I have watched YouTube videos and read many articles about river cruising. They all seem to repeat the same advice, which is okay, but don’t really help a lot. So, based on having taken several river cruises, I thought I would share some of the lessons I have learned while cruising. Some are obvious, others not so much. I definitely recommend including river cruises in you vacation options. You will not regret the decision.
Itineraries are Similar, but not Equal – Review Itineraries Carefully
Let’s start with finding an exciting itinerary. At first look, many of the river cruises look the same, however, they differ in many ways. Here are the items I review when picking an itinrary.
– Embarkation and Debarkation Ports
Many of the river cruises have similar start and stop points. For example, on our recent Danube trip, most cruises we checked left from or ended in Budapest and we wanted to visit Linz. Only a few itineraries included Linz and the one we selected was the only one that terminated in Linz. While this is not a major issue, it was a significant determining factor for us. We saw one cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam that was only a few days longer than ours. It had to be traveling fast, which meant lots of sailing time, ports more spread out, and possibly less time in ports. We chose one that traveled less distance. As it turned out Linz was a great airport from which to depart – small, friendly staff, and easy to navigate with no long walks.
– Cities Visited
This is my most important criteria. I always review the cities being visited. It is amazing to me that itineraries can look similar, but, when you read the details, they are vastly different. All the river cruises provide detailed itineraries on their websites that tell you what cities you will be visiting. Read the detailed itineraries carefully to ensure you see what you think you will be seeing. We wanted time in Linz, Austria where I planned to Skype with my father who remembered it from World War II. I was surprised to see how many cruises bypassed Linz altogether. We ended up with two nights in Linz, which was a wonderful city and easy to walk.
– Length of Time in Each Port
Along with the cities visited, check out the length of time in each port. Normally, there will be an included excursion at each port. If you want more time to walk around on your own, check the detailed itinerary to make sure you will have time. We had one day where we visited three different cities and did not have much time to explore on our own. Granted, they were small towns and the day was filled, but we would have been disappointed if we wished more time.
– Overnight Stays
I like overnight stays as cities at night have their own charm. On our most recent cruise, we were overnight at Budapest (in a hotel) and Vienna (on the ship), and we had two nights in Linz. This is much better than traveling at night as it provides some additional alternative for evening activities.
Ships have Major Differences – Examine the Ship Layout
In general, all river ships have similar dimensions that are governed by the restrictions of river travel. They need to be able to go under the bridges and fit in the locks. From the outside, and even a quick review of deck plans, they may look alike, but there are many differences. Each line has features it believes are important to its clientele. Some have small pools on the top deck, others only a hot tub, and yet others nothing at all. Here are some of the features I look at.
– What is available on the Sky Deck (top deck of the ship)?
This will differ even among ships from the same line. I like to look at this deck to see what it offers. Some have jogging tracks, most have a covered lounging area, and a few have pools and bars. Depending on the location and time of year, you may be spending a lot of time on this deck as it offers great views. Our most recent river cruise had two barbecue lunches on the Sky Deck to allow additional viewing while we sailed in the middle of the day.
– Is there a second indoor lounge?
All ships have a large lounge at the front of the ship with a bar and area to congregate. Some, like Avalon, also have a second, smaller lounge at the rear. This second lounge is usually quieter, providing a good place to read or play games. It is quieter and has a self-serve beverage and snack area. Some ships use the rear of the ship for their suites, so this space is not available to other passengers. Examine the deck plans to find out whether there is somewhere other than the main lounge, which can get quite noisy, for you to hang out if you want some quiet time. Unless you have a suite, it is unlikely your room will provide the space you need, even if you have a balcony.
– Is there a place to work out?
Many passengers like to start the day with a small workout. Most, but not all, river ships have a small (and I mean small) room with some exercise equipment. If a workout in part of your daily routine, verify that the ship has such a facility and what equipment is available. You will want to look at the photos of the ship to see what equipment they have as it will be limited.
– Are there any alternative dining options?
Most lines now offer alternatives to the main dining room for meals. You should review their literature to determine what is available. Most river ships do not provide room service or only very limited room service, so do not expect this to be an option. We like using the main dining room, but have observed that some passengers like a more casual meal that is usually offered in the main lounge.
– How many staterooms are available?
River cruise ships are small. Depending on the configuration, there will be up to 200 passengers. It is always good to know how many additional passengers will be on the cruise. I always look at the capacity of the ship, but I also check before sailing to see how many unsold cabins are available. Our most recent trip had on lay 123 passengers, so it felt very spacious. On a previous cruise, we had 196 passengers, which meant the lounge could feel quite full during the daily briefings.
Staterooms vary greatly between Lines and Ships
All river cruise ships offer a variety of cabin choices. The first floor will be the rooms with just a porthole or small window, since they are at water lever. The second and third floors normally have a mix of rooms with large windows, French balconies (sliding doors), balconies, and suites. From my reviews of the different cruise lines, each has a philosophy that they promote. Avalon has their Panorama suites (not full suites, but basically a room with a full width sliding door for an exterior wall), which we like. Uniworld has luxurious rooms that are decorated in a very luxurious style. Viking has choices of rooms with or without a balcony (i.e., veranda). Grand Circle offers very basic rooms that enables a group experience at a very reasonable price. Spend some time with the literature to determine what is best for you. Photos on the website or sites like Cruise Critic or Cruise Deck Plans, as well as booking sites, provide information on the cabin along with photos.
Review Excursions to get what you want
This is another area that varies greatly between the lines and also within the lines, depending on the itinerary. Some tips for reviewing excursions include:
– Are any options provided?
Some lines provide one included excursion at each port. This means that everyone will see the same thing. We experienced this approach on our Rhine river cruise with Avalon. This works well for small towns, but not so well for larger ones. Other itineraries will include multiple options, so you can select a more strenuous excursion if you wish. We had this experience on our recent Danube cruise with Avalon. Read the detailed itinerary closely as it will provide insight to whether you will have excursion options.
– What optional excursions are provided?
All lines offer optional excursions that cost extra. These are also described in the detailed itinerary. I have noticed that many of the optional excursions have a size limit, so it is wise to sign up early if you really want one. We have found that many of the optional excursions are extremely well managed and have enjoyed them. But you can definitely have a great experience without any optional excursions.
– Sign up early
If allowed by the cruise line, sign up early as some excursions will have space limitations. We discovered on our recent trip that, if even one person signs up for an excursion, they will hold it. I wanted to do a cave excursion in Budapest, but did not sign up ahead of time. As it turned out, no one else did, so the operator placed a strict minimum group size. We did not have the minimum size, so the excursion was cancelled. This policy may vary but I suggest that you do sign up prior to the trip. For included excursions, you can always bail out if you do not want to go. For optional excursions, check the cancellation policy with the line.
Book extra nights to see arrival and departure ports
Generally, you will want to see the cities at the beginning and end of your trip in more detail. I suggest that you plan an extra night or two, if not included in your itinerary. On our Rhine cruise, the itinerary included three days in Prague at the beginning and three days in Paris at the end, so there was no need to book extra nights. On our Danube cruise, only one night in Budapest was included, which did not provide a full day in Budapest. So, we booked an extra night in Budapest through the cruise line (was reasonably priced) so we could have a full day to explore Budapest, which we used to take a hop-on, hop-off bus and evening river cruise. This allowed us to really enjoy the city. I do recommend at least on full day in major cities if you have not previously visited them.
If you have limitations, make sure your cruise can support them
Let the cruise director know if you have any physical limitations. They are used to an older clientele so they will make arrangements to support those who cannot walk fast or need some assistance. Avalon call this the “gentle walker” group and they will arrange mini-bus transportation or alternative venues for this group at no extra cost. Unfortunately, river cruising does not accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, or scooters well, nor do many of the European cities. If you have more severe limitations, speak with your cruise agent to make sure they can be accommodated. Also, be aware that, if there is an elevator in the ship, it will probably not go to the sky deck, which is only accessible by stairs. Finally, river cruise ships do not have accessible suites.
Get a cabin in the middle or front – avoid the rear
I did not consider room location when initially booking. Be aware that the engine noise is much greater at the rear of the ship, especially when maneuvering at locks. I was considering a room at the rear since it was close to the back lounge where we like to relax, but was glad our room was in the middle. While this noise may not bother some people, you do need to be aware of it. Keep in mind that many locks are traversed during the night and the engine noise will wake up a light sleeper.
Pace is different than ocean cruise – no “sea days”
River cruising is a much different pace than ocean cruising. The only “sea days” you will have is for cruising through scenic stretches of the river, in which case you want to be on the sky deck to take advantage of the views. You will not have any production shows or alternative entertainment venues. If you don’t like the entertainment in the lounge, you are pretty much on your own. On the other hand, you will be pretty busy with excursions and the ability to just leave the ship and explore on your own. I like to take long walks, so I take advantage of the free time to take my walks. My wife and I are not big drinkers, so we do not hang out at the bar. We like the rear lounge or sky deck for relaxing. We also like our afternoon naps with the balcony doors open for fresh air. Your cruise director can help you plan your free time – take advantage of this service. I found that just about any crew member was willing to provide information on the port and things they like to do. It appears that the crew on the river ships get more time to get off the ship and explore, plus many of them are locals who know the area well. Since it is a slower pace, the crew are always willing to converse if they do not have duties to perform.
Look at the total price
Do not be fooled by the base price for your river cruise. As with any other vacation, consider the full price, including:
– Air fare
I have found that I have receive great prices from the river cruise line for air fare. Since you are generally arriving in one city and leaving from another, it can be difficult to schedule on your own. On our most recent trip, the best price I could find was $1,200. Avalon provided air for $743 on Lufthansa with only one connection. And this price included transfers between the airport and ship/hotel. Many lines offer discounted air or even free air to entice customers. Keep in mind that, if you book your own flights, you will need to be cognizant of when to arrive and you will be responsible for you transfers from/to the airport.
– Extra days
As I mentioned above, it is nice to have at least one full day to explore your arrival and departure ports. If the cruise line is providing hotel accommodations at either end, we try to book a the same place. Note that some cruise lines have an overnight at the port but you are on the ship, so you need to check the itinerary to find out what is provided. We tend to book our hotel stays through the cruise lines, if they are not too expensive. This will generally be a little more expensive than booking directly with the hotel, but it guarantees that we do not have to change rooms and the cruise line makes sure we are in good hands.
– Optional excursions
Pricing for optional excursions varies by line. Some lines charge a lot, others more reasonably. You will have access to the cost for optional excursions prior to traveling – take the time to review them. The optional excursions will take you places not normally visited, so do not discount them just for the price unless you plan to come back later.
– Tipping
The tipping policy varies among the lines. Most include the tips for porters and guides, but not crew and cruise director. We purchase prepaid tips on Avalon so we do not have to deal with tipping at the end of the trip. Read your contract to find out what is included.
– Meals
While meals are included on board the ship, they may not all be included during hotel stays or on some excursions. The detailed itinerary for the cruise will identify what meals are included. Remember to budget for meals that are not included.
– Drinks
This is another area that varies between lines. Most include beer and wine with your meals, but you will pay extra for other alcoholic drinks at meals or for drinks at other times. Pricing is about the same as any large city, but plan this cost if you wish to drink. Some lines include drinks at all times, so check with your cruise line to learn their policy.
Close your shades at night – you never know who will be outside in the morning
This is a common warning for river cruises. As ports become more crowded, the cruise ships dock alongside each other, up to four deep. The passengers for the ships not next to the dock must walk through other ships to get off. What this means is that you might have a nice view when you go to bed, but will have a ship right outside your window when you wake up. Best to close your shades at night to avoid a surprise when you wake.
Changing legal jurisdictions – be aware
Be aware that you will be traveling through multiple countries during your trip. Many rivers are also country boundaries. You are bound by the laws of the country through which you are sailing. For the most part, this will not be a problem, but do not assume anything about the laws of the country through which you are sailing. Do your research in advance or speak with the cruise director who can advise you well.
Watch your phone usage
I have Verizon cell phone service and am subscribed to their international roaming package that charges me up to $10 per day for usage in foreign countries only for days on which I use the service. Since river cruises pass through several countries, often during the same day, or will cruise a river which is a border, Verizon may charge for multiple countries, depending on which cell tower picks up your signal. I always put my phone in airplane mode so I do not get charged for roaming unless I really want to use it. I have a Skype account that allows me to make VOIP calls to the U.S. for 2 cents per minute, which I use to make calls if necessary. River cruises normally have internet provided, so this is sufficient for me. If you need to use your carrier services while abroad, review their policies (these do change from time to time) so you understand what you will be charged. Some carriers require you to sign up for a special service if you want international roaming.
If you phone supports it, you can purchase a prepaid SIM card. For me, this is a hassle and does not provide much advantage, but that will depend on your usage. Make sure your phone can support a foreign SIM card and I do suggest purchasing the cards in advance, as you may not have time once you arrive at your destination.
Bon Voyage
River cruising is a great way to see cities not located on the coast and experience their cultures. I hope you consider a river cruise as a vacation option and that the information I have provided assists you in planning your river cruise.
If you have other suggestions, please leave them in the comments below. Let me know if you have any questions and I will do my best to get you answered.
