Is River Cruising An Option For You?

As you may be aware, I will be “somewhere” sailing down the Danube when you read this.  As I write this, I am full of excitement at the prospect of my first river cruise. I have always wondered what they are like, and if I will like it. From the numerous clients I have booked over the years, the feedback I have is exceptional. Everyone who goes on one, raves about them, but is it for you?

Well, there is no point on beating around the bush, river cruises are expensive, yet their popularity increases year on year. Why so much more then a ocean cruise though?  One of the first things I would say is your average river cruise is on a level likened to a premium ocean cruise. You are also getting more for your money on a river cruise too. Personally I think the “offers” with the ocean cruises are at times, expensive and not really a offer at all. Yes, your getting say for example drinks included, but I can bet you the base price has gone up.  With a river cruise nearly all of them include beer, wine and soft drinks. Most will offer coffee and tea all the time and the big plus point (well for me) is excursions are included in the price as well as all the tips!  Plus a lot of the time WIFI is also included.

As always it is also down to the places you can visit which makes you decide on a cruise. With river cruising, it is not just the European rivers you can travel on, but also the Mekong river or the Irrawaddy in Burma, Yangtze in China to name a few, all of these on my bucket list I can tell you.

Next fact is the size of the ship. Instead of thousands on a ocean cruise, the best your looking at on a river cruise would be approx 200 people on board. Being smaller ships they do get to destinations the ocean liners can’t get too, a bonus if you like to see something really a bit different.

What about entertainment? Well, your not going to get the Broadway shows that’s for sure! What you will get is things like wine/food tasting evenings, local entertainment on board for the evening, such as a Tyrolean band or talks by experts on the areas you are visiting. If you do like loads to do on a evening, then perhaps this is not for you.

So, would a river cruise appeal to you? Probably not if your a family with younger children or children who are looking for lots of activities during the day. The physically challenged would also perhaps find it difficult, not all ships have lifts and sometimes you do have to walk across another one to get onto the port side. If you like to do the “anytime” dining and don’t like to sit next to the same person every night, that would not be feasible on a river boat as you do have a set time for dining.

Taking all of these factors into consideration I think this is the way to go, however as it gains in popularity will someone come along and decide to offer the “budget” ships on the rivers? Well that would be worth talking about!

I will of course, let you have my thoughts, and as ever, my honest opinion on my return.