Arena Travel purchased The River Cruise Line, which currently charters two ships exclusively on European rivers, after Diamond Shortbreak Holidays Ltd ceased trading in March.

Steve Goodenough, managing director of Arena Travel, who worked at Diamond Shortbreak Holidays two years ago, told TTG that historically around 30% of the line’s business came through agents, but said he was focused on growing this.

“We are very passionate about increasing this figure, along with giving agents a healthy commission on bookings made,” he said. It came as Goodenough revealed that feedback from agents had led to a number of changes to the line’s offering for 2018. This includes a new option for agents to sell cruise-only voyages, enabling them to dynamically package sailings and offer guests weekend stays and alternative transport options.

“Agents were asking for more opportunities to dynamically package. We think this is where the market is headed,” Goodenough said.

Elsewhere, he said the line would offer single cabins for the first time on Lady Anne, which is currently the oldest sailing ship on the Rhine: “Due to demands from solo travellers, we will have 12 single cabins to cater for the growing demand from single travellers. We are very mindful of the quality of our product and aware of more solo travellers, especially around Christmas time.”

The line will also introduce a chartered yacht to its programme for 2018. The 38-passenger Infinity, which will sail Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, will feature in the new brochure from September 2017. The line will also again charter ships on the Douro and Rhone.