What are typical mealtimes on a river cruise?

[Chicagomom]

We are looking at the Grand Circle European River Cruise from Vienna to Amsterdam, and I'm wondering what meal times will be since they are less flexible than on an ocean cruise.  We often have free time from lunch to dinner, but I don't have how much time that allows us for sightseeing.  Also it seems they sometimes have informational meetings before dinner, so that would cut into our free time as well.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[Canal archive]

Breakfast is usually from fairly early especially if you’re going on an early organised tour. Lunch will usually be buffet as is breakfast, I’m not sure about Grand Circle unless there is another pre-arranged tour from approx 12.30. Dinner usually starts at 7.00pm the Port Talk will most probably be from 6.00pm try not to miss it. You can actually watch this on your in cabin TV on some river cruise lines but it’s much friendlier to join your fellow cruisers, you’ll learn whats happening that evening through the next day. There are usually decisions to be made so an alert brain is needed. Go with flow and enjoy.

[Roz]

@Chicagomom, in general, river cruising isn't that conducive to independent touring. 

[CDNPolar]

Our experience is that breakfast is generally always starting at 7am, but people come and go as their daily schedule demands.  If you are on an 8am excursion departure, then you are down for breakfast early.  Breakfast we have generally always experienced a very small number of guests but we are eating at 7 whether we are leaving early or not.

 

Lunch is going to be a bit changed daily based on when the bulk of excursions return.  So today lunch could start at 12 and tomorrow 12:30.  The kitchen serves "courses" in order so they prefer to have the dining room fairly full when starting service.

 

Dinner generally is always fixed at 7:00pm or 7:15pm, and everyone goes in at the same time.  There are not different seating times.  Again, they tend to serve "courses" so want everyone seated when service starts.

 

As @Roz said, River cruises - the ones we have done - are not necessarily conducive to independent exploration, unless you are going to do your own tour leaving early morning, have lunch on your own, and return to the ship before sailing in the early evening - or sometimes 5:00pm.

 

If we are on a tour that is of the city - a walking tour say... - then we will stay in the city at lunch when all are returning and self explore further.  We will find lunch in the city.

[Daisi]

Never sailed on Grand Circle so couldn't really say how they do their cruises. The line we cruise on is Avalon, and they have buffet for both breakfast and lunch, so it's easy to slip in and out if you don't want to take the included excursions and just wander around the port. Just make sure you check with the CD as to when they sail out, so you know to be back in time.  Avalon's dinners (and I think most) are around 7:00, right after the CD's talk about the next day, which will start around 6:00. Dinner is the only meal served, and if you are in port overnight, you are more than welcome to spend the day in town.

 

The reason independent tours are difficult is because water levels (high/low) and locks interfere with timing in ports. Sometimes you don't leave on time so are later arriving at the next port. Ports can change if there are problems, you may miss one altogether, and have another one substituted. it's easy to wander around on your own, or when doing so, pick up a "tour by locals", but to prebook, it's not advised. Just make sure you know where your ship will be when you return, sometimes they sail to another port while you would be out on an included tour....or shift docking positions. 🙂

 

[Chicagomom]

10 hours ago, Roz said:

@Chicagomom, in general, river cruising isn't that conducive to independent touring. 

Is that due to the more erratic nature of their ports, or for other reasons?  We're thinking more in line of just walking around town than taking a guided tour somewhere.

[Canal archive]

Scenic has maps available of the port your in so your company may. They are freely available. If you’re going off piste make sure you know when to return to your vessel and have its contact details to hand. Your cruise director could be useful for advice where to go. Enjoy!

[Roz]

2 hours ago, Chicagomom said:

Is that due to the more erratic nature of their ports, or for other reasons?  We're thinking more in line of just walking around town than taking a guided tour somewhere.

@Daisigave a good explanation of how/why ship locations may change. You may go out walking and come back, only to find your ship has moved.  Be sure to have the ship's or cruise director's phone number with you. 

[CPT Trips]

We cruise GCT regularly. Are you doing “The Great Rivers of Europe” cruise? That was our first river cruise, booked on 8 days notice. Talk about clueless. If I get my act together I’ll look at the itinerary and see what I remember. Are you staying additional days at either end?
 

Typically the morning excursions end in the city/town center and allow about an hour of free time before heading back to the ship. Lunch is a buffet, with a few plated options, from noonish to 2ish. 
 

A couple of points about doing your own thing. You aren’t required to go back yo the ship for lunch. We frequently stay in town, grab some street food (a brat, doner, or frites and a beer), and head off to a museum or just wander. Or, you can grab a quick bite on the ship and head out. The pre-dinner port talk typically is 6:30ish and then dinner. 
 

DIY is really easy if the ship is docked within walking distance of the city center. When they bus you into town from the dock, shuttle buses are provided. If this happens, just ask your program director for the schedule and where to meet to catch the shuttle back. 

 

Also, one or more of the program directors often conduct impromptu afternoon “tours” at just the cost of transportation (usually public, but on occasion a van or large taxi) and/or admission. 
 

 

 

 

 

[pontac]

On 9/10/2024 at 9:28 PM, Chicagomom said:

We are looking at the Grand Circle European River Cruise from Vienna to Amsterdam, and I'm wondering what meal times will be since they are less flexible than on an ocean cruise.

 

I could tell you about meal times on Viking and Scenic but that doesn't tell you what the meal times are on Grand Circle.

On 9/10/2024 at 9:28 PM, Chicagomom said:

Also it seems they sometimes have informational meetings before dinner,

 

Both Viking and Scenic  have daily talks before dinner about the following day's excursions. We rarely attend them because all you really need to know is what time they depart and that info is on the ticket/daily info sheet. Anyway as they only take 15 minutes or so, it hardly makes a difference to your free time if you are intending dining on board.

 

Regarding sightseeing on your own, I don't know Grand Circle or where they stop. I suggest you look at Google Maps to see where the stops are and if there is a town on the river. We've stopped at Kehl to allow an  excursion to Strasbourg, but that city is a coach ride away, so you can't stroll from the boat to Strasbourg.

 

Both lines I have been on do a good job of excursions to sights at stops along the way with a local guide that shows you things that you probably wouldn't find on your own, they explain them and you can ask questions. If such excursions are included on your cruise, why not go on them? You've paid for them and if you're not satisfied just wander off and do your own thing; the  excursions we've been on always have 'free time' so you can do just that.

[Daisi]

5 hours ago, pontac said:

Both lines I have been on do a good job of excursions to sights at stops along the way with a local guide that shows you things that you probably wouldn't find on your own, they explain them and you can ask questions. If such excursions are included on your cruise, why not go on them? You've paid for them and if you're not satisfied just wander off and do your own thing; the  excursions we've been on always have 'free time' so you can do just that.

 

 

This is a good point, if the excursions are included check them out (unless you know a lot about the port you are in), and if you don't enjoy it, find out from the guide where to meet up (if you need a ride back to the ship) and wander on your own. It's nice to wander, but knowing what you are seeing is often helpful. 🙂

 

[CPT Trips]

@pontac makes a good point about checking where the ship docks. That’s one of the reas I asked OP for the exact cruise they were looking at. If it’s the itinerary I am thinking of, many of the docks were directly in town
The times we stopped in Strasbourg we actually docked in town, and just a short walk from the  terminus of a tram line. We used that line to and from our walking tour of the town.