The Travel Group

WHY RIVER CRUISE?

Just like cruising at sea, river cruising has many options to choose from.  I’ll discuss the different choices available but first let me talk about why people choose a river cruise.

One of the biggest attractions is that you get to move from one city to another without the hassles of packing and unpacking, being up at the crack of dawn to board the motor coach, or worrying about having enough time to make your rail connections.  You simply wake relaxed and refreshed in a new city each morning.    

Unlike seaports, river ports tend to be in the heart of the city.  You can just walk off the boat and you’re in town.  Another big attraction of river cruising is that when you arrive into port, the city tour is included in the price of your cruise.  You have no extra shore excursion charges!

That’s not all that is included in your cruise price.  On most of the cruises, you will be pleasantly surprised to find beer and soft drinks included with lunch, beer and wine included with dinner, tea and coffee service available all day, bottled water in the staterooms, and free Wi-Fi and internet service.

In Europe, the cabins are elegant, similar to a boutique European hotel.  Many of them have floor to ceiling patio doors that open to Juliet balconies.  One cruise line even offers balconies you can actually sit out on.  Those are rare, however, because the boats have to be narrow enough to go through the locks. The linens, amenities, and service are comparable to what you find on the premium and luxury ocean cruises.

People have a tendency to think only of Europe when you mention river cruising but the options are far reaching.  In addition to the many waterways of Europe, there are river cruises offered in Russia, between St. Petersburg and Moscow; in China, on the Yangtze and the Three Gorges; in Egypt, on the Nile; in Vietnam & Cambodia, on the Mekong Delta; in India in houseboats on the backwaters of the South; and in North America, on the Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee & St. Lawrence rivers and the Great Lakes.  You can tour the St. Lawrence River on a turn-of-the-century style steamboat!

The facilities in some countries may not be as luxurious as you find in Europe but all are worth the trip!  Whether your interests lean toward gardening, music, art, history, dancing, cuisine, or a wealth of other topics, you can find a river cruise that lets you pursue your passion while being pampered.

Who Will Love It?   Travelers who like to see more than one area at a leisurely pace, history buffs, and those who like to explore their personal hobbies in other parts of the world.

Will hate it: Anyone looking for action and the "Spring Break" crowd.