European river cruises, including Viking, Vantage, Crystal, Uniworld, Avalon Waterways, Grand Circle, Emerald Waterways, and others, offer a unique and enchanting way to explore the continent’s rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty. Fares include daily excursions, all meals onboard, wine, beer, and soft drinks with dinner, and insightful talks and cruise commentaries.
Vantage Travel offers Europe River Cruises to Austria, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, and Serbia, offering a wonderful way to experience Europe. Excursions are included in the vacation cost, with some options for additional paid excursions. Airfare is also included on many cruises. Wifi is included and worked pretty well for most of the trip.
The Grand European River Cruise – 2023 23-night river cruise with Mainz, Cologne, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg, Marktheidenfeld, Würzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, and other cities. Most river cruises include at least one complimentary shore excursion per port in their fares, except for some luxury lines. The itinerary is well planned, with only one optional excursion during the week.
Guests can enjoy complimentary bicycles, culinary demonstrations, unlimited wine and beer with dinner, countless cultural marvels, and the ease of unpacking. Some cruise companies offer several optional tours that guests can pay for if they want. They find everyone to be very accommodating, helpful, and friendly.
Vantage also offers additional opportunities for short excursions at a cost, depending on the activity level. It is important to note that VANTAGE has not been used in their combination tour call.
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European River Cruising Wasn’t What I Expected. I had not expected European River Cruising to be full of so many differences to …
Is it cheaper to buy excursions on the ship?
Ship-sponsored tours are often more expensive than directly offered tours through the operator, as the cruise line serves as the middleman and inflates fees to take a cut before paying the tour company. Independent tours take smaller groups, allowing for more personalized experiences. When booking a private tour, you may be one of fewer than 20 people, compared to the smaller group sizes of third-party tours. Therefore, it’s essential to choose the right tour option for your travel needs.
Are excursions included on river cruises?
The majority of river cruises provide at least one complimentary shore excursion per port of call. In contrast, the majority of ocean-going lines charge for all shoreside tours, with a few luxury lines offering exceptions to this rule.
What cruise line has free excursions?
Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers free, unlimited shore excursions in every port-of-call in every destination, allowing passengers to explore the history, culture, and cuisine of extraordinary ports. These excursions are made more exciting and fulfilling by knowledgeable local guides and comfortable transportation. Examples include sea kayaking to Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska, trekking through the jungle on an elephant in Phuket, or relaxing on a champagne and lobster catamaran cruise in Antigua.
Regent Choice Shore Excursions offer unique experiences like private yacht cruises or exclusive wine tastings at Michelin star-rated restaurants. These excursions are available with a supplementary charge to offset their more extravagant nature. Regardless of the choice, the possibilities for discovery and savings are extraordinary, making the Regent Seven Seas Cruises an excellent choice for travelers.
Are excursions included on Silversea cruises?
Our team of destination architects has meticulously curated a selection of onshore activities for each port of call on every cruise itinerary, with the objective of optimizing the traveler’s experience. Onboard, knowledgeable lecturers provide informative discourses on the locations that have been selected for your itinerary. Additionally, bespoke shore excursions and land programs are available for those who wish to gain a more profound understanding of their destination. To remain informed about our itineraries, exclusive offers, and to unsubscribe at any time, please click here.
Are excursions included on cruises?
It is standard practice for cruise lines to levy the same prices for shore excursions purchased either online or on board, or to offer discounts for tours reserved in advance. Royal Caribbean frequently offers discounts of up to 30% on select tours when reservations are made in advance of the sailing date. It is recommended that gratuities be provided to tour guides at the conclusion of the tour, unless the price includes such a payment or the destination is a non-tipping culture, in which case offering cash would be inappropriate.
Is bottled water free on Viking River cruises?
The Viking Cruise offers a stateroom with daily bottled water, 110/220 volt outlets, and a Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed. The stateroom also features a private bathroom with a shower, heated floor, and anti-fog mirror. The 2024-2027 River Cruise and Airfares offer is valid for bookings made from September 1-30, 2024. A $25 deposit is required for all River itineraries, and special fares and up to free international airfare are available on select departures of Grand European Tour, Lyon Provence and the Rhineland, European Sojourn and Capitals of Eastern Europe, Paris to the Swiss Alps, Cities of Light, London, Paris, and D-Day, Rhine and Main Explorer.
Airfare does not need to be purchased to receive the cruisecruisetour offer. The offer expires September 30, 2024. For itineraries 35 days or less, a $25 deposit is required. The Viking Air Plus page provides more information on customized air services and US gateways.
Are excursions free on Viking cruises?
Viking expeditions provide a range of activities to suit the interests of travelers, including snowshoeing through polar landscapes, kayaking in icy inlets, and taking a Zodiac to observe wildlife in their natural habitats. These activities are led by an experienced team of experts skilled in operating in rugged and polar environments. All necessary gear is provided for the excursions. The company also offers a Citizen Science Program, allowing guests to participate in collaborative science activities during their excursions.
This program includes experiential activities or fieldwork, facilitated through Zodiac landings, Special Operations Boat cruising, or optional submarine journeys. Viking believes in supporting research efforts and new scientific discoveries, providing every opportunity for guests to further their understanding of the world around them.
What is not included in a Viking River cruise?
Viking Cruises is offering a special promotion for 2024-2026 ocean cruise and air flights, valid from September 1-30, 2024. The promotion includes special fares and up to free roundtrip airfare on select departures of Canada and New England Scenic Shores, Eastern Seaboard Discovery, Grand Hawaii and Polynesia, Hawaiian Islands Sojourn, Panama Canal and Central America, and Panama Canal and the Pacific Coast. Airfare does not have to be purchased to receive the cruisecruisetour offer.
The promotion is valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, and may not be combinable with other offers except Viking Explorer Society Travel Credits and Viking Referral Rewards. Special fares are based on published full brochure fares and do not include pre-paid charges, optional facilities, or personal charges. Promotional fares may remain in effect after the expiration date.
Air promotion applies to roundtrip flights only from select Viking Cruises U. S. gateways and includes airport-to-ship or hotel transfers, air taxes, and air fuel surcharges. Roundtrip airport transfers are included when air is purchased with a cruise or cruisetour package; if air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately. All transfers must be in conjunction with a Viking-purchased cruise, cruisetour, land extension, or extra hotel nights.
Viking reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares at any time. For up-to-date prices, please call Viking or your Travel Agent. Additional terms and conditions may apply.
What is not included in a Viking river cruise?
Viking Cruises is offering a special promotion for 2024-2026 ocean cruise and air flights, valid from September 1-30, 2024. The promotion includes special fares and up to free roundtrip airfare on select departures of Canada and New England Scenic Shores, Eastern Seaboard Discovery, Grand Hawaii and Polynesia, Hawaiian Islands Sojourn, Panama Canal and Central America, and Panama Canal and the Pacific Coast. Airfare does not have to be purchased to receive the cruisecruisetour offer.
The promotion is valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, and may not be combinable with other offers except Viking Explorer Society Travel Credits and Viking Referral Rewards. Special fares are based on published full brochure fares and do not include pre-paid charges, optional facilities, or personal charges. Promotional fares may remain in effect after the expiration date.
Air promotion applies to roundtrip flights only from select Viking Cruises U. S. gateways and includes airport-to-ship or hotel transfers, air taxes, and air fuel surcharges. Roundtrip airport transfers are included when air is purchased with a cruise or cruisetour package; if air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately. All transfers must be in conjunction with a Viking-purchased cruise, cruisetour, land extension, or extra hotel nights.
Viking reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares at any time. For up-to-date prices, please call Viking or your Travel Agent. Additional terms and conditions may apply.
Do Viking excursions sell out?
It is regrettable that nearly half of the planned Viking Cruise excursions have already been sold out, which has caused disappointment for those who invested a significant amount of money in the cruise.
What is not included on a Silversea cruise?
Silversea cruises are all-inclusive, offering gourmet dining, premium drinks, and 24-hour room service. However, not all cruises include excursions. Silversea offers a wide range of shore excursions, including city tours, sightseeing, snorkeling, diving, and hiking. Each port on every cruise includes at least one included shore excursion, and passengers can choose from bespoke shore excursions to immerse themselves deeper into the destination.
These excursions are carefully selected by Silversea and led by knowledgeable guides, providing valuable insider insights into the local culture, history, and natural beauty. For example, a walking tour in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona is one such excursion.
📹 6 Best European River Cruise Lines. Which One Is Right For You?
What are the best European river cruise lines? I discuss the 6, based on my numerous river cruises through Europe that I …
Just finished a Danube River cruise with Viking. Best vacation ever. No kids, no drunks, no waiting on line for buffet, no rock-climbing wall, no overpriced drinks, no whining gambling losers, no rough seas. Choice of Excellent shore excursions showing culture of each county you visit, Prague, Passau, Vienna, Budapest. Friendly, polite people. Can’t wait to do another river cruise on the Rhine. And NO cattle car mentality.
My wife and I did 3 Viking river cruises. We love them. The small intimate group of pleasant people on each cruise was great. We liked the crews on each ship, the food, ease of disembarking and returning to the ship.Everything was very efficient and well organized, from the minute they greeted us at the airport when we flew in to the moment they dropped us at the airport for our return flight home. No noisy casino, no screaming children. Lots of pampering. we could learn some culture and history of the visited regions.
I’m sorry, dear, but the very things you lambast are what attracts me to the river cruises. In the 70s and 80s, I hitched all over Europe, staying in youth hostels and tiny B n Bs, but am now widowed and somewhat disabled. An ocean cruise with 3000 drunk strangers and their unsupervised brats is my idea of Hell. I love culture and history, not gorging at 15 buffets or listening to children scream on a go-cart track. I also enjoy feeling safe, which does not happen among thousands of people confined to one floating monstrosity.
Our riverboat cruise was such a pleasure. Passengers & staff were friendly and most accommodating. Excursions and meals were organized to make the most of our eight days. We made our choices prior to sailing. The crew did all the rest. Seeing and learning about history and culture in elegant comfort made for wonderful memories.
I’ve taken two Viking River Cruises and it was amazing. It’s all about experiencing a different city every day. For people who love history, architecture, culture, and food it is perfect. We filled our days with tours and explored on our own. Planning a Viking Ocean Cruise next year. The company is wonderful.
My husband and I enjoyed a Viking River Cruise with two other couples and thoroughly enjoyed it. We were older and the pace was just right for the 6 of us. We toured the Rhine River all the way to Switzerland, stopping in lovely towns during the day and traveling at night. The food was outstanding, the nightly entertainment great, and the villages we visited wonderful. I would HIGHLY recommend it for adults; children would not be interested.
Sorry mate, if I were to choose between ocean cruise and river cruise, I will definitely choose the latter. The idea of having a vacation with a few thousand people whom you don’t know on the ocean liner is simply not my way of vacationing. Who would prefer to look at the ocean everyday when compared to beautiful sceneries on a river cruise?
My wife and I did a Viking Danube cruise and really enjoyed it. Our approach: each evening we would look at the schedule for the next day, and very often that day we would eat breakfast aboard the ship, have a detailed conversation with the concierge (always knowledgeable and had city maps we could take) including subways use, etc, then we would head out on our own for the day, to be back on the ship for dinner. The only real cost was lunch out on our own in the city, plus we enjoyed finding local restaurants, and not having to rush back to eat.
Another great article, Gary. My wife and I had been on a number of ocean cruises (Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, etc.) and we decided to go on our first river cruise in 2019. It was an Emerald cruise down the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel. It was the best cruising experience we’ve ever had. It was relaxing, fun, and educational. No cattle calls to get on/off the ship, assemble for meals, etc. There were no packed elevators and big crowds. All port tours were included in the price and you could choose from easy tours to more strenuous tours. If you didn’t want to go on a particular tour, then you simply didn’t go. All the tour guides were good. You could easily see the scenery on both sides of the ship at the same time from pretty much any part of the ship. It was so relaxing to watch cities, towns, cathedrals, castles, windmills, etc. glide by. No boring days at sea. No on-board shops. No miles to walk and multiple decks to traverse to get to your room, or to meals, or to get on/off the ship. The food was good and changed depending on the country we were going through. Our ship was nicely furnished. The only downside was that we once had to walk up and down the slippery outside stairs of another ship in the rain to get to our ship at a stop. People were easy to talk to and become acquainted with. We would go on another river cruise in a heartbeat.
While this report is basically true, it is heavily slated. No casino–great, no shops–great. No endless food everywhere–good. You can get food at off times but gone are the days of decadent overflowing buffets. You go to historic places. If you don’t want the free tour–skip it. We arranged our own outing and wandered around Bruge eating mussels and beer. We spent our free afternoons wandering the city, buying from local shops. The lectures we were offered were great, the daily tour very well organized. Maybe some folks need lots of action and distraction. We watched France, Germany, glide by while reading.
My wife and I never cruised, then we did a Viking river cruise with friends, it was great! We have now done a total of 7 Viking river cruises, and one Viking ocean cruise. The ocean was great as well. Max is 900 people, never felt crowded. No kids, no casino. Have 3 cruises scheduled in the next year.
As Chuck said most of your “negatives'” are actually positives for many discerning cruisers. So far we’ve done 5 European river cruises with different operators (we choose what suits our plans) and all were what one can expect: a great holiday, enchanting cities and towns along beautiful landscapes, castles and valleys. On board excellent service, nice food and respectful and interesting fellow travelers. No more ocean cruising for us.
Most of the things you described as negative I found to be positive. On ocean cruises, the crowds of 3,000+ were overwhelming, with many of them being obnoxious drunkards. On one ocean cruise, there was one woman so drunk that as she laid out on the sun deck she urinated a huge puddle under her chair. Well after the fact a crew member came along and led her off to her room while another was relegated to cleaning her mess. The value of smaller ships is that guests get to know one another and that tends to minimize confrontations and other sour situations common to ocean cruises. I can get along well without the constant bombardment of clanging casinos and garish entertainment. Many times it is more comforting to side up to a good book. Some of us are so well-rounded that we do not need constant outside stimulus. We can create our own stimuli.
Appreciate your perspective here. AND: We have had nothing but exceptional experiences with our Viking River Cruises, and have made lifelong friends on the smaller boats of both Viking and Windstar. We can no longer imagine – nor desire – having the experience again of those massive Ocean Cruises of the other Cruise Lines around the world. We like the intimacy of these smaller boats, and the caliber of the guests as seasoned travelers and exclusively adults. The pace is leisurely, the Tours have been very good and immersive, and the boat’s amenities are customized to the people and tastes who are their core customers. Simply cannot go back to the Big Boats. We have been spoiled by Viking and Windstar.
How blissful to be on the river when the sun comes out. This fellow did his best to make river cruising seem unappetizing by photographing it under chilly overcast skies, making the ceilings appear low, scenery grey and dank. His insistence on the lack of “entertainment” and choice of bars and shops only made the riverboats more appealing to me in every way. And just how many times a day do you need to EAT? The wonderful variety in the passing scenery is the point, the changing architecture, the historical passage of time, the different cultures….. He can go back to his activity filled ocean cruise ships packed to the gills with people and party on. To each his own.
The Mrs. and I took the Viking Rhine River cruise several years ago because of a TV add and decided to go for it. We had already been on a cruise ship and wanted to see the difference. The big differences we noticed were the cruise ships had all the 24 hour lifestyles of different things to do. My river cruise lacked the amenities the cruise ship had, but to see the sights and beauty of a country side in slow motion on a river cruise are memories you won’t soon forget. I can’t speak for other river cruises but it seemed to cater to much older folks just wanting relaxation. Loved the walking tours. Stopped at Normandy Beach during one of our stops which happened to be on Veterans Day. They had given us veterans a special salute in honor of all who served. Must admit, i had a tear or two stream from my eyes. I’d recommend a river cruise especially if you love all the beer and wine you can drink while eating. As ABBA says, Take a chance – Take a Chance.
The advantage for me was that my husband could go off and do his walk in the quaint village while I could go off and climb the mountain. We had many options when moored and made the most of them! When I had checked out the price of us visiting all the places we wanted to along the part of the Danube ending up in Budapest, it worked out cheaper on the cruise than trying to drag our luggage along with us using public transport and hotels.
We just returned from our first river cruise. We took an AMA Waterways Rhine River cruise and loved every minute of it! We enjoy small group travel so this was just perfect for us. We had no morning wake-up calls; we were free to come and go as we pleased. No one is forcing you to do any of the tours if you feel like simply staying aboard the beautiful ship – in our case, AmaSerena. The smaller group size made everything more intimate and enjoyable and that applies to the amazing staff and crew, too. They couldn’t do enough for you and always with grace and a smile. Can’t wait to take another river cruise! (would never go on an ocean cruise again).
Frequent long duration ocean cruiser here. Took the American Queen on the Mississippi River, USA. it was superb. Had the opportunity to meet many fellow passengers at the hotel prior to beginning the cruise. Excellent food, served by the same personnel each day. Great entertainment every day and also educational lectures throughout the cruise. Wonderful excursions offered. Elegant furnishings and great veranda stateroom. While I like ocean cruising this river cruise was so much nicer. You really got to know your fellow passengers, the crew was attentive and the food and entertainment were A+. I would do more river cruising in the USA.
I went on a cruise on the Mekong River and ended up in Angkor Wat. At night the boat would move and we’d wake up in a different location. We visited schools and projects the cruise company supported, as well as museums and the killing Fields (tough visit, but must never be forgotten). We managed to visit places that by land would have been difficult. I highly recommend it. I’m not great at getting up early, but everyday was awe inspiring, and I’ve never eaten so much fruit, amazing flavours!!!
I enjoyed my river cruises on Viking. being on a river you always have sight of land, so there is always something to see throughout the passing landscape, unlike an ocen cruise where you may be at sea for two days (with a view of the ocean) till your next destination . guided excursions were included, but you may venture on your own. it’s all a persional choice. best river cruise ever, Moscow to St. Petersburg.
We have done many ocean cruises, but our Avalon cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam was awesome! The best and friendliest cruise we have ever done! A day out on a bus tour to Salzburg was great and visiting many other European stops on the way also rewarding. The entertainers brought on-board at many locks kept us amused at night. From my experience, Avalon do it well and don’t inflict butlers upon you!! Nothing but fun! On ocean cruises you get smoky casinos, walking through smoky areas when deck walking and on a Carnival cruise there were too many sugared up kids running rampant.
Gary I found your dismal description of River Cruises to be a great disservice to what is a grand and elegant way to see several great cities and wonder scenery from your floating semi-private boat. I took a Danube cruise with Uniworld. This was my initial cruise. I loved the idea of traveling with only 158 other individuals rather than 5000 of the masses. First, and most importantly, there were no children. No one running around, no screaming, no temper tantrums and no audible whining. Though the average age of my fellow travelers was in the upper 60’s,there were a few travelers in their 40’s which was a nice for a single male travelers who enjoyed something more than dining and going to bed. We were each treated so nicely and respectfully by our mostly Easter European staff. The food was extremely good and tasty. I enjoyed sleeping in each morning and catching the last 20 minutes of breakfast. As I did not participate in any of the side tours, I was able to wander through all the towns and cities at my own pace. I ended up visit more museums, more quaint shops and local quesine than any of my fellow passengers. I never felt limited in what I was able to do when in port. As far as when we were under water, I spent most of my time on the open upper deck enjoying the panoramic views of castles, vineyards and villages. You sold this experience very short. I would recommend it to anyone over 50. No herds to tolerate and plenty of privacy outside of your room if you take a tour and look for it.
It’s basically an organized tour where your room follows you, so you don’t have to be constantly packing and repacking, plus the ride is more scenic, and you aren’t confined to a bus seat while travelling.. I will say that I was a little underwhelmed with the food (Viking). It wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t great. Of course, on an organized bus tour you will dine at preselected venues, which are also likely to be “averagey”.
I have traveled extensively since I was a small child, but have avoided ocean cruises like the plague. It’s my idea of hell. To me the joy of traveling is blending in with the locals, seeing the sites and learning about their culture. If I want to be surrounded by hundreds of my fellow Americans, gambling, shopping and attending shows, I can go to Las Vegas. Now, this article made me want to try a river cruise. That’s more my speed. 🙂
I love river cruising. You do not have to follow the whole schedule. I love it being small and intimate. We ate lunch in town often. There were free snacks, hot chocolate, coffee, etc all day long on board. We went on GCT. The staff actually helped us make plans to go to a town that my brother lived in when he was in Germany for five years. We met some nice people. And we could sit wherever we wanted for breakfast and dinner. We never had someone starring back at us from another boat. Ocean cruises are too big for me.
My wife and I started river cruising in our mid 30s. We absolutely love them. There is no better way to see many different places in Europe. The luxury options are amazing, the people are typically great – both staff and passengers, food is typically great, excursions are awesome and the history is endless. We have come to enjoy Scenic river cruises and look forward to enjoying their luxury yacht one day
I went on Scenic Basel to Amsterdam and I could get a snack any time of the day or night and I often had a whisky in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep any more. I was never woken up and sometimes didn’t bother with the escorted tours. They were great as was the food. OK there’s no kids running around, no big theatre featuring gormless entertainments and the staggerers seem to confine themselves to cruise ships. If your thing is to be late and make people wait for you and have a five course meal and then play the poker machines for”fun”? ; then stick to the ocean liners. But you quite liked your river cruise, if i remember Gary.
After going on 2 ocean cruises (one Bahama’s and one Key West/Mexico, I realized they weren’t for me. I don’t like sunbathing and would rather spend my time visiting locations and learn the history. River cruises sound EXACTLY what I’m looking for! Thanks for sharing the differences between the two, along with an explanation of what to expect on a River cruise.
I have been on many ocean cruises, but the best cruise I have been on was the river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest..I loved the size, never having to put my hand in my pocket to pay for drinks and the fact all of our excursions were included in the price. I loved the courtesy, our butler service .
Gary is talking about European River Cruising. US River Cruising is different in some ways and the same in others. First, there is much more diversity in size and design of the ships. Second there are 3 major areas involved. Great Lakes and St Lawrence River, Northwest rivers in Washington State and neighbors, Mississippi River and its tributaries which has the most variety. Third, ships rarely are in port at the same time. So far, I’ve only taken one US river cruise. It was on the American Queen Steamboat which is a true steamboat with a rear paddle wheel. Passengers can visit the engine room but they must be able to walk up and down 1 flight of stairs. She holds just under 500 passengers. She has inside and outside cabins all above the water line. Some are for solo travelers. She has a main dining room with 2 seatings for dinner. She also has a small buffet restaurant with a bar and snack area as well. In the afternoon, hamburgers and hotdogs are served on a rear deck. She has a real swimming pool deep enough to swim short laps. She has elevators and several sets of stairs inside and out. She has lectures and music entertainment every day. She has a real theater with a major show in the evening. Although I didn’t go, there was a comedian in one of the lounges most evenings. Included shore excursions were offered in every port. Buses made loops through the towns dropping people off and picking them up. You get to choose where and how long you stopped at each place. You could get off and walk around and pick the bus up at a different stop.
We recently returned from a SCENIC cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest. They offer snacks, sandwiches in the lounge during the afternoon. The suite rooms above the water line had a superior layout /arrangement; full motorised window on the balcony drops to waist level. Absolutely lovely. Very similar concept to other river cruise companies. The food was excellent, evening entertainment was nice; when we decided not to go on a tour nobody bothered us. It was excellent. Keep in mind that each stop is similar, historical, church, castle, abbey. If you aren’t interested in history the itinerary can be boring by day 7.
I have been on many river cruises and loved them all. I have never ever felt regimented, and why would you not want your meals at normal meal times? I lov’e perusal the world go by, and I love being able to get to know some of the other passengers. I’m more than happy with one restaurant and one bar. I would hate to be on one of those enormous soulless floating hotels on an ocean. Give me river cruising every time!
My first river cruise was on the Rhine, on Viking Lofn. I really enjoyed it, and would love to do a river cruise again. I liked how much quieter it was than the ocean cruises I’ve been on (with NCL), and I could actually relax and enjoy the scenery without tons of loud people around. I liked the better service we got, because there were simply fewer passengers. I didn’t miss nightly shows/entertainment/parties because that stuff just wears me out – I’m an asocial introvert 😀
I love the intimate size of a river cruise. I also enjoy the scheduled tours because they were included, not an extra purchase for the most part. The tours really suited my needs and interests. It never occurred to me that having scheduled meal times was an issue. I enjoyed the food and the people we ate with at dinner. Lastly, I enjoyed sitting on deck and perusal the scenery. No lines, no waiting and a calmer crowd. Never had my time interfered with drunken, loud tourists. I love museums and historical sites and the insights the guides provide.
Well stated. Ocean cruises are all about the onboard experience. It’s like a well-equipped resort that floats, and the shore tours are incidental. River cruises are all about the shore tours and experiencing the countries you pass through, and the onboard experience is incidental. As you point out, it’s like a bus tour that floats. I’ve been on one Caribbean cruise and would never go again, but I’ve enjoyed many river cruises.
I disagree. We recently went on Viking from Amsterdam to Budapest. Whilst you can get involved and join in EVERY tour, which is exhausting, you may choose which walking tour you want or, like us, the concierge arranged taxis to meet us port side and go where we wanted, including sampling the local food in a good restaurant. This adds to expense but we did see less touristy type things, which we enjoy. We moved table most nights and met some wonderful people from around the world on board. I thoroughly recommend it but unless you like being in a crowd all the time, do your own thing as well.
I prefer a small river-cruise to 5000 passenger ocean liner. Inform yourself ahead and you know what you’re getting. While in the ports of call, you always have the possibility to organize yourself. And when it comes to food, you can bring food and drinks on board with no problem. It is not for everyone, but stop comparing river cruises to ocean cruises, this want work.
We’ve done 2 river cruises, both with Uniworld and had a fabulous time both trips. My husband and I just went with adult friends and family and it was really great. This last time, we took our 12 year old, and I was a little hesitant that our kiddo would be bored or lonely, but honestly it was the opposite. I wouldn’t recommend Uniworld for young children, but our preteen was old enough to appreciate the excursions – art, culture, history, etc and they love food so it was exciting to get to try local cuisine. The thing about river cruising that I really enjoy is that you get to really know the people you’re cruising with, and the staff onboard as well as the tour guides. We found that the bartenders on our cruise rarely get kids, so they made a game or of creating the most unique, tasty virgin cocktails they possibly could at each cocktail hour and meal for our kiddo. We also did a private dining experience one night where the executive chef and sommelier put together a menu and wine pairing. Our kiddo wanted to come because they love trying different foods and love cooking, and the sommelier chose a special non alcoholic wine or drink to pair with each course especially for them so they felt included. I feel like river cruising can give you that rockstar, special treatment you can’t get on ocean cruising without paying for the exclusive perks.
Thanks for the excellent article. One thing to note, as I’m sure you know, is that the non-balcony rooms are significantly less expensive than any of the balcony rooms. On our sailing, $1500 less expensive. And because the ships are so small, it very easy to reach the deck areas in just a few steps. This makes the non-balcony rooms on a river cruise far less ‘intrusive’ than interior/oceanview rooms on a large ocean going vessel.
We did Viking before the pandemic. It was great. History, scenic Vistas, and great service. We look forward to our next one. Great work by Gary laying out the differences. The one thing that can be s bump in the road is river levels…you may have to switch boats if river water levels get low, but Viking has many identical boats and the switch is almost flawless.
I did a 5-6 day trip on the Nile from Cairo to Aswan, and back. It was an absolute experience of a lifetime! I paid for a PHD Egyptologist with a great personality & spirit to serve. He read hieroglyphics and got me into a couple of archeological sites not readily open to tourists every day so, having studied theology and archeology in college, I was in awe of what I experienced every day! Truly a bucket list thing for me. Anyway, small boat, calm waters good food & service – I’m reliving it in my mind right now. 😊
Did a Viking Christmas cruise. Loved the Christmas Markets, loathed the onboard experience. Cabin steward was wonderful but the dining room and bar staff were totally different. It’s a very American focused company. European travel for those who need herding. Upon our return, a different travel agent told me that she was amazed that we went Viking, Emerald or AMA would have been a better fit for me and my travelling companion
In my country river cruises are a popular thing (because there’s a couple big rivers with all the little historical towns and small cities on them). They’re often referred to as not as “cruises” at all, but “river motor ship tours”. “Passenger river motor ship” is one word in Russian – “теплоход”. “Teplohod” Entertainers and lecturers sometimes give a concert or a series of lectures onboard of such a ship. Those ships also cater for parties e.g. weddings. There’s a whole range of local pop songs about river cruising that are typically played on board of this ships or welcome them in various ports.
Our first cruise was a Viking River Cruise, and we loved it. Then we did a Caribbean cruise with MSC. Now we will be doing another river cruise with Viking. For us it works great, but it isn’t necessarily our only way to travel and see sights. But Viking took such good care of us that we would love to do Viking every few years, interspersed with some other things. One of our concerns was having a restricted diet because of diabetes, and with Vikinbg the Maitre’d came to us every morning to discuss the days dinner menu and make sure we had foods that worked for us. And with the smaller group we made friends with people, which never happened on the anonymous MSC cruise.
You mention that river cruises have few excursion choices and that it’s rare to go on your own at a given port. I’ve taken two Viking river cruises and most ports had 3-6 options – plenty of choice. We chose a cruise on the same stretch of the Danube for our second cruise, and went out on our own at nearly every stop, which wasn’t a problem at all. We knew the cities by then, and I speak German, which made navigating those German and Austrian cities even easier. We’d explore the given city all day, doing whatevet we wanted, and just make sure to return before the ship leaves port. My wife and I had a blast both times, enjoying ourselves much more than the ocean cruises we have taken. The focus on history and culture vs casinos and shows is a big PLUS for us, not a negative. You’re 100% right about river cruises attracting an older crowd though. We’re in our early/mid 30s and were easily the youngest passengers on our two cruises by a good couple of decades. Most people were in their late 50s through early 70s. We didn’t mind a bit though, and loved getting to know everyone. We made several friends who we still keep in touch with a few years later. We find the “party” crowd of the ocean-going ships to be a bit exhausting, and the larger capacity and asymmetrical dining times of those ships to be a bit isolating. We much prefer the smaller, more intimate river ships that let us get to know our fellow passengers.
I live in a place (Florida) where cruise ships are a big industry, lived here most my life, and I have never been interested in being on a cruise ship at sea, now, these river cruises, look interesting, and definitely something I would like to do, like you said these are basically tours, being done on a boat, but the idea you are in a new town/place every day, and no sea sickness, is very attractive to me.
You didn’t explain why people choose river cruising. I guess you started off negative. For example my husband and I have cruised on 28 ocean cruises. We decided to try a river cruise because of the intimacy and personal attention we received. It was like being on our personal yacht. You get to stop at places where ocean cruises can’t go. It’s a great change not to have to be bothered with selecting dinning, excursions. Or be around big crowds dealing with casinos or being pressured to shop. It’s a personal choice and one should do their homework on choosing river or ocean. We love both.
We’ve been on two Viking Cruises: The Upper Danube and the Rhine. For someone who wants to feel cozy, safe and cared for, they’re great. And we really enjoyed being immersed in the culture. But on the other hand the regimentation made me feel like I was in overnight Girl Scout Camp. I need time to breathe and be me. And yes, as you mentioned, the other negative for me on the 2nd cruise was somehow Norovirus went thru the ship. About 20+ passengers, including me, which is a huge chunk of the passengers, were sickened. There are no trained medical personnel on board and if you really need one, they will get a taxi to take you to a doctor. But the 2nd cruise was such a bad experience I will never go again.
This article is spot on the pluses and minuses. I wished I had watched it before our Russian River cruise. I wanted to knock my head up against the wall as I was going stir crazy. We only had a few hours off the boat each day. I think there will come a point in time in our lives that this mode of travel will be desirable. But if you’re fit and mobile, river cruising has too much downtime to be enjoyable.
I wouldn’t be interested in big shows, fancy dining, swimming pools and tons of people while spending days traveling. Rather have fewer people, historical scenery, multiple towns, and much more local communities. History is what’s interesting. Ocean Cruises seems boring with things I can do at home like yoga, gyms, restaurants, shows and too many people.
Thank you for this. It confirms my suspicions that I would much prefer a river cruise. I value a very high quality experience even with limited choices over crowds, bustle, and a sort of pop-culture atmosphere. Your articles look like exactly my sort of crowd and my preferred decor, although I think I definitely want a cabin above the waterline. Who needs entertainment when you have that scenery passing by.
We have been on 3 River cruises with Tauck. they have all be wonderful. Found the ability to get food at off times without issue. Also found it much more relaxed than described here. The food was amazing and much better than any large ship cruise I have been on. Loved the surprises and the amazing experiences with them. So nice to be able to unpack and then enjoy the scenery while cruising along the river. Loved going through the locks. Much nicer than spending hours confined in a Bus.
I have cruised the Elbe, the Danube and the Rhein, and I enjoyed them all It helps to be interested in nature, the birds, and the architecture of the towns and cities you pass. We spent many hours on the top deck, relaxing and perusal Europe go by. You don’t have to go on all the excursions, and we did not feel regimented.
I am a solo traveler and find that river cruises provide me with more opportunity to meet people. I have now traveled with Avalon many times. Each time I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. You don’t have to take the shore excursions if you don’t want, but they are included. I have repeated a Danube cruise, and since Avalon offered different options, I was able to find different adventures on the second time.
How different the experiences…. after many Ocean cruises we loved our Danube River trip with Arosa. If you pay the big bucks and want the full inclusive package of tours etc. then this sounds like what you are describing. We did whatever we wanted in every port, without the hassle of tenders or having to line up. Absolute freedom!
Like many others here, every feature of a river cruise you point out are the exactly why river cruising is so enjoyable. My wife and I have taken two Viking cruises and enjoyed both of them very much. We were by far the youngest couple on the ships, which was quite enjoyable as well. I suppose I could be considered a lazy traveler, in that I don’t enjoy making plans. On both cruises, I had no idea what the excursions were prior to the cruise so it was as if every one was a pleasant surprise. I found there was plenty of time for quiet relaxation on deck observing the beautiful sights.
I did all, River, trans-Atlantic, and ocean cruising in various parts of the world. I enjoyed them all. I was well informed on the cruise I was taking and non was disappointing. On the river cruises we did all the exploring on our own, no questions asked. Being back on board on time was all it takes.
We had an onboard physician, we had two options for breakfast with continental and European, the other meals you were given a couple options. I spent a lot of time aside from the excursion on the sun deck perusal the countryside, I actually was able to sit in the bridge and talk with the captain for a while during an evening and while we went through locks.
Good article explaining the differences between ocean and river cruises. I have done both and I can tell you I GREATLY PREFER river cruises over ocean cruises. The reasons I prefer river cruises: a more personalized experience, more culture and history tours, no kids, much better food, beautiful scenery all the time, no sea sickness. Things I don’t miss that an ocean cruise has: room service (I never use it), workout room (I can workout at home), endless boring water views, casinos (I’m not a gambler), feeling like just a number with so many people on board. So it just depends on what you like. Your choice! Enjoy!
I look forward to trying a European river cruise. Thanks for explaining it, it made it sound desirable, even if you felt negative, it doesn’t negate what river cruising offers. For one, it offers the feeling that you are on a ship and you can see what those people who arrived at each town that way, had seen over hundreds of years. It seems more intimate and thrilling than a huge cruise on the ocean. As much as you are trying to persuade people not to take a river cruise, it sounds appealing and it sounds like a way to see things on a river that you would never see yourself if you were driving around the same areas. I believe I will do a river tour one day, with either my husband, a female friend or one of my adult kids. Wow, this sounds like fun!
Recently returned from our second European River cruise with Scenic, and just booked our third yesterday! We have travelled extensively and have found the river cruise experience to suit us very well! We are in our late 50’s, remain active, and have personal and professional interests in cultural and historical tourism. We appreciate that river cruises focus on history, culture, art, and architecture. River cruises are learning experiences. We really appreciate how the smaller ships create better opportunities for getting to know your fellow travellers and for higher quality personalized service. The river cruise experience seems so much more relaxed and personalized than the larger mega ships. No lines, no noise, easy on and off the ship (just swipe your identification card and walk off), the staff knows you personally by name. Like you, I like to workout. As you noted, the gym facilities are very basic on river cruise ships. The workout on a river cruise is all the walking you do on your daily tours. You were right to note that the entertainment options at night are far more limited than on a larger vessel. But, we found that after spending our entire days enjoying the historical and cultural excursions, we were pretty tired after dinner and wanted to get some rest to be ready for the next day’s experiences. So, we didn’t really need much in the way of entertainment. Food options,as you mentioned, might seem more limited on a river cruise because there is only one restaurant on board, but they do provide many options.
Sandra Westley uk, we did a Viking cruise down the Danube and we found it really lovely, very active, you need to limit your activities to one a day otherwise it was too much for us, we didn’t always go on the trip and did exactly what we wanted, and the Americans we met had made arrangements to visit some Museums independently. In between meals which we found to be very filling wanting for nothing excellent, there was always coffee and tea and the most delicious cookies and home biscuits, and I’m not normal a person that likes biscuits. It’s certainly not a restful holiday, but it’s a wonderful way to see other places. We have done loads of ocean cruises and now the ships are so big it’s not for us. But this was truly lovely and going into Budapest at 10pm at night was just a highlight of the holiday with all the bridges lit up. Also very moving to see all the shoes of the Jewish people who were taken to the river and shot, there shoes made of cast iron are along a long stretch of the river, it brings tears and great sorrow to your heart to see man’s inhumanity to man. Very moving.
My Viking experience was FAR MORE enjoyable than the speaker suggests. It was organized but not as regimented as he describes. We were able to tour on our own. The relationship with our concierge and cleaning staff was very close. Perhaps having less variety is a limitation to him but we’re were not on the cruise to run from pillar to post seeking variety. We had an above-waterline cabin with a balcony – having a below-line cabin would not be our preference. Bottom line he is comparing sea apples to river oranges: two different worlds – he prefers his sea cruises – we don’t.
We took a 3 day cruise down the Danube on Avalon. It was great. We didn’t take the winery tour but instead choose to walk around durnstein on our own. Same at Bratislava. No pressure. We had drinks on the sun deck as we cruised through the wachau valley. We woke up early to see the arrival into Budapest. It was fantastic. I would recommend to anyone that wants to take it a bit slower.
Absolutely confirmed to me four things 1) Everything he likes about ocean cruises, are exactly all the reasons that you would have to kidnap and drug me to get me aboard an ocean cruise. (And I might still throw myself overboard at first sight of land and hope to make it to shore alive) 2) All the reasons we are now ready to go river cruising, having traveled all over Europe and are tired of travel stresses – are all the reasons we cannot wait to throw money towards Viking, Scenic, Avalon, Emerald as soon as covid settling permits. 3) We do need to be able to opt out of some of the cultural walking tours, as we have been to a majority of cities from Budapest to Paris at least once. So want to fill in some gaps in those cities. ( good reminder to check for options) 4) The noisy drunkards, 2am hallway shouters, door slammers, boors and spoiled brats are mostly out there on the ocean cruises, not with the calm, civilised river cruise people. (YAY)
We did a river cruise down the Yangtze with Viking and were able to see so much of China in 2 weeks. There are land tours added so lots of internal flights, but there was no way I would have been able to plan such a trip and see and learn so much.. we had an allocated guide for the whole trip and he was wonderful. It was great to be organised in a very different and sometimes difficult country. Local entertainment and a school visit were fascinating. It compared favourably with the ocean cruises we have done, though is quite different in the ways you describe. It also required stamina!
Gary, thank you for all your articles! We really enjoy and appreciate your insight. We recently sailed on our first river cruise – Uniworld Christmas Markets on the Main river – and you had properly prepared us for the unique things to expect and helped us enjoy our trip more. A couple of things that we noticed was first that most of the passengers on the ship seemed to want to stay in the “American bubble” and not immerse in the culture of the region, which was a bit disappointing as immersion is something we appreciate. All the tours seemed focused on telling you what to observe from the comfort of the American tour group without experiencing things in more detail. In this regard, we found or few days in Nuremburg before joining the ship much more immersive and enjoyable. Second, we were taken aback by how loud the ship passengers were, primarily in the dining room where it was impossible to have a conversation at a normal volume due to the other passengers. The ship staff told us that sort of loud dining room was normal. Has that been your experience? I guess we were just expecting a bit more of a relaxed atmosphere on the ship. Well, thanks again for all your articles!
We have been on six Grand Circle river cruises. They were all great and we made many new friends along the way. Grand Circle definitely caters to an older crowd who are interested in the scenery and history. We love the Christmas cruises and have one booked for next year with Canadian friends we made on our 2019 Christmas cruise. We’ve done both ocean and river cruising and they are all good, but our preference is the smaller river cruise.
As much as you tried to give this slanted assessment that the river cruise was not as good as the Ocean Cruise, you talked me into going on one. All the things you seem to like about ocean cruising are the things that drive me crazy. If I wanted to go on a trip and not be part of the group I could just get in the car and go on a lonely trip. The fact that the river group stays together and interact together and eats together sounds very social and wonderful to me. No seasickness, no fear of death on the open ocean, none of the Foodie overemphasis on gluttony all day, excursions included. On the ocean cruises all the fun stuff is not included, all there is to do is eat
I think you must have been especially unlucky in your choice of cruises! My wife and I really enjoyed our Rhine cruise. There was no regimentation, no early wake-up calls, we didn’t have to speak to a lot of people, and we were left alone to do our own thing at every port of call. Aside from a lot of rain at times we couldn’t fault it. Our Nile cruise was less happy, because we both came down with salmonella, but again the guided tours were very informative and well organised. The one sea cruise we went on, to the Med, was very different — start delayed a day because of storms in the website and we hit another bigger storm in the Med itself. We were left to our own devices at most of the ports. It seems there is a lot of variation between different cruise companies so generalisations are probably unwise! One thing we would never do is go on one of these immense liners with thousands of passengers, that would be more of a nightmare for us!
River cruises sound very promising to me! Never been a fan of partying, gambling, or drinking, but I love the intimate and curated manner of the tour. Scheduled being discussed in person, meals all together, and being able to get to know each other all sound perfect. (Plus no motion sickness sounds amazing!)
loved my Viking Elbe River cruise although I agree that it’s rather regimented. I am not averse to going my own way despite the concern of the crew so it’s not an issue. I loved the food and on that ship (we booked last minute) we had a waterline room but the window was massive and not at all claustrophobic. There isn’t a snowballs chance in hell I would ever consider an ocean cruise though. Too many people, too much hoopla., too many lines, too much hassle..sort of like Vegas on water.
We have done both and prefer the River cruise. I realize this is a matter of taste but we like not having to think about the schedule, don’t worry about getting sea sick, get more involved in the region, and frankly we find the lower cabins cozy and the sound of the water at night very soothing. I will say the last Danube cruise we took I was about Cathedral’d to death….
St. Petersburg to Moscow on the river was the best tour I’ve taken. Only 250 passengers, open seating at dining so we met many of them, lots of variety in activities, very well organized but not oppressively so. By contrast, I’ve felt lost on an ocean cruise. Yeh, I’m not a party-and-show girl. For me, the ship is mostly a means to get to destinations I want to visit, but a comfortable onboard experience is important, too. River cruising suits me.
We absolutely love River cruising with Avalon. We like that there is a basic structure for the day but you are always free to not go with the group and explore on your own as well as choose to stay on the ship. We will be repeating a couple of stops on our next river cruise and already looking forward to exploring things we didn’t see previously.
I was surprised that you didn’t mention one major drawback to a river cruise – which is that much depends on the height of the river – if the water level is too high the ship might not fit under an bridges and they can also be impacted by a too low river level. This meant on a Viking Cruise we had to change ships (albeit one that looked exactly the same) after a couple of days necessitating repacking and unpacking plus a long day mooching about and a long drive to the new ship. I have also heard of people who were effectively bussed down the river instead of on a ship that was hampered by the river level. That and the rafting (being moored parallel to another ship) are major disadvantages but you can still have a lovely relaxed holiday – I just think potential passengers should be warned of these possibilities.
My husband and I have cruised extensively in the Caribbean, Alaska, Bermuda and have enjoyed it, we’re now in our 50’s. We have always looked at River Cruising, but the cost was prohibitive. But three years ago we decided we were going to book one. Our travel agent, also a great friend, was organizing a River cruise with a group of 28 people, most of who we knew. We booked the Festive River Cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest in early December with Avalon. We loved it, it was smaller, quieter and not so rushed. I’m a big history buff and thoroughly enjoyed the walking tours and talks and the Christmas markets. It was leisurely. We had so much fun. We’re booked on another for spring 2023, hoping that Covid will be in the rear view mirror.
My river cruises had early breakfast..normal breakfast. Morning tea. Lunch in two venues, afternoon tea,dinner, and a late night snack. ( I also got a meal delivered to my cabin because I wasn’t feeling 100%. ). There was entertainment every night. Of many different varieties.. There was a tiny exercise area.. I never saw anyone in them.. Only parked next to another ship twice in 4 cruises…it’s really not a big deal.. We did our own thing many many times on the river cruises..not a problem. If you are seriously ill, it would take minutes to get you to shore…most companies would ( and have on my cruises) ring ahead and organise a taxi or ambulance for the guest to get to a doctor. The ages was very varied on my river cruises…some very younger people and they had a great time…up until all hours dancing..or off the boats at local pubs or nightclubs.. Honestly, our favourite way of travelling
Took my first river cruise eight years ago on Viking, Budapest to Amsterdam with my late son. He was the youngest on board being in his mid-twenties. He had a blast and, of course, everyone knew who he was. We did all the tours, there’s plenty of time to go exploring. Sometimes we went out together and sometimes separately. Five years ago we did Viking’s Waterway of the Tsars, Moscow to St. Petersburg. There was a doctor onboard. River cruising is the best
I have been on 8 ocean cruises but never on river cruises. This article is very informative. So if I decide to go on a river cruise, I’d know exactly what to expect. These are escorted tours with the ship as your hotel, so no need to change hotel every night. Thank you Gary! Love this article and all the others. And congrats on the 100M views! Please keep up the great work, much appreciated and God bless your team!
Sounds like a great way to experience Europe: smaller groups/tour guide, lack of sea sickness, always stuff to see on shoreline versus being at sea and only seeing ocean, structured. Not a casino goer, don’t need to party it up (sounds loud and annoying), love history/culture. As someone who hasn’t traveled a lot and definitely not internationally, I’m enticed, thank you! Thank you for explaining why the prices seemed a lot higher when I was looking at brochures for river or ocean
We did the Rhine/Moselle cruise with Scenic and it was fantastic. We had the tours in the morning, then could self explore until we had to be back at the boat. We could eat in the towns or go back to the boat and eat (limited but very good) at the bar cafe. Most evenings were either someone from the crew doing something, or they brought someone on. We also had a piano recital in the town castle at one stop. All in all we had the most relaxed time we had ever had. Couldn’t say the same for the 3 day bus tour to finish of. while the tour guide and bus driver were fantastic it was hell being enclosed in a bus all day.
I’ve been on quite a few ocean cruises. One river cruise in Russia. It went from Moscow to St. Petersburg. I absolutely loved it. They are different. That’s all you need to say. No need to make ocean cruises sound better. There’s also a wide degree of quality on ocean cruises. There was a doctor on the river cruise and the food was excellent.
My wife & I just got home from a AMAWaterways cruise on the Rhine. We had a marvellous time, we picked & chose our day trips opting in or out depending on how we felt. As for the food, more than enough opportunities & flexible times to eat, if anything too much food. Our cruise director was incredible, no question or request was a problem. Would do it again in a minute!
I so much prefer the smaller River Cruises. You get to know people, and you are up close and personal to land at all times. I had no problem going out on my own and exploring. We made great friends and still stay in contact with them to this day. That rarely happens on ocean cruises. And the Rhine was fantastic.
We loved our first river cruise, went on some organised tours, did lots on our own. With Avalon you just let them know if you go off on your own. I like to explore the back streets and find quirky good shops, not the standard somewhat tacky stuff at the port! I’d go on more river cruises but they are more expensive, although the all inclusive aspect offsets that.
I have always wanted to do a river cruise! I love history and architecture. I’ve been on two ocean cruises. The first in 1990 was fabulous, the second, just two years ago was terrible. The ship (Sovereign of the Seas) was too big! Too many people, very small pools, very small venues and meals were scheduled. No more midnight buffets or even places to eat after 10. And the ports of call, well let’s just say they were not memorable. I would absolutely love a river cruise. When this crazy world settles down, I will be on one! Great article!
Walking tour, cathedral, bus tour, cathedral, walking tour, stay with the group!, cathedral, more busses, follow the paddle sign, stay with the group! No time to stop and smell the roses. Stay with the group! I did Danube & Normandy. Two is enough. I love ocean cruises – more options, more freedom and better views.