While most people still associate cruising with sailing the high seas and deep oceans, luxury river cruises are gaining popularity in this category.
Here are 5 things to look forward to if you take a river cruise trip.
1) There is more to see every day
Unlike luxury ocean cruises that have days when you only see water everywhere, the river cruise almost always guarantees guests that they will wake up in a new city or country every day.
Another great thing to look forward to is the panoramic views. As you cruise the rivers, especially in places where cities developed around rivers like Amsterdam or Paris, the panoramic views will never disappoint.
2) Smaller groups
Due to the size of the waterways that ships have to traverse, the ships that ply the rivers for cruise ships are smaller than their ocean-traveling cousins. Most luxury river cruise groups are small and some ultra luxury cruises only have 24 guests. This makes the cruise experience more intimate and the service mega-personalized.
3) 5 star accommodation
The first-time luxury river cruiser might think its cabins would be tiny due to the smaller size of the ship. These days river cruise ships are now built with 5-star accommodations in mind. This includes spacious, well-appointed rooms with specially designed balconies and windows to provide unrestricted views of the passing landscape.
From butler service, gourmet meals prepared on the ship or in ports of call, complimentary drinks, caviar, whatever you can, pools, gyms, spas, the name! Most luxury river cruises have it!
4) Guided tours
Unlike ocean cruises, guided tours are already included in a luxury river cruise. And because some of the port stops during river cruises literally drop you in the heart of the city, river cruises offer specialized tours. For example, there is the Food and Wine River Cruise in France, where guests have the opportunity to sample food and drink from cities such as Paris, Burgundy, and Provence.
Shore excursions are not limited to just guided tours. Guests can also tour the city on bicycles that the ship provides free of charge.
5) Everything is more relaxed
With their smaller cruises, inflight entertainment is more limited on luxury river cruises compared to ocean cruises. There is no Vegas-style entertainment like casinos or theaters. Guests wishing to opt for peace and quiet will enjoy relaxing nights on the river cruise. Sit back, relax, and watch the twinkling lights of the riverside houses pass by in the comfort of your stateroom.
Another thing you can expect when you are on a luxury river cruise is no motion sickness. This is good news for those who suffer from motion sickness. River cruising is the answer to that problem, as the rivers that are traversed on most cruises are placid and calm.
River cruise locations are all over the world. Choose from luxury river cruises that cross the Danube (Germany, Holland, Hungary, Slovakia, or Austria), the Seine in France, the exotic Nile in Egypt, the wild Amazon in South America, and the Yangtze River in China. The luxury river cruise is a great alternative to the ocean cruise.
