The CroisiEurope line brand ("Alsace Croisieres" until 1997) is a French river cruise company, which is family owned and run, and based in Strasbourg. The line specializes in river cruising and also Mediterranean coastal cruises. Mr. Gerard Schmitter founded CroisiEurope in 1976, chartering ms Alsace - his first riverboat - in 1982.
CroisiEurope is one of the leaders on the European river cruising market. The line's riverboats ply most of the of Europe's main waterways - both rivers and canals. CroisiEurope's ships also sail in Asia (Vietnam and Cambodia region). The company also charters boats that cruise on Volga River in Russia, on Irrawaddy River in Burma, and on Chobe and Zambezi rivers in South Africa.
Two of the line's ships are ocean-going and offer Mediterranean small ship cruise deals on coastal itineraries in southern Europe. Throughout the 1990s and the 1st decade of the 21st century, Croisi underwent rapid expansion and as its fleet grew, the line expanded operations outside the French borders. Gerard Schmitter handed management of the party over to his children in 1999.
CroisiEurope currently owns a fleet of prestige category boats cruising all of Europe’s rivers. The cruise experience on board their ships features:
Accommodations vary from 100 to 180 guests depending on the design of the ship. The facilities offer comfort, safety, and cutting-edge technology.
The fleet of is partially renovated each year and carefully maintained, being mostly made up of less than 5-year-old ships. All boats have Veritas certifications. The itinerary options are varied with many of the stops classified as World Heritage Sites.
French is the primary language spoken on board (although most of the staff also speak English and other European languages). The announcements are made in English and in French.
What distinguishes Croisi from other river lines are the moderately-priced fares. Like most European river cruise lines, CroisiEurope deals include soft drinks, beer and wine year-round with lunch and dinner and offers unlimited drinks during the high season April through October, including house spirits. However, the biggest difference is that the guests of the line have to pay extra for shore excursions, though many other lines include these within their fares.
Cruise cabins sizes are comparable to other European river ships, though the decor is more functional than deluxe.
In addition to the main dining room, onboard public spaces include indoor lounge spaces for relaxing. The lounge bar is the main spot for evening entertainment, ranging from traditional regional programmes and music from resident musician to crew shows. The reception area or mezzanine features a small shop. A number of deck chairs for use on sunny days are found on the outdoor-carpeted top deck.
In 2006, CroisiEurope celebrated the company's 30th birthday, and in 2007 opened CroisiMer, a subsidiary company, to manage La Belle de l'Adriatique - its one ocean-going cruise ship. In 2010 Croisi created CroisiYacht brand to manage chartered sailings on Russia's Volga River. In 2014, CroisiEurope bought "Compagnie Fluviale du Mékong" (Mekong River Cruise Company), adding 4 ships on Mekong River.
