Why Explore the World by River?

Hi Fox Friends! I’m Morgan Zdroik, as a travel advisor, I returned from an amazing Danube Dreams river cruise with Avalon Waterways on the Illumination ship visiting Budapest, Hungary – Bratislava, Slovakia – Vienna, Austria – Durnstein, Austria – Melk, Austria – Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic – Linz, Austria – and Passau, Germany. Why explore the world via a river cruise?

Check out my top 5 reasons to choose a river cruise along with tips and tricks for ensuring an amazing river experience.

There are so many destination options!

What’s the first place that comes to mind when you think of river cruising? Probably Europe, right? Home to the Danube, Rhine, Moselle and many other rivers, Europe is by far the most popular continent to explore by water. Although there are so many European rivers to sail, the opportunities outside of Europe are endless! Just imagine swimming with pink dolphins in the Peruvian Amazon or basking in the grandness of Luxor Temple on the Egyptian Nile. Long haul flights not your thing? Stay close to home and sail along the Mississippi River or the Columbian in the Pacific Northwest. No matter which river floats your boat, there’s a cruise itinerary out there for everyone!

Low key and stress free!

Unlike ocean cruising, river cruises have guided tours built into their itineraries; no need to plan! Explore the big cities & quaint towns alongside a local expert guide who will make sure you experience all the destinations highlights. Want to explore even more? Immerse yourself in the culture by signing up for an optional excursion offered by the cruise line; transportation included! To make your experience even more hassle free, you only have to unpack once. No need to live out of a suitcase!

River Cruises = Small + Relaxing!

You won’t be sailing down the river with 1000s of other travelers, instead, you’ll have a more intimate experience. Most river cruise ships can accommodate up to 150 passengers allowing you to develop friendships with fellow travelers & even some crew members from around the world. You also won’t find casinos or large entertainment areas on river cruises. The social areas on board offer chances to read a book or enjoy a cocktail while taking in the views. Still want some entertainment? Don’t worry! Many river cruise lines offer happy hour or live music from a local musician.

Check off your bucket list!

River cruising is a great option for those trying to check off destinations on their bucket list. Depending on your cruise itinerary & length, you can travel to up to 9 countries in one trip. I recently returned from a week-long cruise & was able to visit 5 countries; Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany.

Incredible views!

Even when you’re not docked in a destination, you’re able to experience the beauty of the country you’re sailing through. Every changing landscape allows you to take in quaint towns, fairytale castles, unique vineyards, beautiful mountain ranges, and lively cities. There is always something to see while river cruising!

Top 3 Tips & Tricks

1. I definitely recommend arriving a day early, not only to make sure you get there on time for the cruise, but also to give yourself a day to get acclimated since you get so jet legged!
2. Bring outlet converters for your pre and post night and for the cruise because our ship had European outlets and guess who forgot her converter.
3. Don’t forget to bring Euros at your port destinations. Bathrooms are not free.

Interested in learning more about the many river cruising vacation options? Our vacation travel advisors can help match you up with the ideal river cruise itinerary, ship and cruise line for you.  We partner with well-known and trusted cruise lines, like Avalon Waterways and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.  Reach out and schedule a meeting with any one of our expert travel advisors to learn more!