In this episode, we catch up with Dave Natale, AKA the River Cruise King, whose business has skyrocketed since his last appearance on The Lounge Podcast in 2021! He shares the secrets behind his thriving river cruise group business, from using Travefy’s itinerary builder to crafting personalized experiences with city guides, movie and music recommendations, and more. Dave also reveals his top marketing tips and how he keeps travelers coming back.
Plus, hear all about River Cruise King Academy’s upcoming group cruise designed for travel advisors who want to grow their group cruise business!
Show Notes:
- River Cruise King Academy: Join on the Cruise!
- Travefy’s Podcast Episode with Dave Natale in 2021: “Leveling Up Your Business by Charging Fees with The River Cruise King”
Dave Natale
DNA Tours / RiverCruiseKing.com
Dave Natale, known as the “River Cruise King,” is a prominent travel specialist and cruise agent with over 35 years of experience in the travel industry. He is the founder of DNA Tours and operates the popular website RiverCruiseKing.com, he has turned his passion for travel into a thriving business as an affiliate of OASIS Travel Network, a member of Signature Travel Network, where he has earned top accolades and is a multi-million dollar producer.
David’s journey in tourism began as a teenager working at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, before joining the travel industry with Cruises Only in the 1990s. Having spent over two decades living in Germany, where he founded Friends of Dave Tours in Warnemünde he landed in Rick Steve’s popular travel books, and now resides in Barcelona, Spain.
His deep understanding of European culture and destinations allows him to curate unforgettable travel experiences for his North American clientele and his personally led group trips consistently sell out / ultimately filling complete river cruise ships.
As a Top Producer and a member of Oasis’ Chairman’s Club, David has garnered recognition around the industry, including being named one of “The 1000 Most Influential Travel Advisors” and the “Best International River Cruise Travel Specialist” in 2023. His travel repertoire is extensive, with over 65 river cruises and 75 sea cruises around the world, enabling him to deliver bespoke, high-quality experiences tailored to his clients’ unique preferences.
David has proven to be a resilient and innovative leader, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he expanded his offerings from working solely with AmaWaterways to now including a variety of luxury and premium cruise lines and a variety of quality land package providers, thus increasing his sales by over 400% within two years.
His primary focus remains on creating meticulously planned, escorted group journeys while also working with select high-value individual clients.
In addition to his travel services, David is dedicated to helping other travel agents succeed. Through mentoring and workshops, he shares his expertise
in group sales and marketing, empowering agents to grow their businesses and achieve long-term success.
His upcoming group trips can be found at his website and his next training project is to host a Mastering Group Cruises Workshop on AMADEUS Nova, March 7-12, 2025 roundtrip from Vienna, Austria. More information can be found at RiverCruiseKingAcademy.com or by mailing Dave directly at info@rivercruisekingtrainer.com