The new MS Connect by Transcend Cruises offers a fresh take on river cruising. søster’s Paul Lake joined the ship’s inaugural sailing to discover what it could offer event planners.
As far as days go, Saturday 1 August was right up there with some of the best.
I was on the inaugural cruise of MS Connect, a new river ship from Transcend Cruises designed specifically for private charter, and I quickly saw its potential for group events.
The day started well. I opened my curtains to find the most picture-perfect harbour. The water was completely still. Not just calm, but not-a-ripple still, reflecting the birds and yachts resting in it. I lowered my cabin window, and the silence was gently punctuated by birdsong, but other than that, nothing. Complete calm.
A quick cup of coffee in the cabin and then a short stroll down the corridor for a massage in the onboard spa. The spa is understandably compact, but two treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room and ten-person whirlpool are a generous wellness offering for a 60-cabin ship.
An hour later, feeling impeccably zen, I disembarked with my fellow travellers, Maxine and Nicola at AbleMaxx, who represent Transcend Cruises in the UK. We were in Hoorn, a beautiful, historic city just 30 minutes north of Amsterdam. To call it stunning is an understatement. Seventeenth-century houses lined the harbour I had woken up beside, while just a few streets inland the pace picked up. Cafés spilled into attractive squares before giving way to a lively market and shops selling local produce. Here, we stopped to taste Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, a locally made cheese that has been recognised as the best in the world this year.
Undiscovered cities like these are what river cruising is all about. It gets you to these idyllic places that are slightly off the beaten path. Places that feel authentic because that’s exactly what they are. And that, for me, is exactly what the modern-day traveller is after, and why I personally believe that the journeys Transcend Cruises create are perfect for our industry.
We stepped back on board just before midday and headed to the top deck, where the chef was preparing fresh tuna on the open-air grill. This is not a ship that promotes buffet food. Instead, it focuses on fresh produce prepared à la carte, creating a more refined experience, and so lunch continued the high standard set throughout the cruise.
I found a sun lounger and spent the next couple of hours relaxing as the ship cruised the Markermeer, a vast body of water that feels more like an inland sea than a lake. The expansive top deck moves easily from dining to relaxation space, with loungers at the rear, informal seating beneath a retractable canopy and a circular firepit lounge at the bow.
What makes this space particularly compelling for events is its flexibility. Everything can be removed, leaving a blank canvas. For those of you working on car launches, the deck is strong enough to accommodate two medium-sized cars. If you’re looking to hold an alfresco plenary session, no worries: there is a fold-out 144-inch screen. It was not in place during my visit, although I could just as easily imagine it being used for a late-night film screening beneath the stars.
Fotograaf: MichielTon.com
The recurring theme I noted aboard MS Connect is flexibility. The ship can be tailored to a variety of programmes because it has been built with the events industry in mind. At its heart is a circular auditorium (The Forum) with state-of-the-art AV, including a large LED screen and 120 comfortable seats with power supplies. Towards the bow of the ship is another event space (The Studio), which is 140 sqm and would be well suited as an exhibition space, or a practical combined office and storage space for an incentive.
The next stop was Enkhuizen, another charming port. While slightly smaller than Hoorn, the harbour was busy with historic sailing yachts making their way towards the marina, while live music drifted from the surrounding bars and restaurants. Following a short time to explore this picturesque spot, we returned on board and prepared for our final evening. The night started with a cheese and wine tasting before pre-dinner cocktails. These were all enjoyed in the main bar at the bow of the ship.
The interior design on this ship is one of its strengths. Throughout, the design is contemporary but deliberately restrained, sitting comfortably behind the identity of whichever company charters it. There are no big, bold colours competing for attention. Instead, a neutral palette runs throughout, giving brands space to introduce their own identity and personality.
Fotograaf: MichielTon.com
Dinner in the main restaurant continued the experience, which again was at an exceptional standard. Seared scallops, lobster bisque and herb-crusted lamb were among the courses, accompanied by a thoughtfully chosen selection of wines.
After dinner there was music in the lounge from a live band, following a DJ the previous night, and we paused to enjoy the lively atmosphere before heading back up top to the cosy seating at the bow. Here, we settled in to chat and simply watched the world go by.
As the evening drew to a close, we retreated to the comfort of our staterooms. In total, there are 60 of them, and the design makes exceptionally good use of the available space. Those who value a private balcony may initially question their absence, but the decision releases noticeably more space inside each cabin. These rooms never feel small. The clever design features a movable partition wall between the rooms, allowing you to turn the 60 staterooms into 30 suites – each with a separate lounge area. Another example of how the ship has been thoughtfully designed around flexibility.
The staterooms have comfortable king-sized beds, many of which can be twinned, along with ample storage, a work desk, large television, safe, minibar, coffee machine and shower room with L’Occitane products. The specification is comparable to a contemporary five-star hotel, but with one obvious difference: the views can change every morning. How the time between destinations is used depends entirely on the charter. It could bring guests together for sunset drinks and lively networking, thought-provoking meetings and workshops, or memorable product activations, or simply give guests time to relax on deck and watch the ever-changing scenery drift by.
Fotograaf: MichielTon.com
After 30 years in the events industry, I occasionally find myself thinking I’ve seen it all. MS Connect was a humbling reminder that there are still new experiences capable of surprising me. It offers the exclusivity of a private venue, the facilities of a contemporary hotel and the freedom to wake each morning somewhere entirely new.
The UK events industry has been slow to embrace river cruising, but perhaps that is precisely what makes it so interesting – it feels genuinely new and different. And in an industry built around creating memorable experiences, that may be its greatest strength.