Albuquerque, N.M. – October 07, 2026 -- River cruising, once dominated by guests in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, is now drawing Generation X, Millennial, and family travelers, according to Craig S. Pavlus, founder and CEO of Pavlus Travel & Cruise.

River cruising accounts for about 7 percent of total overnight cruise capacity but is growing quickly, Pavlus says, citing data from Cruise Lines International Association. Global river cruise capacity sits at roughly 61,000 berths compared with about 776,000 lower berths for ocean cruising.

Albuquerque, N.M. – September 20, 2026 -- Shelby Steudle, president of Pavlus Travel & Cruise, will christen Viking's new river ship, the Viking Fjolvar, at an official ceremony in Amsterdam on October 15. Viking selected Steudle as the vessel's "godmother," a maritime tradition dating back thousands of years meant to bless a ship and protect those who sail aboard it.