River cruises are fast becoming the holiday of choice for travellers throughout the globe.
Want to experience luscious inland scenery from the comfort of your luxury cabin? If so, then a cruise through one of the world’s many waterways might make the ideal holiday for you, and you don’t have to commit to just one destination either!
Many holidaymakers are put off oceanic cruises after hearing tales of long days without seeing land. When on a river cruise, you’re nearly always surrounded by whatever scenery adorns the riverbanks. If your includes the River Danube, the Douro or the Seine, then this’ll entail vibrant European cities as well as lush mountainsides. Views like this always seems different viewed from the deck of a boat. What you’re left with, is a truly unique perspective that other holidays can’t match.
Many rivers can get relatively narrow and shallow at times, but cruise boats have risen to this challenge, by adapting with small yet efficient builds. Boats can carry as few as 100, but no more than 200 passengers. This gives you the opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers, and enjoy on-board facilities at your own leisure. Many boats offer everything from outdoor pools, to elegant bars and evening entertainment, so you’ll never run out of things to do whilst on-board.
The facilities on river cruise ships can leave you feeling pampered and overall, refreshed. However a fresh country breeze can be equally cleansing, and topped with not worrying over travel to and from hotels, it can have a similar effect. The benefits that exploring the world can have on your mental health have already been well documented, so it’s a win-win situation.
You’ll spend your evenings in historic riverside cities like Budapest, Paris, or Berlin – and you’ll only unpack once! In fact, so much time is spent ashore and that gives you a near perfect land-water balance. Meal times are usually geared around the boat’s time in port, so you have the chance to eat in local restaurants and experience foreign cuisines.
Another great reason to take a river cruise, is the on-board headphone guides provided by many boats. Feeling intrigued by a particular landmark? Sit back, plug in and immerse yourself in the local history and culture – it’s far more relaxing listening from a lounger on deck than in the midst of a bustling crowd!
Prone to seasickness? Does even the thought of setting foot on a boat make your stomach queasy? On a river free from the ocean current, it’s always going to be smooth sailing. Passengers can simply unwind in luxury and not need to worry about throwing up over the starboard side.
River cruises offer both flexibility and luxury – that’s why they’re so popular. Where else could you go to sleep in Vienna one night, cruise the Danube the following day, and dine in Germany the next? Topped with a comfortable all-inclusive nature, these are an excellent way to discover different countries.
