Transcend Cruises Reveals Names of First Two Ships: Transcend connect and Transcend evolve
MIAMI — (April 09, 2025) – Today at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, Transcend Cruises, the charter-only river cruise company, announced the much-anticipated names of their first state-of-the-art, purpose-built river vessels for the B2B group market entering into service in 2026: Transcend connect launching in April and Transcend evolve, which will enter service later in Q2. Transcend Cruises’ 135-meter ships, built by Den Breejen Shipyard and designed by Tillberg Design of Sweden, will offer customized spaces and services created exclusively for the group market, which will redefine the luxo group experience.
The vessels will boast five separate venues that can accommodate all 120 guests, including “The Forum,” a signature two-story amphitheater ideal for group programs such as expert-led presentations, concerts, demonstrations or virtual performances. The “Studio” venue is built specifically for the client, located on Deck One next to their dedicated office space and three staff cabins. The venue can accommodate meetings of any size and format with 1,300 square feet of open, configurable space as well as full A/V capabilities. Up to 120 guests will be accommodated in identical, oversized staterooms that convert in pairs to suites, allowing the charterer to flex the offering for between 30 and 120 attendees.
Transcend’s Naming Process
Conventional ship names typically reflect the brands operating them and are focused on the retail customer experience. Since its inception, Transcend has focused specifically on the group market and the charter client. Unlike consumer cruise brands, with Transcend, the primary brand that a client sees on their sailing is the one that is most important to them: their own. The client’s brand can transform the experience, being showcased across the numerous digital screens located on the interior and exterior of the ship, the ambient lighting, the onboard documents, and the itinerary itself.
“The names we’ve selected truly reflect Transcend’s B2B ethos,” said Matthew Shollar, Chief Visionary Officer, Transcend Cruises. “At our core is our ability to create a unique river cruise product and venue that is specifically conducive to connecting a group on the spectacular waterways of Europe, hence the name Transcend Connect. We also intend for our clients’ guests to have positive, transformative group experiences onboard our vessels, and thereby, the name Transcend evolves. Our names underscore the benefits that the client gets in working with Transcend, and this is something we’ll continue as we grow our fleet.”
“We considered more than 100 potential names that were sourced internally and tested amongst key group market clients, partners, and intermediaries,” said Kimberly Daley, Chief Revenue Officer of Transcend Cruises. “Ligar e evoluir are action-oriented names that reflect the flexibility and customization elements that are core principles of the Transcend offering. We are extremely excited to debut them to the industry here at Seatrade and look forward to sharing the names with the group market as construction of our first vessel is well underway.”
Transcend is currently accepting charter bookings for 2026 and beyond, although space is becoming limited in the launch year. The company’s website has more information.
###
Transcend Cruises
Transcend Cruises is a new, global B2B charter-only river cruising company. Filling a void in the market, the company introduces a business model uniquely customized for group travel. Through a purpose-built fleet of wellness-enabling luxury river cruise ships and an innovative service model designed for multi-day tours, meetings, and events, the company custom crafts experiences for each client. The company’s ships deliver the space configuration, accommodations flexibility, and exceptional support to solve the challenges experienced by meeting, incentive, corporate group, and event buyers.
Den Breejen
Founded in 1947 and since then based in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Netherlands, Den Breejen Shipyard has become a major player in the inland shipping sector, both for new construction and for repair and refit. The specialization in the construction of river cruise ships has, over the past 25 years, increased brand awareness in shipbuilding. The increased market share in this specific sector has also led to an expansion of its regular clientele. Den Breejen designs, develops, and builds fully custom-built ships and realizes projects to the satisfaction of their clients and within the set delivery time.
Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS)
Tillberg Design of Sweden has, for more than five decades, planned and designed interiors for approximately 250 projects, including many of the world’s largest and most prestigious cruise ships, luxury hotels, restaurants, and high-end jewelry boutiques. With 100 architects and designers working in teams from offices in Sweden, Poland, and Miami, their everyday passion is to create and design unique interiors for each of their clients. They are the world’s leading company in marine architecture and interior design. They plan and design innovative, elegant, and timeless interiors of all kinds and sizes, both at sea and ashore.
