River Cruise Lines

As opposed to the traditional cruise that most people associate with cruising, river cruises are growing in popularity. Rivers in most countries serve as major waterways, transporting goods and people. One of the principal differences between a river and ocean cruise is the main attraction is land on a river cruise, not the ship, which is common with ocean cruises. Travelers spend time in port, getting to know cities stationed among the river, and the sailing typically occurs more in the evening.

Cruises on rivers are now commonplace around the globe. The Danube and Rhine rivers offer some emblematic touring experiences, while upstart cruise experiences like the Mississippi River in the U.S. is beginning to take hold. The first thing to consider however, regardless of the destination, is how long do you want to spend in a specific destination. Although this varies person to person, getting to know a city in a single day is tough. Map out the destinations that interest you and seek out a provider that will stop for 2 days in a city as opposed to 1. Anything more than 2 days is rare, but 3-day stops do occur. Second, what does your travel budget look like? Like an ocean cruise, many times the river cruise price structure is all-inclusive (food and beverage included). But once you hit a port, those costs are on you, and a couple can easily exceed $200 per day on transportation, food, museums, souvenirs, etc. Multiply that by 5 stops are we’re talking an extra $1,000 on top of what you’ve already paid.

The cruise line Viking River Cruises offers something that more and more people are latching on to. Flexible “chart coursing” allows passengers to program their own tour package once they arrive to port instead of taking the mass tourism options. The danger here however is making it back to the ship in time as mass tourism packages will handle that for you. But if you feel you’re up for that programming challenge, the option exists. Third, if you have a problem with community dining, a river cruise is not for you. Tables are typically shared, giving travelers the chance to mingle, have a meal with a different set of people each day, thus creating a community atmosphere. Some people like this, while others detest it. Yet, even if you detest it, there is always the option of taking the food to your room and chowing down there. But that’s a bit anti-social now, isn’t it?

Europe continues to be the number one river cruise destination. U River Cruises, Tauck and Crystal are some of the leading cruise lines in the world, and Tauck recently branched out into Portugal with a special vessel designed specifically for the Douro River. Balkan countries like Serbia are peaking folk’s interest which has U River Cruises strategically positioned to take advantage of this growing market. The Rhine and the Danube still receive the most interest, but these other segments are growing swiftly.

In Egypt, the Nile is a biggie, but social disturbances have dampened demand in recent years. Stateside, the lower and upper Mississippi River is a big attraction, taking you through Memphis to New Orleans, St. Paul and St. Louis. The Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest have a unique charm, while the waterways in Juneau, Alaska and New York’s Hudson River Valley provide a slice of American life that is exceptionally unique.

Sound it out with the kids this year, and plan for a river cruise getaway. They’ll thank you for it (maybe not this year, but in time, in time).