CroisiEurope, the river cruise specialist founded by Gerard Schmitter in 1976, has established itself as the largest river cruise company in Europe over its more than 40-year history. After being the first French company to cross the Rhine in 1976, its primary objective has been to expand river tourism destinations, opening itineraries on various rivers around the world. Key milestones in its long history include :
- 1976: Founding of the company by Gérard Schmitter
- 1984: First passenger ships
- 1993: First cruises on the Danube
- 1995: First cruises on the Rhône and the Saône
- 1998: First cruises on the Seine
- 2000: First cruises on the Elbe and the Po
- 2002: First cruises on the Douro River in Portugal
- 2003: Launch of the “MS Fernao da Magalhaes” in Porto and the “MS Leonardo da Vinci” in Venice
- 2005: First cruises on the Guadalquivir, Guadiana, Danube and Tisza rivers
- 2006: First cruises on the Adriatic Sea.
- 2008: First cruises through the Red Sea.
- 2009: Launch of a new ship, the “MS Vivaldi” on the Danube. First cruises on the Sava.
- 2010: Creation of Volga River cruises
- 2011: The Gironde and the Garonne, construction of a new ship, gastronomic cruise on the Rhine
- 2012: New cruises on the Mekong and the southern Nile
- 2013: New cruises to Europe's Christmas Markets, Gironde Gastronomic Cruise, Glacier Express Cruise, Rouen Armada. The first barge is christened "La Jeanine"
- 2014: Three new ships, “The Madeleine,” “The Raymonde,” and “The Anne-Marie Cruise,” are launched on the canals of France. The company acquires CFM (Mekong River Cruises) and several destinations, including Cyprus and the Holy Land, Athens-Istanbul, Myanmar, and South Africa.
- 2015: Construction of the “MS Loire Princess” (Loire), “MS Camargue” (Rhône), and “MS Gil Eanes” (Doure). 2016: Construction of a new ship, the “MS Elbe Princess,” and two new barges: Danièle and Déborah. Celebrating the 40th anniversary!
- 2017: Construction of five new ships: “MS Miguel Torga” (Douro), “RV Indochina II” (Mekong), “RV African Dream” (Chobe, Zambezi), “MS Symphony II” (Danube) and “MS Douce France II” (Rhine).
- 2018: Construction of 3 new ships: “MS Elbe Princess II” (Elbe), “MS Renoir II” (Seine) and “MS Van Gogh II” (Rhône).
Through creative ideas and high-quality service, this family business has been able to maintain its position as a leader in the European river cruise market by offering original trips to increasingly demanding customers, including drinks with meals on board and in the lounge bar, free Wi-Fi and excellent cuisine prepared by the famous chef Alain Bohn, who directs and prepares specific menus following the purest tradition of French gastronomy.
CroisiEurope has recently introduced a new generation of paddlewheel boats, offering itineraries between Nantes and Angers or between Berlin and Prague, in addition to its wonderful barge along the French canals. The boats can dock right in the heart of cities, allowing passengers to easily explore the hidden gems on foot. With a capacity of 22 passengers in their barges and between 100 and 200 passengers on their boats, they provide the welcoming and friendly atmosphere needed to relax and make the most of your vacation.
Another advantage of CroisiEurope lies in its highly competitive pricing, a challenge it achieves through complete control of all fleet operations from design to production and thanks to a workforce of 1,600 motivated and committed employees.
River cruises are increasingly popular as travelers seek new experiences. Visiting a country or region via its rivers provides a completely different perspective on each culture, as riverbanks change with the seasons, offering a unique backdrop on every journey. The pace of river navigation allows passengers to enjoy the natural spectacle throughout the day, exploring the legendary rivers and canals of France and Europe, each with its own romantic allure.
