There?s no better way of visiting some great destinations like Europe, China, Russia, Southeast Asia and others than on a river cruise.? And there are a variety of ships and itineraries lasting from 5 or 6 days to 3+ weeks so there?s definitely a perfect schedule for just about everyone.? But river cruising is distinctly different than big ship cruising.? Here are some important things to know before you decide if this could be YOUR next perfect vacation.
Ease of Travel
Unpack once and you?re good to go.? From that moment on you can relax in comfort and see the world go by in your spacious river-view stateroom.? And since the rivers offer smooth sailing there?s no need to worry about motion sickness like you might if you were sailing the open sea.? This makes for a vacation free of risk and hassle.
Get Up Close and Personal?
Throughout history so many cities and towns originally developed along the waterways of the world and were made to be accessible by river.? River cruises are able to sail directly into the very heart of many cities and towns, which means that you will walk right off the ship into the center of town which is a huge bonus.? No time wasted transferring to town from an airport and no worries that your accommodations will be too far from the center to walk to.
Vessel Sizes
River cruise vessels are designed to operate on the world waterway systems and as such must be small enough to navigate through them.? Most river cruises accommodate only 150-190 passengers on just a handful of decks.? This gives you a much more personal experience on board than you will find on an oceangoing vessel holding thousands of passengers.? You will be sailing very close to shore at many times and will feel as if you can reach out and touch the town as you drift past.
Limited Time in Port
Since the ship moves to a different place each day, your time in port is limited.? No difference here from big ship cruising.? But, that being said, you get to see a new place every day so your trip is packed full of more great places to see.
New Scenery Every Day
Well, we covered this above while talking about limited time in port.? River cruises tend to make more stops than some big ship cruises do so you can expect to see a new place at least every day.? After all, you?re going on this trip to see things, right?
The Weather ? It Is What It Is
On oceangoing cruise ships if there is a problem with the weather, they are usually able to sail around or away from the storm so that the ship isn?t sailing though bad weather of some type.? On river cruises, it it?s too foggy to see the stunning castle on shore as you pull out of port, well?.the boat has to stay on the river so? it is what it is.
The Local Flavor
Unlike taking a land based vacation, on a river cruise you will have less time to meet and interact? with locals in each destination if that?s what you like to do.? On the other hand, you?ll have plenty of time at each stop to get into town and really savor the spot before continuing on to the next great port.
A Bike For Anyone?
Some river cruises will have bikes available for passenger use in port.? Biking around a small town is a great way to experience it.? Some cruises will even allow you to bike to the next port and rejoin the ship there.? Now that?s definitely something you can?t do on an oceangoing cruise ship.
More Culture & History
The ports of call for river cruises are really over the top in terms of culture and history and offer a unique and rich experience for you at each stop you make on your cruise.
Celebrate the Art of Eating
On the finest of all-inclusive river cruises you can expect to find a variety of dining experiences and fine foods to whet your appetite.? And for a side serving of cultural experience, accompany the chef to the local market, discover interesting facts that you never knew about herbs, or meet local food and wine producers.? These are just some of the unique experiences you can expect to find on certain river cruises.
Everything looks different from the river, so even if you?ve already been to some of the world?s great cities like Paris, St. Petersburg, Budapest or Vienna, these destinations will come alive for you in a totally different way when viewed from the water.
We recommend that you enhance your experience with the most All-Inclusive river cruise you can find.? This means that the price will cover just about everything.? From accommodations, meals,? internet and port charges to activities and lectures on board to tours and excursions on shore, everything you want to experience on this trip will be included so you don?t have to worry about planning and purchasing add-ons? once you?re on board.
There are many different options for river boat cruising.? They are NOT all created equally, so be sure and talk with someone knowledgeable about the river cruise industry before deciding what ship you might want to sail on.
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About Mary Emmer
Mary Emmer is the founder of Sojourn Travel Service and has over 30 years of professional experience in the areas of both corporate and custom leisure travel. With her extensive personal knowledge of many European and other international travel destinations, Mary provides expert guidance to her clients. She can be reached at mary@sojourntravel.com.
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