The Beauty of River Cruising

River cruising has become more popular in the last decade or so. For those who are reticent to go on an ocean cruise, a river cruise may be just the ticket! Unique itineraries, off-the-beaten-path villages, and the pace of  travel are all great reasons to embark on your first river cruise.

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Where will I go on a river cruise?

I sailed on my first Danube and Rhine river cruise from Budapest and loved waking up in the morning gliding by a majestic castle. Disembarking in the heart of Bavaria, we were then whisked away on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the forest, ending up in a village where we were greeted with fresh-baked bread from the hearth and the local beverage. Afterward, we visited a glass factory where we were able to see how these artisans have been crafting beautiful glassware for royal families for nearly 2 centuries. This was one of many unforgettable experiences during our maiden voyage.

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The following year, we were able to do 3 weeks of river cruising in France. From visiting Normandy with two WWII veterans who were on our cruise, to cycling on the ship's complementary bicycles through the vineyards of Bordeaux and dining in a castle in Provence, the cruise offered us a deep dive into the heart of France.

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Beyond Europe, more exotic river cruise destinations include Egypt, India and the Amazon. These offer unique opportunities for cultural immersion and exploration of natural beauty.

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What is it like aboard a river cruise?

One of the reasons travelers avoid cruising is because they get seasick. A benefit of cruising on a river is that there is not a lot of jostling as you glide up (or down) the river. Often you will stop at a series of locks in order to go on to the next section of the river. It is an interesting process to observe. Overall, the river cruise is a slower pace of travel so you can enjoy the experience of traveling from town to town.

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The culinary experience onboard is also pleasing with menus inspired by local cuisine using ingredients that are sourced locally in many of the villages. Since river cruise ships are much smaller with an average of 100-200 passengers, service is very personalized as well.

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Most river cruises include a variety of excursions to choose from, whether you are more interested in culture and history, food and wine, or something more active like a hike to a vineyard or kayaking under the Roman aqueducts. Many cruise lines have complementary bicycles that passengers can use to explore on their own.

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Entertainment is usually low-key with enrichment talks from locals about the history of the area and musicians or local talent in the evenings. The bartenders stay busy with those choosing to stay up later into the night.

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Exclusive Benefits through Escapes by Escala

Overall, river cruising is a great option to explore off-the-beaten path destinations as well as some of the major cities like Vienna and Paris, while being pampered in your floating hotel.

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Contact us to learn about the amenities that we can offer you exclusively through our affiliation with Virtuoso like shipboard credit and a dedicated onboard host. We would love to help you plan the perfect experience on the river!