River cruising may be less well-known than ocean cruising but it’s becoming more popular every year. As we began to prepare for our Grand European Tour on Viking we began to think of all the reasons why we enjoy river cruising. Here are 10 reasons to take a river cruise, in no particular order.
1. It’s an incredible value.
The cruise fare offers great vacation value because almost everything is included in the price. Yes, unlike ocean cruises even a tour of each port is included (read more about that below). Ships also provide free in-room wi-fi and offer free wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner.
Food, transport, room, all included in the price. Credit: Viking Cruises
Not included in the price:
- Top shelf alcohol. Some cruise lines include an open bar (that’s what I’d expect with higher fares) while others offer a drinks package instead.
- Personal items and gratuities.
- Tips for private guides. Viking Cruises suggests €2 (Euro) per person for tour guides and €1 for bus drivers
- Tips for staff. Viking suggests a (per guest, per day) gratuity of €2 Euro for your Program Director and €12 (Euro) which will be shared among the other staff on board.
Our experience: Viking does not include alcohol in its price so we splurged on the all-inclusive premium beverage package. We really don’t drink a lot of hard alcohol but we do enjoy good wines, and it was nice to share a bottle of the local one without having to worry about the final bill. We considered it “no sticker shock insurance.” As for the gratuity, considering the incredibly attentive service, they certainly more than earned it and we were happy to pay.
2. There’s no nickel-and-diming on the cruise.
The all-inclusive nature of river cruises allows you to relax, free from worrying about surprises when you get the final bill. There are no casinos, ever-present photographers, drinks-of-the-day, spa specials, or high-priced excursions.
Every ocean cruise we’ve been on began with a hefty charge for “incidentals and gratuities” on our credit card, and then continued with daily sales pitches to buy, buy, buy. Not here.
Our experience: We booked and paid for our optional tours ahead of time. Again, there were no surprises at the end of the cruise.
3. There’s no worrying about logistics.
If you’re the type who stresses about the details and returns home wondering if you’ve seen all the highlights, relax. All the details are taken care of, from the well thought out itinerary to transportation, lodging and food.
Our experience: We loved not having to think about anything but having fun.
4. River ships are intimate.
Ships that travel on the rivers have to be limited in size because they need to go through locks and under low bridges. What this means is that even the largest of river vessels can carry no more than about 200 passengers.
Not only does this mean that the staff will get to know you, you have a chance to get to know the staff, many of whom are from the countries you’ll be visiting. What a great way to get to know a local!
It also offers a fabulous opportunity to get to know your fellow passengers—both on the sun deck, in the lounge, and at meals.
Our experience: We still keep in touch with a couple of people we met when we were on our 2011 Rhine River cruise.
Tasting jenever with one of the friends from our last cruise
5. River cruising is casual.
No reserved tables on this cruise: When it comes to dining there is just one seating, and it’s open seating. River cruising is casual dress at all times as well, so forget the long dress and tux. Leave your heels and ties at home.
Our experience: It’s nice not having formal nights. We brought along some slightly dressier clothes anyway (e.g., skirt, button-down shirt and a tie). We thought we would feel more comfortable at the Captain’s Dinner and the evening concert in Vienna.
6. You’ll never get bored.
Ships may calmly sail the waters with nary a ripple, but the rest of the experience is action-packed. You will receive a cruise newsletter at turn-down listing the schedule for the next day’s activities, lectures, shore excursions, meals, and any planned on-board games and activities.
If you need some alone time to relax in your stateroom, look no further than your flat-screen TV. It offers a variety of movies, documentaries, news channels (in English), and itinerary-specific programs.
Our experience: Who has time for TV?
7. You’ll never get seasick.
If you’re looking for smooth sailing, this is it; it doesn’t get any smoother than this. River currents are easy and—with the possible exception of a passing speedboat—practically wave-free.
8. You’ll never have to worry about sinking in open waters.
Rivers are only a few meters deep—sometimes only a few feet—so even in the unlikely event the ship were to sink you could just bring a book to the top deck and wait for help. Oh—and you will never even think about sharks.
Our experience: I don’t know about you, but I think that there’s something very reassuring about always being able to see the shore. And I didn’t need any Bonine to protect my ever-queasy tummy.
Shore is always within sight. Credit: Viking River Cruises
9. The ships are luxurious.
Forget what you have heard: Newer vessels are a million miles away from the cramped, older ships of yesteryear. Think floating, upscale, modern hotel.
Even though they have to be small, the newest ships still have a serious “wow factor.” Public areas have incredible contemporary decor, lots of glass, plenty of light. Some lines offer spas, fitness rooms, and al fresco dining options. One line even has a swimming pool that transforms into a cinema in the evening!
This is the atrium on the Viking Bragi cruise ship. Credit: Ralph Grizzle, avidcruiser.com
These days, comfortable lounges, balconies and open decks provide an array of opportunities to hang out and relax in the sun or shade. There are computers for people who don’t want to bring along their electronics and libraries that offer a quiet spot to sit with a book or work a jigsaw puzzle. Sun decks can include pools, hot tubs, putting greens, chaise lounges, herb gardens, shuffleboard and oversize lawn chess.
In the staterooms—you can even book a 2-room suite—expect refrigerators, hotel-style beds and marble baths with heated floors and l’Occitane toiletries. When you book your cruise you’ll quickly discover that there is no such thing as an interior room. Every cabin has a view of the river and most have balconies or sliding doors that open. The staterooms rival any hotel with their fluffy linens and flat-screen TVs, but here your in-room wi-fi is free.
Our experience: You get better wi-fi while everyone else is ashore.
10. Traveling on the rivers are your best way to truly see a region.
No ocean cruise will let you check off Bucket List places like Nuremberg, Paris, Vienna, and Budapest. No road trip will get you to as many World Heritage sites in a week without exhaustion.
Cruise itineraries offer the highlights of a region, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. They’ve done all the research, you reap the rewards with a wonderful mixture of scenery, big city life, and picturesque villages. On our 7-day Rhine River cruise we were able to sample Swiss chocolate in Basel, enjoy photographing the intensely castle-laden Middle Rhine, explore quaint Alsatian villages like Colmar, see Cologne’s famous Gothic cathedral and enjoy the canals in Amsterdam. Not to mention sample Dutch jenever with new found friends.
Read more: The Rhine River Cruise Itinerary
If you’d like more ammunition to convince your special someone to take you on a river cruise, we’ll continue with more in our next article.
