Page 4 - 2024 CIN USA River Report

2024 USA
Riverboat Report

Steady Forward

higher operating costs offset by higher
DOMESTIC SMALL SHIP CRUISING APPEARS SET ticket prices.
U.S.-flagged ships must also be built in
FOR STABLE GROWTH THROUGH THE END OF THE the U.S., severely limiting any additional
DECADE, WITH THE LION’S SHARE OF CAPACITY capacity coming in. Few U.S. shipyards
DRIVEN BY AMERICAN CRUISE LINES (ACL), AMERICAN have the ability to build a modern riverboat
QUEEN VOYAGES AND VIKING, WHILE OTHER or small cruise ship at a realistic price, so
costs to build can be seen as another limit-
OPERATORS PLAY A SUPPORTING ROLE. ing factor to supply growth going forward.

mall ships and close-to-home- The fleet is a diverse mix. There are Market Landscape
cruising appeal to an aging pas- classic paddlewheel vessels, giving off a The U.S. domestic cruising scene is
Ssenger base, who may not want Mark Twain and Huckleberry Finn vibe; dominated by ACLwith a diverse mix
to travel internationally. there are modern riverboats with Europe- of riverboats and coastal vessels. The
an lines; and in addition, coastal vessels company plans to introduce at least two
Fleet Mix that are essentially small cruise ships. new ships a year in the 100-guest range
The ships are small, ranging from un- Small ships mean less economies going forward.
der 100 guests to upwards of 400, and of scale, and operating on U.S. waters The family-owned company has one
smaller than the majority of ocean-going requires a U.S. flag, meaning the crew big advantage: they also own Chesapeake
cruise ships. must be American, leading to much Shipbuilding in Maryland, which builds

8 Cruise Industry News: 2024 USA Riverboat Report