River Cruises Around the World
STORY BY PAUL HUGHES - 2018
Just imagine relaxing on the deck of an evening, sipping a glass of wine with your partner, watching the inviting lights of a village or city slip by only a few hundred metres away, then waking the next morning in a totally new city or country.
PHOTO BY YEO KHEE
That is one of the reasons why river cruising is the fastest-growing style of cruising in the world and is regarded as one of the best holidays where you can to relax and unwind while still exploring some of the most beautiful, historic and exciting destinations anywhere.
Not including day-trip cruises, around the world in 2018 there were almost 400 river cruise vessels providing overnight accommodation and meals. With sometimes 20 new or refurbished river cruise ships coming on stream every year, this market is booming.
There are so many new river ships being launched and new cruise lines opening each year, byt the time you read this there will be lots more!
The growth of new operators and new ships is also putting pressure on the industry to find new destinations, offer new packages, and discover new tours or highlights to whet cruisers' burgeoning appetites.
Not including day-trip cruises, around the world in 2018 there were almost 400 river cruise vessels providing overnight accommodation and meals. With sometimes 20 new or refurbished river cruise ships coming on stream every year, this market is booming.
There are so many new river ships being launched and new cruise lines opening each year, byt the time you read this there will be lots more!
The growth of new operators and new ships is also putting pressure on the industry to find new destinations, offer new packages, and discover new tours or highlights to whet cruisers' burgeoning appetites.
Six Reasons to River Cruise
One of the key reasons river cruises are one of the fastest-growing travel sectors in the world relates to the fact there are cruises to suit most budgets!
Depending where you are traveling and how luxurious you want it to be, the cost of a river cruise is somewhere between $200 and $1,000 each person per night, or even higher if you go super luxury.
While that might initially seem a little high, most river cruise fares are all inclusive - apart from getting to the departure point and home again, that’s all you need to spend.
Many river cruise deals include all your food, drinks, tours and even airport transfers; however ensure that the tours are going to the places you want to see, suit your fitness level and that the drinks package meets your preferences; there's no value having and unlimited beer package if you only drink spirits or wine and champagne.
Other reasons why more and more travelers are opting for a river cruise include:
Access: Many river cruise companies will give you exclusive access to destinations or attractions, such as a meal in a palace with the owners (sometimes related to royalty); a private tour of a museum; or a concert or recital exclusive to your ship. In addition you can now venture to places with are inaccessible in any other way such as remote parts of jungles and rainforests; villages, tribes and wildlife that rarely see other people; and even temples and monuments that previously were almost inaccessible.
Daily vistas: With ocean cruising you basically see land while you are coming into or out of a port, otherwise you are at sea (in the casino or at the bar, the pool, the gym, the movies, or at a show - all things you can do at home) or on land rushing to see as much as possible while the ship is docked.
There will be plenty of times on the river when you will be cruising past historic towns; watching locals playing or fishing or doing washing on the river bank; trying to catch a glimpse of the local wildlife, whether it is on land or sharing the waterways with you; sailing through massive gorges or across both wide and narrow waterways; or simply lying back on a deck chair and taking in the 360-degree views.
Depending where you are traveling and how luxurious you want it to be, the cost of a river cruise is somewhere between $200 and $1,000 each person per night, or even higher if you go super luxury.
While that might initially seem a little high, most river cruise fares are all inclusive - apart from getting to the departure point and home again, that’s all you need to spend.
Many river cruise deals include all your food, drinks, tours and even airport transfers; however ensure that the tours are going to the places you want to see, suit your fitness level and that the drinks package meets your preferences; there's no value having and unlimited beer package if you only drink spirits or wine and champagne.
Other reasons why more and more travelers are opting for a river cruise include:
Access: Many river cruise companies will give you exclusive access to destinations or attractions, such as a meal in a palace with the owners (sometimes related to royalty); a private tour of a museum; or a concert or recital exclusive to your ship. In addition you can now venture to places with are inaccessible in any other way such as remote parts of jungles and rainforests; villages, tribes and wildlife that rarely see other people; and even temples and monuments that previously were almost inaccessible.
Daily vistas: With ocean cruising you basically see land while you are coming into or out of a port, otherwise you are at sea (in the casino or at the bar, the pool, the gym, the movies, or at a show - all things you can do at home) or on land rushing to see as much as possible while the ship is docked.
There will be plenty of times on the river when you will be cruising past historic towns; watching locals playing or fishing or doing washing on the river bank; trying to catch a glimpse of the local wildlife, whether it is on land or sharing the waterways with you; sailing through massive gorges or across both wide and narrow waterways; or simply lying back on a deck chair and taking in the 360-degree views.
PHOTO BY NANCY NGO
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PHOTO BY YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE
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Relationships: In most other forms of cruising you share the ship with several thousand people and perhaps get to know a few here and there. With often less than 50 to 100 people on a river cruise you get the chance to get to know others and often even forge friendships the last long after the holiday is over.
Foods and wines: While ocean cruises have marvellous foods and wines, when you are traveling along the river you also have the opportunity to try local foods and wines, with many river cruises offering tours to local markets, cheese factories and wine cellars.
Tops and Tails: River cruises range from a few days to a few weeks, but in each instance there is great opportunity to get to your starting destination early and explore neighbouring regions, or stay a little longer after the cruise and catch the places you wanted to see but were not on that particular itinerary. After all, you have usually spent a fair amount to get there and back, so why not make the most of it.
River Cruise Boat Upgrades
There have been lots of changes in the design and construction of river cruise boats in the past decade, with the more modern vessels offering many additional options and comforts.
Many older boats are being fully refurbished to meet ever-changing expectations.
The environment, rules and conditions of river boat cruising in different destinations can impact on boat designs, whether they need to pass under low structures like bridges; the size of the tides; whether locks have an impact; shallow waters; seasonal weather conditions; the number of ports; and much more.
Foods and wines: While ocean cruises have marvellous foods and wines, when you are traveling along the river you also have the opportunity to try local foods and wines, with many river cruises offering tours to local markets, cheese factories and wine cellars.
Tops and Tails: River cruises range from a few days to a few weeks, but in each instance there is great opportunity to get to your starting destination early and explore neighbouring regions, or stay a little longer after the cruise and catch the places you wanted to see but were not on that particular itinerary. After all, you have usually spent a fair amount to get there and back, so why not make the most of it.
River Cruise Boat Upgrades
There have been lots of changes in the design and construction of river cruise boats in the past decade, with the more modern vessels offering many additional options and comforts.
Many older boats are being fully refurbished to meet ever-changing expectations.
The environment, rules and conditions of river boat cruising in different destinations can impact on boat designs, whether they need to pass under low structures like bridges; the size of the tides; whether locks have an impact; shallow waters; seasonal weather conditions; the number of ports; and much more.
River Cruise Destinations
The River Cruise industry is constantly changing, as new companies are established; more ships are launched that offer new features and facilities; and more new destinations are developed.
Click on your destination and have a look at some of the options available:
River Cruises in Africa - Egypt
River Cruises in Asia - India - Myanmar - China
River Cruises in Europe
Also see our story River Cruise vs Ocean Cruise
Click on your destination and have a look at some of the options available:
River Cruises in Africa - Egypt
River Cruises in Asia - India - Myanmar - China
River Cruises in Europe
Also see our story River Cruise vs Ocean Cruise