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Transcend Cruises has officially welcomed MS Connect, the company's first purpose-built river cruise ship dedicated exclusively to the charter market. The vessel was named during a ceremony held in Dordrecht (Netherlands) on August 3rd, 2026, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the operator's business-focused river cruise concept.
The naming ceremony was attended by the ship's godmother, former Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science Marja van Bijsterveldt, alongside Hardinxveld-Giessendam Mayor Dirk Heijkoop, Transcend Cruises Chief Executive Officer Gregg Marston, founder emeritus Matthew Shollar and members of the company's executive team.
According to Marston, MS Connect has been designed to redefine river cruising for groups by offering a flexible, premium and sustainable platform tailored to meetings, incentive travel, conferences and exclusive events. He noted that every aspect of the vessel had been purpose-built to meet the evolving requirements of event organisers while delivering experiences that cannot be replicated ashore.
Measuring 135 metres (442 feet) in length and spanning four decks, MS Connect accommodates up to 120 guests in 60 adaptable staterooms. The accommodation can be reconfigured into 30 two-room suites, allowing the ship to cater to different group sizes and event formats. The vessel also features five multifunctional event venues designed to host conferences, meetings, workshops, networking functions and private gatherings. Advanced audiovisual systems, high-speed internet connectivity and digital branding capabilities enable charter clients to customise the onboard environment throughout each voyage.
The onboard offering is complemented by customised food and beverage services, tailored to the specific requirements of each charter, together with a wellness and fitness area covering approximately 2,580 square feet. Operational management of the vessel has been entrusted to United Waterways.
MS Connect is the first of four purpose-built river vessels scheduled to join the Transcend Cruises fleet by 2028. The company has indicated that its longer-term strategy envisions a fleet of up to 12 ships dedicated exclusively to the charter, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market.
