Approach Tours Takes Its All-Inclusive Model to the Water with New Cruise Portfolio | News

Leading senior Canadian travel operator Approach Tours has unveiled its highly anticipated new cruise portfolio, marking the company’s expansion into ocean expedition and river cruising. Its distinctive small-group, radically all-inclusive model has been designed to meet growing demand for more immersive and seamless travel experiences.

The new cruise collection builds on the operator’s award-winning land-based expertise, combining curated cruise itineraries with integrated pre- and post-cruise land experiences. This hybrid structure creates a fully connected journey, blending the depth of land touring with the ease of cruising, while streamlining the entire end-to-end customer journey.

Styled as “cruising reimagined”,  the portfolio has consciously avoided traditional large-ship formats, focusing instead on smaller groups, deeper destination engagement, and complete pricing transparency. All itineraries operate on a charter basis, giving the operator full control over the guest experience.

Approach Tours is launching with three signature cruise itineraries across Amazon & Ecuador, France & The Rhône and Costa Rica & Galápagos Islands. Further global destinations, including multi-river journeys along the Rhine, Main, and Danube, the Scottish Highlands and Antarctica, are set to be introduced in the coming months. The tours will be sold directly to customers, following Approach Tours’ existing direct-to-consumer model.

The ‘Untamed Amazon and Equador’ cruise features a 7-day land tour exploring the natural beauty of Ecuador before spending 7 days cruising the Napo River in the Amazon Jungle. Travellers will spend longer in the Amazon than most products on the market. By choosing the Napo River, a tributary of the Amazon River, travellers will be cruising the most biodiverse region of the Amazon, an area no other tour operator in Canada is offering.

The ‘Savoury France & The Rhône’ cruise features a 7-day sailing of the Rhône focused on its greatest foodie experiences, and a pre and post tour in Lyon and Nice to let travellers continue to explore and really soak in the region. Currently, no cruise operator sailing on the Rhône offers included stays in Lyon and Nice with an itinerary designed to continue the experience from the cruise. By deliberately travelling one way, this cruise ensures that travellers don’t see the same sights on their return journey.

The ‘Costa Rica & Galápagos Islands’ cruise begins with 7 unforgettable days exploring the jungles, mountains, and farms of Costa Rica, before setting sail for 7 days in the Galápagos Islands. No company on the market is offering a package complete with both Costa Rica & the Galápagos Islands in one adventure. These two destinations combined offer a chance to see more animal life over two weeks than nearly any other tour in the world.

The travel industry is a crowded space, but Approach Tours has a clear differentiator: its “radically all-inclusive” approach. Packages include international and domestic flights, transfers, excursions, meals and free-flowing alcoholic beverages, gratuities, port fees, and onboard Wi-Fi, alongside guaranteed land tour extensions.

Experiences are delivered in small groups of approximately 40 travellers, each supported by a dedicated “Group Guru” and local expert team, ensuring a high-touch, personalized experience throughout.

Further enhancing the offering, Approach Tours provides a fully integrated, door-to-door service, including private home-to-airport transfers and flights, creating a seamless journey from start to finish.

Commenting on the launch, Daniel Fequet, Founder of Approach Tours, said:
“For too long, travellers have had to choose between convenience and meaningful experiences. Our new cruise portfolio brings those together – combining small groups, deeper destination access, and a radically all-inclusive model that removes the friction from travel. We’ve also shaped these itineraries based on direct feedback from our customers about where they want to travel next, so we’re excited to now bring these destinations to market.”

Bookings are now open for the Untamed Amazon and Equador, Savoury France & The Rhône, and Costa Rica & Galápagos Islands cruises, which are due to commence in early 2027. For more information visit www.approachtours.com