Advantages of River Cruising

“Oceans take you to countries, rivers take you through them.” This quote by Kristin Karst, Co- Founder and Executive Vice President of AmaWaterways, gives the first advantage of a river cruise over an ocean cruise. With river cruising you can see not only Europe but Russia, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Egypt, and Africa. As much as I love ocean cruising and days at sea, river cruising captivates me.

With ships ranging from 100-200 passengers, you will have a more intimate atmosphere, make friends for life, and will be able to practice social distancing. I feel that it will be easier for the river cruises to reemerge better than ever. It will be easier for them to implement the required and additional health and safety measures - i.e. no buffets, no large gatherings, etc.

I am sure most of you will miss the hairy chest and belly flop contests that typical ocean cruises provide. River cruising is more “civil” than most other ways of travel. You can explore the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Douro, and even the Po river. River cruises also have certain themes: i.e. “wine immersion”, “Tulip Time”, “Jewish Heritage”, as well as a “beer tasting cruise”. And we certainly cannot forget about the magical “Christmas Markets”.

River cruising can be totally all-inclusive depending on the cruise line and ship you choose. Personally, I have taken three and walked off the ship without a bill. Most of your inclusions include local beers and wine, cocktail hour, excursions at every port, airport transfers, Wi-Fi, and gratuities.

If you are prone to seasickness, river cruises are the way to go. There are no waves on the river which provides smooth sailing. Most cruises include transferring through a series of “locks” to accommodate the changes in elevation. You can stand on your balcony and stick your hand out and touch the walls of the locks. Traveling throught the locks is fascinating. Even though there is sparse entertainment on the ship, there is almost always live music in the lounge, tons of movies and shows on your in-cabin TV. Most cruise lines will also bring in local entertainers at the ports: i.e. OomPah band in Passau Germany or Gypsy dancers in Budapest. You can even learn how to make wooden shoes in Amsterdam!

As a travel advisor who specializes in river cruising and has actually experienced one as well, I have developed a wonderful working relationship with sales representativess from the different lines to be able to find the perfect fit for you. River cruising can also be a great group opportunity for friends, family, or colleagues. Also, it can also be a team building experience with activities from bike riding to wine tasting. Is there someone you would like to travel with?

If you joined our virtual cruise night a few weeks back, you already know quite a bit about European River Cruising. I hope you have learned about river cruising and decide to book your own or join us on a group trip in April on the Rhine. Happy Cruisin'!