Successful first cruise season

That sounds very positive. To summarize, did everything go as you had imagined?

We prepared very intensively for the cruises and very often questioned, adapted and redefined the customer journey in our thoughts and also together in workshops. In the end, there were of course adjustments, improvements and optimizations during the 10-week cruise, but in the end our processes worked.

What were the biggest challenges?

We are at the mercy of wind and weather on the three lakes, which often led to program changes at short notice. This required a great talent for improvisation in the background. Fortunately, we were able to rely on very flexible partners, be it tourism organizations such as Murten or Neuchâtel Tourism. Wieland Bus and various winegrowers and restaurants around the 3 lakes have also always actively supported us - a big thank you to everyone who made this possible.

You mentioned the positive feedback from the first guests. What did they generally like best?

The feedback from our guests was extremely valuable in that they always provided us with very open, detailed and differentiated valuable feedback. As already mentioned, the general mood in every group was excellent, all guests felt comfortable and in good hands with us. I think that the relaxed "cruising" on board was most appreciated by the majority.

What were your personal highlights?

The fact that Swiss television accompanied us on our first day on the "high seas" was very special, both for the guests and for us. All the more so as we were a little late due to strong winds and the editorial team from Schweiz Aktuell had to change the plan within a very short space of time. In the end, the entire report from the MS Attila was broadcast live, there were no pre-produced reports. That was a challenge for all of us. For me personally, all the days on board were a highlight, because I felt directly how the guests were doing and how we improved from day to day in terms of service quality.

What else do I need to adapt/improve for the 2022 cruise season?

Our aim is, of course, to constantly develop ourselves further. After every trip, we ask our guests what they particularly liked or missed. These are details that are also interpreted differently depending on the group on board. However, it is our strength that we want to give our guests the feeling that the ship is entirely theirs for the duration of the trip and that they can therefore play a very active role in shaping the program. This places enormous demands on us, but the overwhelming feedback at the end of each trip is the best reward.

The cruises for 2022 can be booked now.