Transcend Connect

The 2026-built MS Transcend Connect cruise ship is the first of two newbuild riverboats (currently under construction) owned and operated by Transcend Cruises. Transcend Connect is scheduled for delivery in 2025-Q4 (inauguration in April 2026), to be followed by the sistership Transcend Evolve in summer 2026.

History - construction and ownership

Transcend Cruises Ltd (UK-based shipowner) is a 2022-founded/2024-launched company specializing in full-ship cruise charters to clients offering group travel products. In July 2022, Matthew Shollar (the company's Founder) announced that they had already sold US$20 million of product ahead of the official launch (2024). The announcement mentioned that Transcend will order two custom-designed (yacht-inspired) vessels targeting exclusively the charter cruise market.

According to Matthew Shollar, Transcend Cruises planned a fleet of 8 boats to be operational by 2027.

The company's leadership team includes Hans Rood (CEO/Chief Executive Officer), Matthew Shollar (CVO/Chief Visionary Officer), Andy McKey (CFO/Chie Financial Officer), Kimberly Daley (CRO/Chief Revenue Officer), Carmen Mladenovic (Ship Operations Manager), Gregg Marston (Board Member). Key employees include Tom Markwell (Affinity and Special Interest Travel), Jackie Coulson (Tour Operators, Leisure Travel Agencies, Meetings and Events), Sean Mahoney (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events).

Among the potential clients are MICE companies specializing in affinity marketing, tour operators, travel agencies, MICE planners (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), and private groups (college alumni, sponsored media travel, wellness-themed events, private parties/family buyouts, reunions, birthdays, celebrations, team building, name-brand presentations and promotions).

The riverboat's booking window (for short- and long-term charters) is between 1 and 3 years.

In August 2024, for the cruise ship interior design was contracted TDoS (Tillberg Design of Sweden/1964-founded, Hoganas-based company).

The vessel is fitted with a battery pack used for peak shaving and close-in maneuvering. Transcend ships are equipped with advanced technologies, including digital signage boards, customizable lighting, premium sound and video systems.

On April 7, 2024, Transcend signed the order for the first ship (Transcend Connect) with the family-owned Dutch shipbuilder Scheepswerf Den Breejen Shipyard (Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Holland). The documents were signed by both companies' CEOs - Hans Rood (Transcend Cruises) and Peter Burger (Den Breejen Shipyard).

For the vessels' brokerage was contracted RensenDriessen Shipbuilding BV (1980-founded, Zwijndrecht-based).

Transcend Connect's phisical construction/assembly officially started on February 7, 2025, with the keel-laying ceremony held Den Breejen's shipyard in Orsova (Romania). The special event was attended by Transcend's Hans Rood (CEO/Chief Executive Officer), Matthew Shollar (CVO/Chief Visionary Officer), Kimberly Daley (CRO/Chief Revenue Officer), Carmen Mladenovic (Ship Operations Manager), Gregg Marston (Board Member), Den Breejen Shipyard's Wouter Henstra (CCO/Chief Commercial Officer), and RensenDriessen's Edwin Diepeveen (Director of Operations) and Thomas de Bree (CFO/Chief Financial Officer).

Following the assembly in Romania, the vessel was towed up the Danube River and along the Rhine to the Netherlands (Den Breejen's yard) to complete its interior construction and outfitting.

Transcend ships names (Connect and Evolve) were announced in April 2025.

Decks and Cabins

The Transcend Connect ship has a total of 60 staterooms for 30 to 120 guests/attendees (max). The accommodations are flexible (specifically designed to be convertible, with interconnecting doors), meaning that the boat offers 60 standard cabins or 30 double cabins (2-bedroom/2-bath Suites), or a mix (when required), with the exact configuration depending on the client's specification.

All passenger staterooms offer as standard amenities an Infinity Balcony (floor-to-ceiling/wall-to-wall window providing unobstructed views), Julius Meinl coffee machine, mini-refrigerator (fully stocked and replenished daily), 40-inch TV (interactive system), window-facing King-size double bed (convertible to twins, with bedside cabinets and reading lamps), premium bedding (cotton linens, brand pillows), wardrobe (electronic safe box), seating space (armchairs, low table), spacious bathroom (WC-toiled, glass shower, single-sink vanity, luxury bath amenities), daily housekeeping and turndown service

Room Service is provided complimentary and has extended hours.

Upon boarding is provided a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine.

Cabin categories are 5 (Advance Suite, and staterooms A, B, C, D). The largest accommodations are the Advance Suites (each sized 47 m2/505 ft2) which can be combined with an adjacent Category A cabin to form a 2-Bedroom Suite (sized 70 m2/750 ft2, with two bathrooms).

ADVANCE SUITE (Deck 3) additionally features a fireplace, a larger bathroom (Spa shower, double-sink vanity, bigger storage space, a separate water closet, make-up counter), separate living and dining areas, walk-in closet, two infinity balconies, and binoculars (for use during the voyage).

CATEGORY A & B staterooms (decks 2 and 3 midship and forward) are sized 24 m2/255 ft2.

CATEGORY C & D staterooms (decks 2 and 3 aft) are sized 18 m2/190 ft2.

The boat has 4 decks, of which 2 are with cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

MS Transcend Connect has 5 distinct spaces, each with the capacity to accommodate all passengers (the entire group) in addition to 10 other spaces with smaller seating capacities (for breakout groups). There are dedicated storage areas (for materials), 1 Office (for the charter client), 3 double-occupancy cabins (for the charter organizer and its support staff), and an optional/second Reception Desk (if needed).

Unlike standard river cruise ships, Transcend Connect has a large wellness complex (sized 242 m2/2600 ft2) stretching over 3 floors/decks. The modern facility consists of a Spa (wet areas, treatment rooms for massages, a river-view Sauna Room), a Fitness Center (10-station gym) and Yoga Studio (for classes).

Among the full-capacity facilities are the Forum (120-m2/1300-ft2-sized presentation studio spanning 2 floors/decks, equipped with audiovisual systems) and The Workshop (140-m2/1500-ft2-sized customizable center, which can include an activity zone for kids).

There are 5 formal dining venues and 10 pop-up food and beverage venues.

Transcend cruise itineraries

Transcend's charter cruise ships operate on the Rhine River between March and December (New Year's Eve).

If the boats are available, charter clients can select departure dates with itineraries planned with lengths of at least 3 nights. Itineraries can also be grouped into longer B2Bs (back-to-back cruises).

The itineraries, onboard programming (events and products) and the ashore experiences (multi-day land tours/excursions, private travel, themed events/lectures, media presentations, hybrid corporate meetings, trunk shows, arts demonstrations and auctions, book signings, etc) are fully customizable. The company provides professional customization teams to cover all the elements for a flat fee.