Company History
SE-Tours GmbH now looks back on more than 30 years of experience as a provider of active travel with cycling and cruising. Starting with a combined trip through Holland, today we offer our guests the opportunity to travel across Europe on numerous ships.
On October 1, 1993 (back then still SE-Pressereisen GmbH), it was "anchors aweigh" for vacations made in Bremerhaven. At that time, it was primarily selected destinations for reader trips in cooperation with newspaper publishers that the then managing director, Hans-Georg Setzer, chose with great skill and dedication for his customers. In this exciting inaugural year, the first own catalog was already 12 pages long, and on the way to their dream vacation, around 1,000 guests were cared for by five employees.
Classical and Active Holiday Pleasures
What begins quite traditionally with initial river cruises on the Danube and Main soon evolves into a diverse program featuring 40 destinations worldwide each year. In 1997, SE-Tours introduces for the first time a combined cycling and cruising trip in Holland with the MS ALLURE. This marks the beginning of another success story. The program is gradually expanded. In 2009, the first 16-page cycling and cruising travel catalog delights both business partners and active holidaymakers alike – the trendy specialized offering has outgrown its infancy.
In 2009, SE-Pressereisen GmbH rebrands to SE-Tours GmbH, reflecting the changed distribution. No longer are newspaper publishers the main clients, but rather large German and international tour operators, coach companies, and travel agencies.
For its 20th anniversary in 2013, 14 cabin ships are in full charter operation and SE-Tours has grown to become one of the largest European providers of cycling and cruising trips. This position has been steadily expanded in recent years. In 2014, around 12,500 guests can be welcomed on the river ships.
One year later, Hans-Georg Setzer hands over the company management to younger hands.
Since 2015, SE-Tours GmbH has been a 100% subsidiary of Eurofun Touristik GmbH, based in Obertrum, Austria.
At the beginning of 2016, Jörg Gövert, the former authorized representative, became the managing director of SE-Tours.
In November 2018, SE-Tours GmbH relocated from Barkhausenstraße to its new headquarters "Am Grollhamm" in Bremerhaven.
The move was celebrated with an open house event in April 2019. Numerous guests and partners had the opportunity to experience the new modern premises firsthand. At the same time, the new E-Bike Center was introduced. As a certified partner of the renowned manufacturer Velo de Ville, SE-Tours offers the possibility to configure your individual dream bike. Whether it's a city bike, mountain bike, trekking bike, or compact bike, together, the ideal model is found for every customer's needs.
Between 2020 and 2021, there was a sudden standstill for the entire industry, followed by many adjustments and challenges that we tackled together with our teams on board and locally in Bremerhaven.
By 2022, approximately 30 people are now employed on-site in Bremerhaven, focusing on planning, logistics and consulting for your perfect bike and boat vacation. Normality is returning, and we have been able to welcome a multitude of guests on board again.
In 2023, we celebrated our 30th anniversary and offered our guests great anniversary discounts, diverse programs and a variety of excursions.
With a colorful portfolio of bike and boat trips as well as classic river cruises throughout Europe, we look forward to the upcoming season and to welcoming you on board as well.
