10 things you should know before your first river cruise in Europe
A European river cruise is a travel offer that always sounds appealing even if you've never been on one.
Still, there are things you should know for sure before embarking on this exciting adventure, Insidehook.com writes.
You will feel young again
If you're over 50 and lacking a sense of youthfulness and vigor, there's nothing better than going on a river cruise.
"We knew that the average age would likely skew towards the 60s, but we didn't expect to be the youngest couple on our ship. And we didn't mind. Being surrounded by seniors in their 70s and 80s having a great time and exploring new places inspired our own future," a couple who once took a chance and went on an 11-day trip to Eastern Europe on Viking Cruises said.
You'll be among the few who go on a cruise for the first time
"We stood out not only because of our relative youth but also because it was our first river cruise. Almost everyone we met had cruised before not just on Viking but on other lines around the world. Ron, a former Army staff sergeant, was on his seventh Viking cruise and even admitted that he had twice done a 15-day grand tour of Europe from Amsterdam to Budapest," the couple said.
Water levels can cause unexpected detours
A huge attraction of a river cruise is the absence of ocean waves. No waves means no seasickness. However, unlike the ocean, river levels rise and fall. If it gets too high, riverboats cannot pass under certain bridges. If it gets too low, the ship may have to stop at some destinations and passengers will spend extra time on the bus.
Every day is a holiday
Although most cruise ships no longer have an official dress code and it is not necessary to bring suits and dresses, you can make every day a holiday for yourself, take the appropriate things, and dress elegantly every evening.
Meet new people
"If you're afraid of starting new conversations with new people several times a day, a river cruise can be intimidating. Don't be afraid. Most of our experienced river cruiser passengers seemed eager to meet new people, and they were easy to talk to," the tourists explained.
Delicious food on board
"The food on the river cruise is very tasty. Almost every meal had regional dishes from a neighbouring country. A few minutes before the start of dinner, the chef would describe his culinary creations that you could choose for that evening," a couple said.
An opportunity to try local food
No matter how delicious the food on board is, be sure to sample the local specialties. Don't just limit yourself to the gourmet shipboard meals. You'll likely find delicious local dishes worth sampling a few steps away from the docked ship.
Keep up your own pace
With a new city every day and limited time, you can exhaust yourself trying to do too much. Take some time to just relax on a sunny terrace while admiring the views.
Choose lesser-known routes and rivers
European rivers that flow through countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and France are popular for cruising. However, tourists also enjoy discovering unfamiliar Eastern European countries. Every day brings new stories and perspectives.
Choosing a cabin class matters
After choosing your cruise date and itinerary, you choose your cabin class. "My online research emphasized that most of our time in the cabin was at night when it was still dark. Moreover, the ship was often docked or sandwiched between other cruise ships with someone else's window inches away even during daylight hours," the tourist said.
As reported by TravelWise, the ship, operated by the Royal Caribbean Group, recently made its first of three stops, carrying approximately 8,000 passengers, which is twice the population of the beach town of Mahahual.
