Transcend Cruises celebrated the official christening of the MS Connect, an innovative river cruise ship designed specifically for the group, charter, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) market. The ceremony took place on August 3 at the Den Breejen shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, the Netherlands, coinciding with the ship's maiden voyage between Dordrecht and Zaandam.
The ship's godmother was Marja van Bijsterveldt, former Minister of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands, at an event that brought together company executives, investors, partners, representatives of the MICE sector and specialized media.
“With MS Connect, we are completely redefining river cruising for groups,” said Gregg Marston, CEO of Transcend Cruises. “Every detail has been specifically designed for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exclusive events. Our goal was to create a flexible, premium, and sustainable platform capable of meeting the current needs of event organizers and delivering experiences impossible to replicate on land.”
Transcend defines the MS Connect as a truly luxurious floating space designed to foster connection, collaboration, and the hosting of events. Measuring 135 meters in length, with four decks and a capacity for 120 passengers, the ship features 60 modular cabins that can be converted into 30 spacious two-room suites, offering exceptional flexibility to suit each guest's needs.
The design incorporates five multifunctional spaces for meetings and events, including The Forum, an amphitheater located in the heart of the ship with a large LED screen, as well as convertible rooms for meetings, presentations, private dinners, or exhibitions. All of this is complemented by state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, high-speed connectivity, and fully customizable digital signage solutions for each group's corporate identity.
The interior was developed by Tillberg Design of Sweden, while the construction was carried out by the Dutch shipyard Den Breejen Shipyard and the operational management will be the responsibility of United Waterways.
The gastronomic offering maintains the same level of personalization as the event spaces, allowing configurations ranging from haute cuisine experiences to regional proposals or family-style service, always adapted to each group.
In addition, the ship incorporates a wellness and fitness area of approximately 240 square meters, one of the largest currently existing on a European river cruise ship.
In terms of environmental impact, the MS Connect has been developed following circular design principles and incorporates the most advanced low-emission technologies available for European inland waterway navigation. These include electrical systems for maneuvering in port, backup batteries that partially replace conventional generators, optimized fuel consumption, and a reduced draft that improves operations even during periods of low river levels.
Transcend Cruises founder Matthew Shollar recalled during the christening that the project began to take shape in 2018 with a small group of industry professionals with the goal of creating a completely different product within river navigation.
The ship's first customers include a large private family trip, a National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions operation, and several groups organized by international tour operators and incentive travel companies.
The christening also coincides with the progress of Transcend Cruises' expansion program. The hull of the second ship in the series, MS Evolve, has already arrived at the Den Breejen shipyard to begin outfitting it before its scheduled delivery in 2027.
MS Create and MS Engage will be added later, with the aim of having four ships in operation before the end of 2028 and achieving, in the long term, a fleet of up to twelve river cruise ships, all of them specifically designed for the charter and MICE market.
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