Discovering River Cruising

Discovering River Cruising

By Karolina Shenton, The Cruise Web Team

So, you’re a big-time traveler, and you’ve cruised a lot, but have you been on a river cruise yet? Chances are you haven’t, however it’s time to consider joining the scores of travelers who have discovered this fantastic way to see the world. River cruises lines with their exclusive, luxurious and spacious vessels, take the curious and adventurous alike, to seldom-visited destinations throughout the world.

The best part of river cruising is that you won’t have to decide which ports in your itinerary you mind seeing again, because they rarely visit the major coastal ports served by normal cruises. Rather they visit far-away places in the interior of Europe, China, South-East Asia, Egypt and even the mainland United States. You get to enjoy all the wonderful service, relaxation, and ease of cruising, while visiting more exotic ports than normally served by cruise ships. Every voyage is sure to be a totally unique and unforgettable experience.

When thinking of river cruises, think calm seas (remember on the river you don’t have any waves), fabulously appointed suites, artistically crafted and locally inspired cuisine, and world-class service. These vessels service far fewer passengers than found on most cruise ships, however are appointed to impress the most discerning tastes. The menus are designed with the local flavors in mind, and the kitchen staff will even obtain fresh ingredients along the way. Every aspect of the experience is designed to be unrushed, personal, and perfect in every way.

While river cruising is a fairly new vacation option there are already a few cruise lines that stand out from the pack, including:

• Viking River Cruises – You are probably most familiar with this line because they have several commercials currently airing. Viking seeks to provide their passengers with a look into the culture of the lands they cruise to, but they also have some of the best river cruise deals.
• Avalon Waterways – Avalon provides a sophisticated approach to river cruising with new all-suite ships and personalization options allowing you to find the best excursions to fit your taste.
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruises – Uniworld provides a luxurious feel for their cruisers. With ships that are named after royalty the feature beautiful chandeliers and luxurious linens along with special features like an onboard pool.

You owe it to yourself to explore what river cruising has to offer. As you still have many options when it comes to river cruising it’s best to seek expert help. The cruise consultants at The Cruise Web can help you choose a sailing that fits your tastes.

Karolina Shenton is a cruise consultant at The Cruise Web. The Cruise Web is a travel agency that specializes in cruising. The expert cruise consultants focus on providing travelers with the best value for their time and money in finding and booking a cruise vacation!