First River cruise suggestions

We are considering a River cruise to celebrate our 30th anniversary in May 2017.

We are very familiar with ocean cruising, but need help to plan our first river cruise. It would be great if we were somewhere very special on the actual day-- May 31st. Suggestions?

Hello SMNYCruise,

how about Paris to Normandy? A glass of champagne on the Eiffel Tower springs to mind.

Is there something you both enjoy? A common hobby or interest might be something to look for in a river cruise itinerary. A place you two have always wanted to see?

Perhaps take it from there...

notamermaid

We are taking our first River cruise in June after many ocean cruises. We go into it open minded expecting it to be a different experience.

My only advice is with pricing to suggest that you make sure to compare "apples to apples". We had brochures arriving in the mail that proclaimed "two for one" but in reality the full price was something probably no one pays. We found that early booking discounts for our particular cruise were the best deal. And unlike ocean cruises, River cruises often fill up quickly (our June voyage was sold out one year ago) so I would not hesitate to start your planning. Items included in the price vary by line, some include all tours, some include a basic tour and charge extra for others. Some include gratuity/tips, some do not. Tipping is also more than on ocean cruises, so this can add up. If drinks are important, not that some include wine and beer with meals, some include all beverages all day long.

As far as payment, some lines require full payment up front in order to secure a discount, others are more like ocean cruise lines in that they require a deposit then the balance to be paid in the range of 60-90 days prior to travel.

Do your home work and have fun planning! These boards are a wealth of information! Our documents just arrived, now we are getting excited!

Take a look at the sticky ("New to River Cruising??? Start Here") at the top of the River Cruising home page to help with your planning.

There a lot of research to be done to get the right cruise at the right price for you.

Here were some of my considerations:

1. Route

Select the river/s, cities and towns you want to visit.

2. When

Some rivers have problems with low water late in the summer or high

water in the spring and rather than traveling by ship, you travel by bus.

3. Room style and size

Some ships are rather basic and some are very luxurious. Room size ranges from those on the lower level with just a window (aquarium class:) to suite size.

4. Balcony or none

Be aware of the fact that there is a good chance that at some point the

ship will be "rafted"-dock directly next to another ship. You may be

looking into someone else's room on another ship rather than having

any view.

5. Food

Read reviews to see what kind of food is served and what choices are

offered. There is one European line that does not offer menu choices.

You eat what's on the plate put in front of you.

6. Wine

What choices are offered? This can be a real concern if you are

wine lover.

7. Adult beverages and sodas.

Are these included in the price and available all day long? This

is important to some people and not at all to others.

8 Tours

Which tours are included in the base price and which tours do you

have to pay extra for. Paying for several additional tours can really

raise the over all cost of your tour.

9. Laundry

Some cruise lines now include having some laundry done in the price.

10. Transfers to and from the airport.

Are these included? If you have to get yourself to the dock, how much

extra will that cost?

10. b Where does the ship dock? Some ships dock at places that are

considered out of the way and not near the main sights. Others

dock right in the heart of the action.

11. Pre and post cruise extensions

What does the cruise line offer? Often it is cheaper to book these

yourself.

12. Gratuities

Some cruise line include ALL gratuities in the price. Many do not.

Great list!

13. Who are the typical passengers? Who is the cruise line marketed to?

What is the language most used on board?

Some cruise lines target senior Americans. Some are French or

German companies.

14. When do you have to pay in full? What is the refund policy if you have to

cancel?

15. What is each cruise line's track record dealing with high- or low-water conditions? Do they keep sailing or give up early and force passengers into bus trips or ship swaps? Do they offer passengers a choice to cancel if the itinerary is impacted?

BTW, I don't think anybody here is a shill for Microsoft, but our advice probably leads to a lot of sales of Excel -- you really need a spreadsheet to keep track of all this!

15. What is each cruise line's track record dealing with high- or low-water conditions? Do they keep sailing or give up early and force passengers into bus trips or ship swaps? Do they offer passengers a choice to cancel if the itinerary is impacted?

BTW, I don't think anybody here is a shill for Microsoft, but our advice probably leads to a lot of sales of Excel -- you really need a spreadsheet to keep track of all this!

That's way too much work for this satisficing cruiser. "When looking for a needle, do you really need the sharpest one in the haystack?"

That's way too much work for this satisficing cruiser. "When looking for a needle, do you really need the sharpest one in the haystack?"

Yes, some people don't want to do research themselves and then end up being very disappointed when their cruise turns not to be what they expected. In reading reviews it seems that people have not been informed by their TA or didn't do research themselves. I.E. not being aware that ships can be rafted, not being aware that your cruise can turn into a bus trip, being on a ship where you consider the wine to be swill, being on a ship where you have to pay extra for a bottle of water, being on a ship where there is no casino.

We are taking our first River cruise in June after many ocean cruises. We go into it open minded expecting it to be a different experience.

 

My only advice is with pricing to suggest that you make sure to compare "apples to apples". We had brochures arriving in the mail that proclaimed "two for one" but in reality the full price was something probably no one pays. We found that early booking discounts for our particular cruise were the best deal. And unlike ocean cruises, River cruises often fill up quickly (our June voyage was sold out one year ago) so I would not hesitate to start your planning. Items included in the price vary by line, some include all tours, some include a basic tour and charge extra for others. Some include gratuity/tips, some do not. Tipping is also more than on ocean cruises, so this can add up. If drinks are important, not that some include wine and beer with meals, some include all beverages all day long.

 

As far as payment, some lines require full payment up front in order to secure a discount, others are more like ocean cruise lines in that they require a deposit then the balance to be paid in the range of 60-90 days prior to travel.

 

Do your home work and have fun planning! These boards are a wealth of information! Our documents just arrived, now we are getting excited!

Very good advice, this is what we did, compare and compare. We are booked on a Scenic River cruise May 15/2017. Scenic is a fairly new Company recently advertising in the U.S. in Canada we have had them here for quite a few years. I believe they are an Australian Company. I checked every river cruise company so long I thought I was going to go blind. We booked with Scenic (Amsterdam to Budapest) reason being-----Free air from Victoria, B.C. which is a biggie for us living on the Island, normally free air is from Vanc., and it costs us around $225.00 return just to get to Vancouver. Free alcohol 24/7, anything you want, the other lines have free beer & wine only with lunch & dinner and some only at dinner, stocked fridge in cabin with whatever alcohol, etc. you want, free excursions (highend ones), some of the other lines offer free excursions and you have to pay approx. $125 per person for the highend ones, gratuties paid, 1 kilo of laundry per person done halfway through the cruise, 1 free speciality dinner, butler service. WE are on the second level and the top level above us gets even more. Just for an example Viking was $1,000.00 more for the cruise and Viking would not be giving us what we are getting with Scenic. So my advice also is to really check into everything and compare.

Marlster

That's way too much work for this satisficing cruiser. "When looking for a needle, do you really need the sharpest one in the haystack?"

YES LOL

Marlster

Thank you to all for the wonderful suggestions. My husband and I are also very familiar with ocean cruising and looking to plan our first river cruise. I usually research and plan a cruise to death. I'm really looking forward to this new adventure and will as usual be perusing these boards for all the help and suggestions I can get.

There a lot of research to be done to get the right cruise at the right price for you.

Here were some of my considerations:

Great tips Nancyevans! Thank you!

Brian

Very good advice, this is what we did, compare and compare. I checked every river cruise company so long I thought I was going to go blind. So my advice also is to really check into everything and compare.

Marlster

Thank you Marister! Like some here, I am a planner and believe in doing much research to make informed decisions. But I must say, my initial thought is that the river cruising companies seem to make it difficult to fully understand their product/services/costs? I guess it is good that time is on my side since I am considering 2018 for my 1st river cruise. :)

Brian

Thank you Marister! Like some here, I am a planner and believe in doing much research to make informed decisions. But I must say, my initial thought is that the river cruising companies seem to make it difficult to fully understand their product/services/costs? I guess it is good that time is on my side since I am considering 2018 for my 1st river cruise. :)

 

Brian

The same three things have been happening in the river cruising world as in ocean cruising: (1) the lines that want to separate themselves from the "mass-market" are engaged in an inclusiveness competition, so every year somebody adds some new perks; (2) all lines are trying to raise prices because they held them low during the economic downturn; (3) terrorism has made bookings soft, do there are more frequent sales. All this means that the quality is high and there are bargains out there -- but you have to work harder to compare.

First, compare what you get for what $$$. Don't just pick Viking. Compare with others, compute a per day cost and consider what is included in the price. Some cruise lines are far more expensive that others. We have done Vantage and AMA and both are great.

Second, what part of the World do you want to see? We loved our Russian River cruise, but some may not want that. For Europe, there is a lot of variety. A lot of cruises are in Germany, since the Rhine, Danube and Elbe go through Germany. However, the Danube goes all the way to the Black Sea. Also, there are some great cruises in SE France and to Normandy. Also, Portugal has the Douro.

The same three things have been happening in the river cruising world as in ocean cruising: (1) the lines that want to separate themselves from the "mass-market" are engaged in an inclusiveness competition, so every year somebody adds some new perks; (2) all lines are trying to raise prices because they held them low during the economic downturn; (3) terrorism has made bookings soft, do there are more frequent sales. All this means that the quality is high and there are bargains out there -- but you have to work harder to compare.

Thank you Host Jazzbeau. This is good to know. Fortunately I am rooted in a strong work ethic, so can handle the effort to make an informed decision. I just wished some things in life were easier to come by as I am no longer a young man (only young at heart). :)

First, compare what you get for what $$$. Don't just pick Viking. Compare with others, compute a per day cost and consider what is included in the price. Some cruise lines are far more expensive that others. We have done Vantage and AMA and both are great.

 

Second, what part of the World do you want to see? We loved our Russian River cruise, but some may not want that. For Europe, there is a lot of variety. A lot of cruises are in Germany, since the Rhine, Danube and Elbe go through Germany. However, the Danube goes all the way to the Black Sea. Also, there are some great cruises in SE France and to Normandy. Also, Portugal has the Douro.

Beautiful Saint Simons Island!! We were there January 2015 and enjoyed our short visit.

Thank you 4774Papa! Yes, there are so many wonderful choices. Unfortunately, we would want to see them all so will need to prioritize: Amsterdam, Germany, Switzerland, Vienna, Prague just for starters (lol).

Europe is wonderful!

P.S.

As I am not the original poster (OP), I will now remain quiet on this thread and apologize to the OP. But the OP and I are in the same boat as newbies to river cruising. Cheers everyone!

Brian

Beautiful Saint Simons Island!! We were there January 2015 and enjoyed our short visit.

 

Thank you 4774Papa! Yes, there are so many wonderful choices. Unfortunately, we would want to see them all so will need to prioritize: Amsterdam, Germany, Switzerland, Vienna, Prague just for starters (lol).

Europe is wonderful!

Here are some of my reviews from previous cruises.

Japan and a little bit of China

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=518503&et_cid=2531924&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards

*

Singapore to Dubai

*

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=501167

*

South America

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=248878

*

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=94024

Black Sea and E. Med

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=228545

British Isles

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=221137

Transatlantic

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=221136

Australia

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=216863

W. Med *NCL Epic

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=103808

AMA Rhone River

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=103733

Southern Caribbean

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=99934

Spain, Canary Islands and Morocco

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=80907

E. Med and Adriatic, NCL Gem

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=70129

Russia, Kiev and Baltics

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1478384

China

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1718320

*

*

North Sea/Atl and Transatlantic

*

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=264272

Read the sticky explaining the characteristics of each cruise line. Just as in ocean cruising there are different tiers of service. Usually you pay for that level of service. Some of us need "top of the line" while others are happy with a more moderate experience.

Here are some of my reviews from previous cruises.

Japan and a little bit of China

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=518503&et_cid=2531924&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards

*

OK, it is not my fault that 4774Papa is making a liar of me (lol), but I had to thank him for his post. I have only read your Japan review so far since we are booked on Millie for her April 2018 Japan circumvention & transpacific cruises. And we are booked on the Infinity for her March 2017 SA cruise so I am curious about that review as well.

You have been on some awesome cruises 4774Papa and you're an excellent writer! Thank you!

Brian

OK, it is not my fault that 4774Papa is making a liar of me (lol), but I had to thank him for his post. I have only read your Japan review so far since we are booked on Millie for her April 2018 Japan circumvention & transpacific cruises. And we are booked on the Infinity for her March 2017 SA cruise so I am curious about that review as well.

 

You have been on some awesome cruises 4774Papa and you're an excellent writer! Thank you!

 

Brian

Brian,

Thanks, I write my reviews focusing on two main priorities. First, as a record for myself in the future, second, to assist others, especially on cc with t heir travel plans.

I want to return the favor for all the cc friends that have provided great advice to me.