Cruising is a great way to visit exotic ports of call
without having to pack and unpack your luggage at every stop along the way. But sometimes, you want to see what is
beneath the surface. Taking a riverboat
cruise through waterways where ocean cruise liners cannot travel gives you an
intimate look at the countries you visit.
We want to provide answers to a lot of questions you may have about
river cruising.
Today we feature Tauck River Cruises, who offers tours
created especially for families of every generation who want to share the world
together.
WHO Takes River Cruises?
The people you will meet onboard the world’s river cruises
typically share a passion for knowledge.
They are life-long learners interested in art, music, history and
heritage. They enjoy the relaxed pace of
river cruising and relish the thought of immersing in a destination-focused
vacation with authentic experiences to really learn first-hand about charming small-town
America, and the culture of other countries.
They don’t want to be rushed or herded; rather they want to take their
time to get to know the people they meet and the places they explore.
First-time river cruisers often represent a mix of avid
ocean cruisers, land tour vacationers, and former independent travelers who
have enjoyed discovering the world on their own. River cruisers want and exceptional,
worry-free travel experience. They
expect quality in their onboard experiences, value that goes beyond the price, attentive
and caring personalized service, and peace of mind, knowing the company they
chose to travel with is safe, and who are experts in handling unexpected
situations and taking care of guests’ needs.
River cruisers want to make the most of every destination. They travel as couples; with friends; as
families celebrating a special occasion; in groups that share pastimes, alma
maters or organizational interests; or as solo travelers, knowing they will meet
like-minded folks who welcome the genuine camaraderie they’ll find onboard in a
friendly, casual atmosphere. A mix of
travelers from the United States and international destinations, river cruise
guests typically represent a balance between working and retired
individuals. Food and wine aficionados,
they enjoy the arts of gourmet cooking, as well as sports, like golf and
tennis. Value, quality and distinctive
experiences are important to them in every aspect of their cruise.
WHAT Can You Expect Ashore and Onboard?
River cruisers are a great way to explore the variety of
cities and towns you will find along the world’s inland waterways and, while
one of the most relaxing ways to travel, they are more active than you would
think. You can expect days filled with
culturally immersive locally guided sightseeing ashore that shows you the
highlights of the town where your boat docks, balanced with time and leisure to
do as you wish. You may explore the sights on foot, walking off the riverboat
right into the heart of history steps away.
Onboard, relaxation reigns.
Public spaces, from a comfortable lounge and bar to a sun deck inspiring
with a parade of picturesque views, invite camaraderie and leisurely
pleasures. Most river cruises include
dining aboard ship for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but you can choose to dine
off the boat on your own when the
itinerary permits. Evening activities
aboard are not the kind of glamorous productions you’ll find on ocean
liners. Rather, they may include
lectures, artisan demonstrations and regionally inspired cultural entertainment
in more intimate lounge settings. With virtually
every expense anticipated and included in the price, river cruising offers
travelers an exceptionally priced, hassle-free vacation experience.
WHEN to Consider Adding a River Cruise to Your Travel Plans
Truly four-season highways, Europe’s rivers have no calendar
curfews. Set sail along the inland
canals and waterways of Belgium and Holland in springtime and see floral
landscapes of colorful tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and more that defy
comparison anywhere. Summertime river
cruises are hot with al fresco delights that invite outdoor exploration of
castles, vineyards, farms, villages and cities that open their doors to
visitors. Fall is harvest time for
cruisers and locals alike, a chance to savor the bounty of the lands with
crowds. Ant at year’s end, riverside
towns are aglow with holiday traditions that warm body and soul.
WHERE do first-timers typically go?
Europe’s rivers are each unique and distinctive, with an
ever-changing parade of scenic, cultural and historic sites that never fail to inspire
new discoveries. That’s why you will
find repeat cruisers on rivers they have explored before along with
first-timers eager to experience the delights that await them around every bend.
Europe’s second largest river, the Danube waltzes its way
from Alpine foothills to the Black Sea, meandering through the fairy-tale
villages and forests of Bavaria to the castle-studded wine lands and
music-filled medieval towns of Austria to high stepping, architecturally rich
Hungarian cities and into the Balkan countries of Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania
where history has been redefined.
Rhone river cruises typically travel from Lyon, the
unofficial capital of French cuisine, to Arles, where Provence meets the
Mediterranean Sea. An important trade
and military route throughout history that linked northern Europe to the
Mediterranean, today the Rhone is delightfully suited for indulging travelers
with the art of French living, from food and wine to the illuminating works of
artists who found inspiration along its immortalized banks.
Paris grew up along the banks of the slow-flowing river
seine, Joan of Arc left her legacy in towns and villages that line its shores
outside the city, and artists van Gogh and Monet among them, found her
picturesque charms life giving and inspirational. Key sights that first-timers want to see
include a spectacular procession of masterpieces like the Eiffel Tower, Notre
Dame Cathedral, the Louvre and more in Paris, where it ducks under some 37 city
bridges.
Long being Europe’s business river, the Rhine flows through
several bordering countries from the Alps to the North Sea. In Switzerland, the Rhine dips into beautiful
Lake Constance before emerging as falls that tumble down river past Basel to
the Swiss-German border. It pauses in Strasbourg
for a taste of France and races on to Germany where the sights enchant in a
parade of hilltop castles that make the Upper Middle Rhine Valley a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. Taking a side trip
off the Rhine at Koblenz is the Moselle River where more turreted beauties and
wine tastings delight. In the
Netherlands, the Rhine meets the sea, passing quintessentially Dutch windmills,
canals and a treasure trove of art museums.
WHY is European River Cruising one of the Hottest Travel
Trends?
With so much to do and see, all included, it is not
surprising that river cruising is the fastest-growing segment of the travel
industry, especially among travelers who really want to make the most of their
vacation along the major inland waterways of the United States and Europe. A big draw is the all-inclusive nature of
river cruising which puts an end to the add-on expenses common with ocean
cruises. Venturing off the beaten path
away from well-traveled highways is part of the appeal, as are the opportunities
to savor a real taste of daily life along Europe’s rivers. But no matter how different the motivation,
river cruising has a way of bringing everyone of every age and generation
together to share experiences that last lifetimes.
