Transcend Cruises, a riverboat company dedicated exclusively to the charter market and specializing in group travel, has announced the signing of an order for the construction of two new vessels as part of its expansion program.
The agreement has been formalized with the Dutch shipyard Den Breejen Shipyard, located in Hardinxveld-Giessendam (Netherlands), thus consolidating the company's growth in the B2B-oriented river cruise segment.
With this new order, Transcend Cruises will expand its planned fleet to a total of four ships by 2028. The first of these, Transcend Connect, is scheduled to begin operations in July 2026, while the second, Transcend Evolve, will enter service in 2027. Initially, both ships were scheduled to debut in 2026, but the delivery schedule has been adjusted.
The two newly announced vessels will be named Transcend Create and Transcend Engage. According to the current construction schedule, Create will be delivered in October 2027, followed by Engage in early 2028. Both ships will follow the same design concept as the rest of the fleet and will have a capacity for approximately 120 passengers.
Transcend Cruises' riverboats have been specifically designed for the corporate and group charter market, with flexible interior spaces tailored for meetings, events, and group experiences. Key features include spacious event areas and configurable cabins that can be combined to create suites, accommodating groups of varying sizes, from small gatherings to full ship occupancy.
The company states that the upcoming launch of its first newly built ship represents a significant milestone for the brand, as it will be the first vessel in the river cruise industry designed exclusively for the group travel market.
Looking ahead, Transcend Cruises has outlined long-term expansion plans that could lead the company to operate up to a dozen ships.
Meanwhile, charter agreements for the upcoming vessels are already taking shape. It has been reported that National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has secured charter contracts for two of Transcend's ships, further reinforcing market confidence in this innovative business model.
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