Looking for reasons to try a river cruise? People ask me all the time why I like River Cruising as a vacation. Here’s my top 5 five picks – but there’s plenty more.
It’s easy. Everything is planned out for you, you generally have to pack and unpack once, everything is in English, and the crew can’t be any more accommodating. There's plenty of choices, but there's never any pressure. And best of all, the choice is always yours. So ease of travel is the first reason to try a river cruise.
It’s luxurious. The cabins and bathrooms are top notch. The food is gourmet. The tour guides are first rate. (Note – there are different cruise lines and therefore you’ll experience different levels of luxury depending on your choices). Every day an excursion (or two) is included. The service is fantastic but understated. You'll feel pampered and looked after.
It’s educational. Everyday you’ll have a new experience – typically in a different city. The tour guides are typically locals but also highly educated in art, architecture and history. One of the top reasons to try a river cruise is also one of the top reasons people travel - to learn. To experience new things. To see different cultures. And to understand the world from a different perspective.
It’s fun. Watch a dog find truffles among the oak trees. Pull up to a new city and walk out onto the square just as has been done for centuries. Being in the middle of a 1200 year old cathedral is amazing. Have a hot pretzel from the main street vendor or a strudel from a café. You can explore new places and experiences like climbing to the top of a mountain and exploring a castle.
Experience amazing people. It’s true – I’ve never met a friendlier crowd than on the river. The passengers come from all walks of life, from all over the world and with lots of stories. Perhaps this is the feedback I hear most in terms of reasons to try a river cruise. For some reasons they attract a really interesting set of passengers.