Considering a River Cruise?

An increasing number of people looking for a new cruise adventure are saying “been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt” with just about every mass-market ocean cruise itinerary option.

For some of them, a river cruise is the next thing on their bucket list.

If you’ve had your eye on a river cruise, it’s not a bad time to book, but I’ll get to that in a minute.

First, here’s a quick summary of how a river cruise is different, and why you might want to consider it:

·      The focus is much more on the destination, and less on the ship itself

·      River cruises generally have considerably higher quality amenities and services.

·      River ships are far less crowded – there are usually only between 100 and 150 passengers.

·      There are far more inclusions on river ships than are found on the mass-market lines, so your onboard charges are considerably less.

Here are some other things you may not know about river cruises:

·     The most popular routes are between Amsterdam, Netherlands and Basel, Switzerland (1 week), or Budapest, Hungary (2 weeks).

·     Because of the small ship sizes, river cruises tend to sell out much more quickly than ocean cruises, and you’ll want to start planning at least a year in advance. This is particularly true for the lowest priced cabins, as they sell out quickly.

·     Where the mass-market ocean cruise lines will sometimes discount their prices to fill up the ship closer to departure, river cruises are the opposite – they are most heavily discounted when you book early, and they become more expensive the closer to sailing that you book.

Discover the Beauty of River Cruising

Five river cruises offer what larger ocean cruise ships only dream of – explore the exquisite Rhine River and all its fascinating destinations along the way; discover your ancestral roots in the charming towns once traveled by family from generations past; immerse yourself in the exotic flavors, traditions and culture of the Mekong.  Only on a river cruise can you explore the intimacy of the land you are traveling in.

There is no question that river cruises are at a completely different price point than a typical mass-market ocean cruise. If you normally book an inside cabin on a Carnival cruise, you will find river cruising very expensive. However, many people who often take suites on mass-market cruise lines find the price of a river cruise to be comparable to those.

Looking to book?  Contact us.