River cruises have gotten incredibly popular, and they are a completely different experience from ocean cruising. Instead of sailing the open sea, river cruises travel inland waterways, rivers instead of oceans, and that one difference changes almost everything about the trip.
Popular river cruise destinations
- Europe: Rhine, Danube, Seine, Douro
- Asia: Mekong, Ganges, Yangtze
- Africa: Nile, Zambezi
- USA: Mississippi
What to expect on a river cruise
- Smaller ships, usually 100 to 200 guests, which means no crowds and no lines
- Ships dock right in the heart of cities, so you can literally walk off the ship and start exploring. Most excursions are included
- Wine and beer served with meals
- A slower paced, very cultural style of travel
What you won’t find (vibe wise)
- No big theater shows, no casino, minimal nightlife, and fewer dining venues than a mega ship, but the food is better since it’s not mass produced
- Fewer kids on board, this tends to skew 50 plus, and some lines are adults only
- A higher price point since it’s a more luxury experience, but a lot more is included in that price
Who a river cruise is perfect for
Couples, culture lovers, slow travelers, people who hate crowds, and anyone who wants to see Europe in comfort instead of hauling a suitcase between hotels.
Popular itineraries
Rhine, Danube, Seine, Douro, Mekong, Nile.
Top river cruise lines
Viking, AmaWaterways, Uniworld, Avalon.
My take
If you want to see Europe and you’re not the backpacking type, or you just do not want to deal with hauling luggage from city to city, a river cruise might be exactly what you’re looking for. Your hotel room travels with you to each destination. You get off, explore, and head back in time for dinner.
Have you been on a river cruise before, or is this a new one for your travel bucket list? If Europe has been on your mind, grab 30 minutes with me and let’s see if a river cruise is the right fit: https://meliatravelco.com/calendar
New to cruising in general and want to learn more about other cruise lines? Check out this blog post about how other cruise lines differ.