Whether it’s your first or third time to France, river cruising in France and countries beyond has many benefits. You really get a chance to relax while on your elegant ‘floating hotel’ then actively experience and explore the towns and specialties in Normandy, Bordeaux, Lyon and the Loire Valley and into neighboring countries.
Guest blogger Lisa Fletcher outlines 8 reasons to make river cruising in France your next vacation.
Unless you have had your head buried in the sand for the past couple of years, you are probably aware that Ocean Cruising, with its bellyflop contests and buckets of beer, is slowly giving way to a more “civil” mode of travel – River Cruising.
Most commonly thought of in Europe, on the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Douro and even Po rivers, River Cruising is also extending itself to Russia, China, Vietnam & Cambodia and – yes…even the United States (although US River Cruising is a whole different animal).
Here are several reasons why so many travelers are switching to River cruising…and very few of them will ever go back!
1. The boats are smaller and more intimate (120-170 passengers) than even the most downsized traditional cruise ship. That means you can actually get to know your fellow guests and not feel like you are being herded along like cattle…You may eat with whom you choose each evening and even have a choice of a few onboard dining venues for variety. Each ship is designed with a variety of spaces to just relax and hang out – in the lounge, on the deck, in the library, around the pool.
2. It is as close to hassle-free as you can get. First advantage: you only have to unpack and pack once. Then, there are no lines to get on or off the boat and, when you arrive at your next stop, you can usually walk right off and be immersed in your destination. Very few ports require bus transfers, depending on the itinerary, which makes it easy to come and go at your leisure. And nobody gets the blame for reading the map wrong and ending up who knows where.
3. The trip can be totally all-inclusive, depending on the cruise line and ship you have chosen. The most upscale river cruises like Tauck and Uniworld, everything is included and you disembark without ever opening your wallet on board. Others, like Scenic and AmaWaterways only charge for extras like hair salon or massages and some bar. The inclusion of alcoholic beverages varies from cruise line but beer, wine and soda are usually served with lunch and dinner along with tea, coffee and specialty coffee all day. You can also choose to prepay all gratuities.
4. Being on the river, there are no waves, so seasickness is not an issue. Also, most cruises include transferring through a series of “locks” to accommodate the changes in elevation, which most people find super interesting to watch. You can literally touch the walls of the locks from your balcony as you pass through! On a rare occasion, there can be issues with the water levels in the rivers, but the cruise lines have strategies in place to deal with this.
5. River Cruising offers something for everyone! Evening entertainment can be a little sparse, but there is always live music in the lounge, lots of movies and entertainment on your in-cabin TVs and most cruise lines bring on local entertainers in some ports, such as an OomPah band in Passau Germany or Gypsy dancers in Budapest. Plus, there are informative talks on the ports-of-call and cocktails with your newly-made friends from around the world.
6. During the day, river cruise lines offer a selection of shore activities to suit your passions and let you dive deeper into the local culture. Take advantage of included organized excursions led by knowledgeable local guides or self-guided, or just wander around and soak up the ambiance.
7. River cruising is also a great option for small groups of friends, family or even work colleagues who would like to travel together. And more and more River Cruise Lines are offering special “family” cruises that encourage older children and teenagers with special events and entertainment.
8. The price tag of a River Cruise can cause a little bit of “sticker shock”, but when you figure out everything you are getting for the cost, it becomes much more manageable, and quite a good value. And, since we are a Virtuoso Member agency, we will add in extra amenities.
So, if you think you are finished with the hairy chest contests and waiting in line with 3998 of your new best friends on the Ocean cruise megaships, why not give River Cruising a try? 96% of first time River Cruisers say they would recommend the experience to a friend! We would love to help match you (and your friends) to the perfect experience!
Ready to find out more about river cruising through Normandy, Provence, Burgundy and the Loire Valley or wine, art and themed-itineraries in France? Sign up for a complementary Let’s Get Acquainted session:
