Hardinxveld-Giessendam, NETHERLANDS, December 12, 2024 – Transcend Cruises, the global charter-only river cruise company, has commenced construction on its first state of the art, purpose-built vessel for the B2B group market commemorating with a Steel Cutting Ceremony that took place on December 5, 2024. The yet-to-be named ship will set sail on the Rhine for the 2026 season.
With this steel strike, Transcend commences a rapid construction program that will take place at Den Breejen Shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, the Netherlands, with the hull currently under construction in Orsova, Romania.
The ceremony was attended by key company and partner representatives including Hans Rood, CEO of Transcend Cruises, Wouter Henstra, CCO of Den Breejen Shipyard and Helena Sawelin, Partner & Design/Sustainability Director of Tillberg Design of Sweden. It represents a major step forward in the development of the company and the fleet of purpose-built river ships.
Transcend Cruises’ 135-meter ships will offer customized spaces and services designed exclusively for the group market which will redefine the luxury group experience. The vessels will boast five separate venues that can accommodate all 120 guests, including “The Forum,” a signature two-story amphitheater for group programs such as leadership talks, destination expert-led presentations, concerts, and various performances. The “Studio” venue is built specifically for the client, located on Deck One next to their dedicated office space and three staff cabins. The venue can accommodate meetings of any size and format with 1,500 square feet of open, configurable space as well as full A/V capabilities.
Up to 120 guests will be accommodated in identical, oversized staterooms that convert in pairs to suites, allowing the charterer to flex the offering for between 30 to 120 attendees.
The Transcend ships will have the latest sustainable hardware available on the European rivers as Transcend has employed a circular approach to materials being used in the exterior and interior construction and design. Transcend’s ships will also feature state-of-the-art hybrid propulsion with stage five, low-emissions engines.
“With the steel cutting, we are thrilled to be entering this exciting construction phase,” said Hans Rood, CEO. “We’ve benefited from serving the charter market with our MS Advance over the past 18 months, proving that our concept is right on target for our new builds from all sectors of the group market including MICE, tour operators, private events, direct corporations, affinity groups and from leisure and corporate agencies. We have strong booking demand from markets around the world including the Americas and Europe, as well as Asia, Middle East, Oceania and beyond.”
“This is an important milestone and concludes the intensive design phase with construction drawings released for production,” said Wouter Henstra, CCO of Den Breejen Shipyard. “The result is a unique vessel design developed with Tillberg Design of Sweden. The hull building yard in Romania made a flying start with section building, and we look forward to the keel laying and receiving the hull during next Summer at our yard in the Netherlands for the final outfitting and commissioning phases before delivery of this important first of series to Transcend Cruises.”
Transcend is currently accepting charter bookings for 2026 and beyond although space is becoming limited in the launch year.
More information is available via the company’s website.
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About Transcend Cruises
Transcend Cruises is a new, global B2B charter-only river cruising company. Filling a void in the market, the company introduces a business model uniquely customized for group travel. Through a purpose-built fleet of wellness-enabling luxury river cruise ships, and an innovative service model designed for multi-day tours, meetings and events, the company custom crafts experiences for each client. The company’s ships deliver the space configuration, accommodations flexibility, and exceptional support to solve the challenges experienced by meeting, incentive, corporate group and event buyers.
About Den Breejen
Founded in 1947 and since then based in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Netherlands, Den Breejen Shipyard has become a major player in the inland shipping sector, both for new construction and for repair and refit. The specialization in the construction of river cruise ships has, over the past 25 years, increased brand awareness in shipbuilding. The increased market share in this specific sector has also led to an expansion of its regular clientele. Den Breejen designs, develops and builds fully custom-built ships and realizes projects to the satisfaction of their clients and within the set delivery time.
Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS)
Tillberg Design of Sweden has, for more than five decades, planned and designed interiors for approximately 250 projects including many of the world's largest and most prestigious cruise ships, luxury hotels, restaurants and high-end jewelry boutiques. With 100 architects and designers working in teams from offices in Sweden, Poland and Miami, their everyday passion is to create and design unique interiors for each of their clients. They are the world’s leading company within marine architecture and interior design. They plan and design innovative, elegant and timeless interiors of all kinds and sizes, both at sea and ashore.
Media Contact
Chuck Mardiks / Mardiks PR
P: 646.283.5273
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