New to River Cruising - lots of questions

[kiwigirl]

Hello All -

 

I have (many) questions about picking the right River Cruise. My husband & I (both early 50s) are looking at taking a river cruise for the first time. We are looking for something in July. I know there are a number of companies that do river cruises and so far, I've been doing a lot of reading on Viking.

 

It appears that they are on the more casual side, as neither of us want to bring dress clothes. I also like that soft drinks/waters are included during the meals as I don't drink alcohol (it gives me migraines).

 

Are there other companies that I should look at? We are considering some land options at both or either end and have no more than 3 weeks.

One question comes from my FIL, he didn't think a river cruise would offer much scenery as we make our way from port to port. His comment was that it's all been built up with commercial buildings. Have you found this to be true?

 

How do the excursions work? If I understand correctly, on Viking, there is one set excursion included per port plus there may be optional ones for additional cost? Is this true on all lines?

 

I'm sure I'll have many more questions as this goes along but I appreciate any insight you can give.

Thanks!!!

[jklc123]

Welcome to river cruising! From what I've read on this forum, you can have a great time with any line.

 

If you haven't yet done so, I suggest you look at Host Jazzbeau's stickies at the top of this forum, especially "What to expect from a river cruise" and "New to River cruising?"

 

I only have experience with Uniworld but most lines have casual dress codes, even for dinner. My DH has not taken a sports jacket and tie with him since our first cruise. Collared shirts for men and a nice blouse with pants or skirt for women seems to be the norm on all lines . A few people might dress up a bit more for the captain's and farewell dinners, but not everyone.

 

As for scenery, although on most itineraries most sailing is at night, there is often at least a morning or afternoon designed for sailing through particularly scenic areas, such as castles on the Rhine and the Wachau Valley on the Danube. We also saw lovely scenery on the other rivers we've sailed -- the Seine, Rhone, Volga and Nile. The only industrial area we passed in daytime was on the Rhine between Cologne and Amsterdam, but that was actually rather interesting.

 

Some lines, such as Uniworld, have more included excursions than others, but I even "all inclusive" Uniworld offers a few excursions for an extra charge. We rarely felt the need to add an optional tour but appreciated the option a few times.

 

Happy researching! I imagine you will receive lots of advice from other river cruise lovers!

[lackcreativity]

Have you ever done ocean cruises? I ask, because they are really quite different. We have only sailed twice, one river and one ocean, both with Viking. From what I understand, most large ocean cruise ships have lots of onboard attractions and entertainment. River cruising is much more low key. Generally you will be on shore exploring for most of the day, and in the evening there is a port talk regarding the next day, dinner, and maybe a musician in the lounge after dinner.

 

Just like with ocean cruises and rough seas which can impact a cruise, river cruises have a few potential pitfalls as well. They can sometimes be impacted by high water (can't get under the bridges) and low water which can interrupt a trip. Viking generally handles those issues with a "ship swap", where you may be required to relocate to a sister ship up/down stream. I'm not trying to warn you off a river cruise (not at all!), but I think it is better to be forewarned and avoid disappointment.

 

We loved both our Viking cruises, and have one planned for this fall and another next spring. I know there are multiple companies that have excellent products as well. Good luck.

[kiwigirl]

Thank you JKLC123. Yes, I have been reading through some of her posts. Sometimes the more I read, the more questions I have. :D We're still undecided on whether or not to do the river cruise or land only. I'll be meeting with our travel agent in a couple of weeks so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can.

Welcome to river cruising! From what I've read on this forum, you can have a great time with any line.

 

If you haven't yet done so, I suggest you look at Host Jazzbeau's stickies at the top of this forum, especially "What to expect from a river cruise" and "New to River cruising?"

 

I only have experience with Uniworld but most lines have casual dress codes, even for dinner. My DH has not taken a sports jacket and tie with him since our first cruise. Collared shirts for men and a nice blouse with pants or skirt for women seems to be the norm on all lines . A few people might dress up a bit more for the captain's and farewell dinners, but not everyone.

 

As for scenery, although on most itineraries most sailing is at night, there is often at least a morning or afternoon designed for sailing through particularly scenic areas, such as castles on the Rhine and the Wachau Valley on the Danube. We also saw lovely scenery on the other rivers we've sailed -- the Seine, Rhone, Volga and Nile. The only industrial area we passed in daytime was on the Rhine between Cologne and Amsterdam, but that was actually rather interesting.

 

Some lines, such as Uniworld, have more included excursions than others, but I even "all inclusive" Uniworld offers a few excursions for an extra charge. We rarely felt the need to add an optional tour but appreciated the option a few times.

 

Happy researching! I imagine you will receive lots of advice from other river cruise lovers!

[kiwigirl]

Thank you lackcreativity.

We have done a few ocean cruises and I'm very aware of how different they will be. Last year we did a cruise up the coast of Norway on Hurtigruten. They are definitely a no frills type of line as they were originally a working ferry system, and still is. The cruise was beautiful and we were able to spend hours sitting in the lounge watching the landscape. After doing this, I think the river cruise will be fine as we didn't miss the entertainment from the big ships.

The "ship swap" is one of my big questions. I understand that there could be a time that the water levels are low and the ship won't be able to continue. Does this usually happen only one day or could it be the remaining of a trip? If it's multiple days then, I assume, Viking arranges hotel accommodations? Also, if this happens, we are usually given enough notice for packing. If we do have to change ships, I'm assuming (hoping) we would get the same room choices?

The cruise we are considering is the Grand European Tour.

Thank you for your input.

 

 

Have you ever done ocean cruises? I ask, because they are really quite different. We have only sailed twice, one river and one ocean, both with Viking. From what I understand, most large ocean cruise ships have lots of onboard attractions and entertainment. River cruising is much more low key. Generally you will be on shore exploring for most of the day, and in the evening there is a port talk regarding the next day, dinner, and maybe a musician in the lounge after dinner.

 

Just like with ocean cruises and rough seas which can impact a cruise, river cruises have a few potential pitfalls as well. They can sometimes be impacted by high water (can't get under the bridges) and low water which can interrupt a trip. Viking generally handles those issues with a "ship swap", where you may be required to relocate to a sister ship up/down stream. I'm not trying to warn you off a river cruise (not at all!), but I think it is better to be forewarned and avoid disappointment.

 

We loved both our Viking cruises, and have one planned for this fall and another next spring. I know there are multiple companies that have excellent products as well. Good luck.

[Rebel54]

The benefit of river cruises is the beautiful scenery along the river. We've only done one (Avalon Central European Adventure) and loved sitting on the deck seeing the beautiful German towns, homes and castles as we sailed by. We also enjoyed sitting in our cabin and doing the same.

[philw1776]

River cruise dinner dress for men is slacks & a collared shirt. Informal. Shorts & T shirts during warm weather day tours.

Been on Viking River several times & on Uniworld. Both fine cruise lines with quite different decor. Uniworld includes all booze 24/7. Viking beer & all you can drink wine at meals. Inexpensive cocktails. Have friends who like Tauck. Chrystal, AMA and a couple others get raves from friends. Pick when & where you want to go and the style of the ship/cabin you like best. Many good choices.

[Rebel54]

Not sure if you can see this...but it's a video on my facebook:

 

 

Avalon usually had one included excursion per day. There were optional excursions that you could choose from/pay for. We added a full week in Prague and an extra week in Paris. Both land portions we did on our own. Avalon was very relaxed, no one bothered anyone over clothing. One guy was always in shorts and t-shirts and no one cared...yes, even at dinner.

Edited July 30, 2018 by Rebel54

[kiwigirl]

Yes, thank you. I was able to view it. I'm going to check out the cruise you mentioned.

 

 

Not sure if you can see this...but it's a video on my facebook:

 

 

Avalon usually had one included excursion per day. There were optional excursions that you could choose from/pay for. We added a full week in Prague and an extra week in Paris. Both land portions we did on our own. Avalon was very relaxed, no one bothered anyone over clothing. One guy was always in shorts and t-shirts and no one cared...yes, even at dinner.

[kiwigirl]

Thank you! We would be traveling in July so I assume it will be warmer weather.

 

 

River cruise dinner dress for men is slacks & a collared shirt. Informal. Shorts & T shirts during warm weather day tours.

Been on Viking River several times & on Uniworld. Both fine cruise lines with quite different decor. Uniworld includes all booze 24/7. Viking beer & all you can drink wine at meals. Inexpensive cocktails. Have friends who like Tauck. Chrystal, AMA and a couple others get raves from friends. Pick when & where you want to go and the style of the ship/cabin you like best. Many good choices.

[kiwigirl]

Another question....

Does it matter where the cabin is located, as far as mid-section vs. front/back? I know for ocean cruises this can be important for people. I would think that you really don't get the movement on the river as you do on the ocean, but maybe for docking purposes? I know that this was true on our Hurtigruten cruise last year.

[texasstar]

I am going to put a plug in for AmaWaterways. We have been on two river cruises with them, and have a third planned for 2019. The excursions, food and service are top notch. Unless you are locked in to the July date, you might consider, late May, early June or September. The weather would be a little more agreeable at this time.

[kiwigirl]

I will check them out. In what way could the weather be poor during July? It's our anniversary so that's why we're looking at that time.

 

 

I am going to put a plug in for AmaWaterways. We have been on two river cruises with them, and have a third planned for 2019. The excursions, food and service are top notch. Unless you are locked in to the July date, you might consider, late May, early June or September. The weather would be a little more agreeable at this time.

[Rebel54]

I will check them out. In what way could the weather be poor during July? It's our anniversary so that's why we're looking at that time.

 

Our cruise was July/Aug (our birthdays and anniversary) and it was wonderful. There were some hot days, a day or two of rain but mostly warm sunny weather. We purchased "cool towels" to take with us and they were a god send! When everyone else was hot and sweaty.....we were "chilling" with our towels. All you had to do was wet them and wave them in the air.

[Peregrina651]

Our first river cruise was not in Europe but in China. We traveled with Viking and it was one of the best vacations we have ever taken. If you have never traveled in China before, this should be on your bucket list. Book your air with Viking as well and they will take care of you from the moment you walk through customs until they take you back to the airport.

[Host Jazzbeau]

As far as low water is concerned, there is of course no predicting the weather – but, you can minimize the chances of problems by avoiding the areas known for low-water problems: the Elbe, and the stretch of the Danube approx. in the center of an Amsterdam to Budapest cruise. The Rhine & Moselle, Rhone, Seine, and the Danube from Passau east to Budapest are all much more reliable. Also look for cruise ships with shallow draft (such as AMA or Avalon rather than Viking), since they can keep sailing in low water when others must stop or swap.

[OneSixtyToOne]

For the first time river cruiser I suggest a cruise that sails along the Middle Rhine like Viking's Rhine Getaway that goes from Amsterdam to Basel. The scenic Middle Rhine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where turreted castles and fortresses overlook the river from their hilltop posts. It's not "all built up with commercial buildings" as most river cruises are not. It is a major wine producing area with picturesque vineyards covering the river valley and ancient castles guarding the river below.

 

We just returned from the Viking Paris to the Swiss Alps cruise, which we did in the reverse direction. This cruise also sails along the Middle Rhine and continues along the Moselle River, another major wine producing region. The scenery was incredible. We also added the Switzerland pre-cruise extension. It went from Geneva to Zermatt to Zurich and included a 1st class ride on the Glacier Express across Switzerland. It was an amazing extension. I highly recommend it.

[kiwigirl]

Our cruise was July/Aug (our birthdays and anniversary) and it was wonderful. There were some hot days, a day or two of rain but mostly warm sunny weather. We purchased "cool towels" to take with us and they were a god send! When everyone else was hot and sweaty.....we were "chilling" with our towels. All you had to do was wet them and wave them in the air.

 

LOL - I just bought a couple of those towels because we went to Disneyland last week, just happened to be during a heat wave!! The towels were perfect. I will definitely pack them.

[wheezedr]

Thought I would address only your question regarding low water and ship swapping. We did Viking Amsterdam to Budapest and hit low water at the common spot between Nuremberg and Passau. We all knew that problem might occur as there had been little or no recent rain. On the evening before we were advised to pack up for the morning and then left out our bags when we departed for our tour. After the tour we were escorted to a restaurant in downtown Nuremberg for lunch. From there we were taken to our buses for the trip to Passau where we boarded a sister ship whose passengers had swapped with us. As all the Viking ships are identical in layout you just end up in the EXACT same room on the new ship and your luggage awaits you. Since we had skipped Regensburg the ship offered a bus tour back there the next day. We opted to stay in Passau and do it on our own so that on the next day we could do the optional to Salzburg. As far as we were concerned and most of our shipmates agreed, the swap was simple and quite efficient.

One advantage to Viking in this situation is that they have so many ships on this trip that swapping across is readily available. I should mention that the crew remains with its original ship, with the exception of the cruise director who swaps with you.

[jklc123]

Another question....

Does it matter where the cabin is located, as far as mid-section vs. front/back? I know for ocean cruises this can be important for people. I would think that you really don't get the movement on the river as you do on the ocean, but maybe for docking purposes? I know that this was true on our Hurtigruten cruise last year.

 

We have stayed in various parts of our ships and didn't notice any problems. Some have said the deck below the sun deck can be briefly noisy when furniture is rearranged but we haven't had any problem like that.

[texasstar]

KiwiGirl, I just meant it would be cooler.

[Rebel54]

LOL - I just bought a couple of those towels because we went to Disneyland last week, just happened to be during a heat wave!! The towels were perfect. I will definitely pack them.

 

If you take the tour to Terezin while in Prague....don't forget them. There is NO shade to be found. We were thankful we had them on that tour.

[franski]

Welcome to the River Cruise forum!! There are many people here who have been in your shoes, and are happy to share their knowledge, and offer opinions. I think you are wise to do some research, so that you don't have any "surprises" about the experience. Of course, you can't plan for weather, or for water levels. If you run into issues, most lines have a contingency plan.

 

My suggestion is to identify some things that are important for you to see. Do you have an interest in castles? Classical music? History around WWII? This could help narrow down the cruise itinerary.

 

Once you have decided on the river, and the time of year, then look at the different companies that offer that itinerary. There are many options besides Viking. There are a few that are all inclusive (Scenic, Tauck, Uniworld) - but the cost is usually a bit higher because of that. Emerald isn't as all-inclusive as the ones I have just mentioned, but it does include more in the fare (ie: free airport transfers, even if you don't book air with them, and gratuities). Then decide on a cabin. Is it important to have a balcony? Or will a French balcony do? Or - are you OK with Aquarium Class (ie: lowest category).

 

Many people on this forum are brand loyal. They have had one (or more) cruises with one line - and see no reason to change. Others (myself included) have travelled with many companies - and book based on itinerary/dates/price rather than just returning to their "favourite". No right or wrong way to book IMHO.

 

Booking land with the cruise line isn't always the most economical way to go. Budapest is easy to do on your own - but Prague can be a bit more challenging due to the fact that the city is quite a distance from Nuremburg (a common place to end your cruise before moving onto Prague). Same with air --> sometimes the cruise lines can get you a good deal, but other times it is cheaper to book on your own.

 

Given the strength of the US dollar, I suggest you look at Scenic and Emerald. They are Australian based - with an office in Canada - so your dollar goes a long way with them.

 

Watch for sales. If you have an idea of what your cruise will cost, you will know if the sale is really a sale... Get on the mailing list for all of the main players --> sometimes you can snag a smoking deal.

 

We have travelled with most of the main players (AMA, Avalon, Viking, Scenic, Uniworld and Emerald) - and have sailed many of the rivers more than once. We have cruise # 14 coming up - Bucharest to Budapest - with Avalon. We did this a few years ago with Viking. This time we are going to Transylvania - very excited. We have found (at this point in our travels) that Avalon is a good fit for us. A bit more relaxed than some - and they often offer 2 excursions in each city. This is good for us when we have already travelled the river with another company. But - am always open to a good deal, regardless of the company.

 

Have fun with your planning - and enjoy the experience!! If you have further questions... ask away!!

 

Fran

 

P.S. Sorry for the long post... just had so much to say!! lol

[caripoo]

Planning is half the fun......First you have to decide where you want to go... Then look at the beginning and ending cities...do you want to do a pre and post visit to these places. It looks like you are going in July, ALOT of Europe is more crowded, and hot in the summer months. The Danube seems to have the most issues with water levels. We have done AMA and Viking, and are booked on Crystal and another Viking....compare prices and what you really want, don't overthink it....book it and enjoy!!

[BPCruiser]

We typically avoid Summer river cruising as we find July/August in Europe too hot and crowded for our personal preference but many have to travel in summer due to work and kids summer schedules. We are retired now but started river cruising almost 10 years ago. Our favorite time of year in Fall, October/November when weather is milder and much less crowded in Europe. We have other friends who always cruise in mid-late September. Like Fran mentioned in her post, many regular river cruisers are brand loyal, often to which cruise line they first started with. We have done 6 river cruises, all with Avalon and Avalon is a good fit for us. Not all inclusive but includes what we enjoy. Have never had a bad cruise with them. Their ships have a more shallow draft and can often make it up or down river during low water when other cruise lines with ships that have a deeper draft can't and those cruises turn into bus travel, which we do not enjoy. Weather and water levels are always a variable but you can often hedge your risks based on time of year and cruise line you select. The Danube is our personal favorite due to the anchor cities of Budapest and Prague, 2 of the prettiest European cities you will ever see. Much to enjoy there, great food and easy to navigate independently which we do pre and post cruise.

 

Do your research for companies and amenities that you prefer and I highly recommend you book thru a TA. Do your research there too as many can offer perks independent of what you will receive booking directly thru the cruise line. We cannot post and advocate Travel agents on these boards but it is easy enough for you to review on your own.

 

Wish you the best in your planning!