River Cruise 101

Perhaps you’ve cruised all over Europe and seen the coastal cities of Athens, Barcelona and Copenhagen, plus others. And maybe you have even taken a day trip to Rome or Paris. Or perhaps you haven’t. Maybe this will be your first foray into Europe. Either way, a river cruise is an experience to enjoy and remember.

One of the nice things about a river cruise that you will like is one of the most obvious reasons that people like cruising in general. Unpack once and see the world. When you board that cruise ship or river cruise ship, you check into your cabin, unpack your clothes and you’re set for the week, or two weeks or more! One week to two weeks’ worth of clothes easily fits into the closet and drawer space provided. And if you need to wash that favorite top cause you love to wear it every day, there are laundry services on board. (For tips on “packing inspired” check out my Pinterest board)

Because old world cities were built and grew up along the rivers, you will dock right in the heart of the city. At our first port of call on our recent Danube River Cruise, it was an easy walk into Budapest to The Great Market Hall and other sights. You will find that ease of getting in and out of the cities all along the way.

On a river cruise you can enjoy a luxury all-inclusive or close to all inclusive experience. Each cruise line is different as to what they offer in the way of inclusions. At the very least, all of your gourmet meals are provided along with soda, or a local wine or beer selection. Alcoholic beverages besides wine or beer are generally at an additional cost. Walking tours of the cities are included. These are provided by professional, local guides and may included different levels of walking or different emphasis of interest. On our Amawaterways cruise there were biking tours available. The bikes were also available for you to use on your own. Other cruise lines also have bikes available. Your river cruise may include champagne at breakfast, free internet access, and live cultural entertainment on board the ship.

River cruises are available in Europe, Asia, Russia, Egypt Africa and the US. With bookings up over 200 percent in the past decade, river cruising has never been bigger, especially along the rivers of Europe. Ultimately, there’s no answer to the question, “What’s the best river cruise?” But we can answer the question, “What’s the best river cruise – for you?”

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