River Cruising

River cruises are increasing in popularity as a unique option for those who enjoy ships but want to explore further inland.   Think about it!  A  river cruise  is one of the best ways I know to explore the inland, visiting cities, towns and villages that traditional big ships can’t access.  Europe, China, Brazil, Egypt and Russia all have incredible itineraries that visit amazing places.  As with big ships, your hotel goes with you and you don’t have that packing/unpacking dilemma.  River cruising is a little different from big ship cruising in that you won’t find all the big-ship features such as casinos, kids clubs, multi-level sun decks and large theaters, the real difference between a riverboat and a cruise ship experience is the intense emphasis on the places you visit. River itineraries in Europe, for example, feature a nice mix of sophisticated cities like Paris, Vienna,  Budapest and Amsterdam as well as charming and picturesque small towns and villages like the Rhone’s Chablis, the Danube’s Durnstein and the Rhine’s Cochem.   The shore excursions are almost always included in the cruise fare, not usually the case with a large cruise ship sailing.

Here is a list of some of the well known river cruise lines:

– Avalon Waterways

– Uniworld

– Viking

– AMA Waterways

Castles, cathedrals, bustling marketplaces, charming squares, ancient myths, spiritual wonders, a pagoda with golden dragons, rain forests and exotic wildlife are just some of the things to experience up close and personal on a river cruise of a lifetime.  Time to revisit the bucket list 🙂