Riverside Luxury Cruises and Kensington Tours partner on cruise/land offers
A new partnership agreement between Riverside Luxury Cruises and Kensington Tours makes it easier for travellers to expand their European holiday.
The two companies made the partnership public with a travel industry event held in Vancouver at a top-rated restaurant. Attending travel advisors learned that customers who book a luxury European river cruise with Riverside will have more choices of pre- and/or post-cruise land programs with Kensington.
“There is a great alignment between the brands,” said Caresse Peters, the Kensington director of sales for western Canada and the northwest U.S. Kensington specializes in designing personalized luxury itineraries for its clients, offering top services, accommodations and guides who conduct immersive tours.
A strategic alignment
Peter Ouzounov of Riverside expanded on the statement, saying that the partnership is more of a strategic alignment than a fully integrated collaboration.
“Since we’re cruise-only, travel advisors can enhance the journey by adding a personalized, private pre- and/or post-cruise land extension through Kensington,” said Ouzounov, who is the senior director of sales in Canada for Riverside.
Alternatively, advisors can book cruises directly through Kensington as part of a broader, custom itinerary crafted by their destination experts, he said. “Advisors can integrate Kensington’s pre- or post-cruise land tours into their Riverside bookings, creating a seamless ship-to-shore experience for their clients.” Riverside’s shorter 3-, 4-, and 5-night cruises are well-suited to this kind of packaging, he said.
Ouzounov explained that the alignment between the two companies made sense because they have a shared customer clientele and service philosophy, whereby both cater to discerning travelers who value personalized, high-end experiences.
Also, Kensington operates in the same European regions that Riverside sails – the Danube, Rhine and Rhône – allowing for smooth transitions and deeper destination immersion.
Advisor benefits
Advisors benefit from earning commission on both the cruise and the land components.
Both companies are committed to supporting advisors with training, marketing assets and customizable itineraries to help make the sell easy and profitable, said Ouzounov.
“At the end of the day, this partnership is about helping advisors deliver a more complete, high-touch luxury experience for their clients, with personalization at the center,” he said.
