouraging was an analysis from Grand View Research, which valued the U.S. river cruise market size at $95.4 million in 2022, and said it is expected to grow at a compound growth rate of 20.8 percent from 2023 to 2030.

Previous reports have focused on baby boomer retirees as a key market for cruising.  If rising demand for cruising is anything to judge by, their retirement nest eggs must not be too dented by inflation and rising energy prices.

All that demand should not only help riverfront towns improve their facilities, but support investments in more vessels and therefore in shipyards.

A life-changing summer work experience aboard a river passenger vessel has been an on-ramp into the inland waterways industry for many industry veterans, as it was for Alan Bernstein when he served as a deckhand aboard the Delta Queen. Bernstein went on to found BB Riverboats and become a leader in the passenger cruise industry. Others who had similar experiences moved on to commercial towboating.

With the uptick in passenger cruising, more young people can be exposed to the attractions and rewards of a career in the river industry.