The new charter-only river cruise operator Transcend Cruises has announced the names of its first two purpose-built vessels designed specifically for the business-to-business (B2B) group travel market.
The ships will be named Transcend Connect and Transcend Evolve.
The standard 135-meter-long riverboats are currently under construction at Den Breejen Shipyard (in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Holland).
Interior design is being undertaken by Tillberg Design of Sweden.
The ships are engineered to host up to 120 guests in what the company describes as “oversized staterooms.” The staterooms are designed to offer flexible configurations, allowing for conversion into larger suites when required. This design enables group charterers to host events for anywhere between 30 and 120 attendees.
Each ship will include 5 event venues capable of accommodating all onboard guests simultaneously. Among these facilities are a 2-storey amphitheatre and "The Studio"—a 1300-ft2 configurable space equipped with audiovisual systems. The Studio is situated on the lower deck adjacent to an office area and 3 crew cabins, ensuring convenience and functionality for charter organizers and staff.
In selecting the vessel names, the company reportedly evaluated 100+ internally-sourced options, vetting them through consultations with partners and key clients in the group travel sector.
Transcend Connect is scheduled to enter service in April 2026, with Transcend Evolve to follow in 2026-Q2.
According to Matthew Shollar, Chief Visionary Officer of Transcend Cruises, the chosen names reflect the company’s strategic focus on creating river travel experiences tailored for group connectivity and transformational gatherings. He indicated that Transcend Connect aligns with the firm’s objective of facilitating meaningful group engagement on Europe’s rivers, while Transcend Evolve emphasizes the transformative potential of the onboard experience.
Shollar noted that these principles would continue to guide the naming of future vessels as the fleet expands.