River Cruise
10 years ago I was invited to do a river cruise in France, as a Francophile what could be more appealing?
It was the beginning of a new travel phase in my 20 year career that I embraced with an undying passion!
We have traveled the Rhone, the Soane, the Rhine, the Moselle, the Danube and the Seine and continue to look forward to our next adventure. Europeans have been enjoying river cruising as a vacation for many years, we are just starting to "catch on". There is no better way to discover a country than to travel its beautiful rivers, enjoying major cities and villages along the way. And NO packing or unpacking everyday.
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There are many itineraries now, not just in Europe, but in Egypt and China and tourists from all over the world are experiencing new countries and cultures in a relaxing and exciting new way.
In addition, many river cruise lines offer special itineraries that celebrate events or holidays. My favorite (so far) has been the Christmas Markets in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Not only was the ship decorated for the holidays, but we visited the famous markets of Nuremberg and Munich. Imagine spending an afternoon enjoying the traditional sights and sounds of the holidays in Europe, while experiencing historic sights as well. And the food! All your meals are included on board, but we did not let that keep us from enjoying the local treats. From Strudel to Sacher Torte, you won't be disappointed. In the evening we were often entertained by local performers. Many times we were in port so we were able to walk into town to enjoy a drink or revisit a place we had seen during the day. We had two Christmas parties on board with caroling and special foods. One evening some retired members of the Vienna Boys Choir came to serenade us, what a special treat! There are also special wine sailings which celebrate the harvest or the turn date of a wine. Or how about a Tulip time cruise in the spring, the fields of colorful tulips and windmills, the symbol of Holland, incomparable!
Let me give you an idea of a day on board. For early risers, there is a special little breakfast in the library.
What makes it special is that you can share the dawn of a new day in a city or village with a few like minded travelers with a cup of coffee while the other passengers sleep! Next, breakfast in the dining room. Leisurely, delicious and interesting as you are sitting in a dining room with huge glass windows, so you too can enjoy the view.
You will then be given the time for your sightseeing excursion, and included feature of river cruises. The tours are usually are half day tours allowing you free time to discover the city or village for yourself. Because the riverboat is usually docked right in the city, in many cases you can just walk back into town very easily. Most of the tours are a combination of walking and some form of transportation. There are a few optional excursions you can purchase, but all the general sightseeing is included. (for instance, we did a lovely included walking tour of Salzburg, but for those who wanted the experience a full day of the "Sound of Music tour", that was an additional cost.) Then back to the boat for lovely lunch with your fellow boat mates and a restful afternoon reading or playing cards, or back into the village for shopping or sightseeing on your own.
At the appointed time, you will return to the ship to be met with some warm wine or tea and some time to relax in the lounge or your room. Most people reconvene in the lounge for a drink before dinner and some sharing of the days events. This is also the time the cruise director talks about the next day schedule and our destination. Dinner is at 7pm, single seating, sit with anyone you like for a specially prepared dinner with selected wines of the region. Most people return to the lounge for the entertainment, some go the library for Bridge or board games. Because the riverboats hold between 80 and 140 passengers. It is a more intimate size and there are always interesting and enjoyable fellow passengers, you will get to know each other easily.
