You may have wondered whether a river cruise is right for you. Typically river cruises run older often due to cost but I am in my 40s and it has been my favorite way to explore Europe for many reasons.
- The river cruise allows access to towns and places for exploration you may never ever get to otherwise.
- Small ship size (often around 130 people) feels like a floating boutique hotel.
- You don’t need to worry about repacking and lugging your stuff from one location to the next.
- Often you can add on to the trip at the beginning or the end to really immerse yourself in a culture either on your own or with one of the extensions offered but the cruise line for hotel, transport, and activities.
- The mode of transportation is the perfect way to travel with an older relative.
- Chefs and dining experiences are often designed to reflect the regions you are visiting and local ingredients are sourced from each port.
- You cover a lot of ground. Many places I probably won’t return in my lifetime.
- You meet like-minded people.
- Often tours in each port are complimentary. The whole experience is a great value.
- Enrichment is offered onboard daily.
- Daily Happy Hours and drinks are included in the price. Local wines are celebrated.
- Everything is well organized.
- You can pick and choose your itinerary based on your own interests.
- Patience, friendliness, and service of the staff is unparalleled. Your room is cleaned daily.
- Every day is a new adventure and waters are calm.
As a travel writer, I sailed on Viking in 2022 and brought my mom on the Seine from Paris to Normandy and back. Learn why you’ll love cruising with Viking on a river cruise. Read how this trip brought my mom and I closer.
In 2023, my husband and I cruised the Danube from Budapest to Vilshofen, Germany (and then traveled on our own to Cesky Krumlov and Prague) with AmaWaterways but most cruise lines offer pre and post extensions. It was the most active vacation we have ever experienced as we chose to bike over 17 miles a day in 3 ports. We biked through the Wachau Valley in Austria, pedaled around Vienna, and zoomed along the scenic shores of the Inn River through wooded hills and beaches of poplars, where we gaped at the cobblestone town’s pastel-hued Baroque buildings in Passau, Germany to Austria. Learn more about our experience on AmaWaterways as the boat offered bikes and local guides in ports in addition to walking and hiking excursions.
Today a plethora of river cruise options are available. Some cruise lines are theme-based too, such as wine, wellness, tulips, Christmas markets, family, and African American history.
Dreamy River Cruise Destinations:
Douro River through Portugal
Rhine and Moselle Rivers through 6 countries in Europe
Lower Danube – Germany to Romania
Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia
Nile River in Egypt
Amazon River in South America
River Cruises to consider:
Viking
AmaWaterways
American Cruise Lines
Avalon Waterways
Tauck
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Emerald
Here is an interesting article comparing the river cruises on Frommers.
Looking to book a river or ocean cruise? Reach out to discuss how I can make your dream trip come true with added perks and the best rates. I have booked clients in the last year on Norwegian, Windstar, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Viking, AmaWaterways, and more. Perks I have been able to get clients include $500 off per person, free airfare, buy one get one free airfare, $150 shipboard credit, complimentary spa experience, and specialty dining experiences.
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