River Cruising: Are you new to cruising rivers? A river cruise could be the ideal vacation for you if you want to get away from it all, see new places, and experience a different way of life.
If this is your first time taking a river cruise, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve addressed some of the most frequent queries guests have before setting sail for the first time.
You should read on for our beginner’s guide to river cruising, which covers everything from why a river cruise might be more suitable for you than an ocean cruise to what to anticipate and the appropriate attire for river ships.
What makes a river cruise preferable to a sea cruise?
For those seeking their first cruise, a river cruise offers a more intimate and personalized experience. River cruises are cozier and more intimate because they are on smaller ships with fewer people on board.
They’re also a more affordable option for a major adventure because you’ll see a number of locations during the journey, allowing you to cross off multiple locations from your travel wish list for the price of a single vacation. Additionally, a lot of river cruises include everything, so you won’t have to worry about paying for individual meals while on vacation.
Because river cruises are more environmentally friendly than ocean cruises, travelers who care about the environment may also prefer to take a river cruise.
Why River Cruises are Expensive: Are They Worth It?
River cruises, as opposed to sea cruises, typically take you right into the heart of the city you’re visiting, allowing you to spend more time sightseeing and less time traveling. On a river cruise, the ports are the main draw, so you can cross off more stunning locations from your bucket list.
Additionally, you’ll discover that river cruise ships offer less entertainment options than larger cruise ships, which frequently dazzle guests with expansive water parks, theaters, and movie theaters.
The entertainment on a river cruise is more subdued and can include cooking demonstrations, educational seminars, or live music in a lounge bar, like on our Bordeaux cruise with Raymond Blanc.
Beginner’s Guide to River Cruising
River Ships Are Not as Big as Ocean Ships
There are a lot of similarities and differences between river and ocean cruising, regardless of where you are in the world: Europe, South America, Asia, the United States, or Africa. First of all, ships are much smaller than oceangoing vessels; this is especially true in parts of Asia and Europe where ships must navigate shallow waters and are limited in length and width to fit through locks and under low bridges.
Every Day, One New Port, Sometimes Two
In contrast to ocean ships, river vessels make port calls at one or more new ports every day; travelers can see as many as four nations in a single week. Itineraries feature a lot of ports and a packed schedule of culturally rich shore excursions, most of which are included in the fare and some of which are not. It is rare to spend an entire day on board, but there is always time for cruising, with some itineraries even including nighttime sailing.
There is usually one main restaurant and one speciality venue, and all meals are included.
Is there a required outfit?
Despite the often luxurious interiors of the boats, smart casual is the standard dress code for river cruises. For the most part, river cruise holidays are like a city break on water. You can leave your heels and ties at home and spend your days exploring the highlights in comfortable clothes and shoes, and your evenings lounging and mingling in the onboard restaurants and bars in smart casual attire.
Your packing list will be based on the items on your itinerary. Even though most river cruises have a laid-back vibe, if you have spare time in places like Paris or Venice, you should bring some dressier clothing in case you want to check out some of the upscale bars and restaurants.
It’s best to confirm the dress code at the time of booking, as it may differ based on the ship and the theme of your cruise.
Entertainment on a river cruise
Low-key entertainment is offered, with the passing scenery and ports of call serving as the main draws (there’s always plenty to see on both banks). Because riverships are small, you will quickly get to know your fellow travelers and you won’t get lost in the throng
Sometimes It Can Be Difficult to Be Accessible
Wheelchair users and those with severe mobility issues should not go on river cruises. Elevators are a feature of most modern ships, and some even have specially designed cabins. However, gangways can be steep, depending on the depth of the river, and occasionally ships are moored side by side, making it necessary to walk across one or more of them in order to disembark. Prior to making a reservation, always check with a line to see how user-friendly it will be.
Top 7 River Cruise for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Editor’s Remark: There is another kind of cruising known as “barge cruising,” which is primarily focused on vessels with fewer than 25 passengers that navigate even smaller rivers and frequently remain in canals. Families or groups of friends can also charter them, and they have a very nice ambiance. Most of the newly constructed hotel boats and repurposed working vessels have comfortable cabins with modern amenities, and the majority have bikes on board.
Selection of a River Cruise Location
Wachau, Austria at dusk with the Danube River and the ruins of the Aggstein CastleWachau, Austria at dusk with the Danube River and the ruins of the Aggstein Castle (Image: shutterstock.com/canadastock)
European River Cruisers Can Now Set Sail All Year Long
If you’ve never taken a river cruise, Europe is the best place to start and is the world’s most popular river cruise destination.
Most cruises are offered on the Rhine, which passes through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, and the Danube, which travels via Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, and Bulgaria before emptying into the Black Sea in Romania from the Black Forest in Germany.
Which one fits you the best? A few of the Rhine’s offshoots are the Main, a network of canals that links the Rhine with the Danube, and the Moselle, which is renowned for its precipitous hillsides covered in vineyards. The Danube has fewer tributaries than the other rivers, but if you’ve already traveled the Wachau Valley in central Austria, consider the Lower Danube, which passes through Serbia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria.
Other well-known rivers are the Seine in France, where ships dock in Paris and sail to the Normandy region. Between Lyon, France’s second-biggest city, and Arles, the Rhone river in France provides a taste of Provencal cuisine. Riverboat excursions through the Loire Valley and Bordeaux are also growing in popularity.
Other European rivers are the Douro in Portugal, which is bordered by steep wine terraces and surrounded by rugged, green scenery, and the Elbe, which rises in Germany and flows into the Czech Republic; the Po in Italy, which serves as a gateway to cities like Venice and Padua.
Seasonal cruises are also available, such as the “tulip time” itineraries that sail from Amsterdam through Belgium and the Netherlands in the spring. Additionally, Christmas market cruises during the winter—mainly on the Rhine and Danube—are enchanting ways to commemorate the holiday season.
River Cruise Cabins: What to Expect in Terms of Cabin Choices
- Europe River Cruise Lines: AmaWaterways, APT, Avalon Waterways, CroisiEurope, Emerald Waterways, European Waterways, Grand Circle, Riviera Travel, Scenic, Tauck, Uniworld, Vantage Deluxe World Travel, and Viking River Cruises are just a few of the major river cruise lines that operate in Europe. Cruises are now being offered in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other English-speaking nations by German-owned A-Rosa and the well-known Austrian line Amadeus.
- The Season: Viking River Cruises, which will launch a new Rhine itinerary in the winter of 2023, is the first line to operate year-round in Europe. Apart from that, the best time to find deals is during the late fall, which is the start of the river cruise season, which usually starts in late March. For the Rhine and Danube holiday markets season (late November to New Year’s Day), lines maintain a small number of ships available. After that, they store the ships for the season, usually using the months without operations for repairs and maintenance.
- Challenges: River cruises may encounter difficulties due to excessive or insufficient rainfall, especially during the spring and fall when rivers are filled with snowmelt and the start of the rainy season. Rivers that are rising or falling may make it impossible to cross beneath low bridges or may have water levels too shallow for safe cruising. Usually, river lines make plans in advance. In these circumstances, they might plan longer day trips, use the roads to get around, or even arrange for passengers to switch ships at important trouble spots.
