European river cruises offer a more “intimate” way to experience the continent

Europe has no shortage of renowned tourist spots, but Diamond Meadows’ first river cruise didn’t include them.

The 28-year-old graduate student took a cruise along the Rhine and Moselle rivers that took her to cities like Koblenz and Trier in Germany (she supplemented the sailing with train trips to Austria, Switzerland and elsewhere).

Meadows was traveling with her mother and her mother’s boss, who uses a wheelchair. The group chose CroisiEurope Cruises sailing for the ease of sailing with a mobility device. But she discovered other benefits.

“It takes you right into the heart of the city,” said Meadows, who is based in Tennessee. Their approximately 160-passenger ship offered convenient disembarkations to smaller destinations, allowing them “access to so much more.”

Many European destinations were crowded with tourists last summer. But mainland river cruises can offer a more relaxed way to travel with small ships visiting a mix of popular and less crowded ports.

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Jen Campbell Boles, founder of travel company Explore More Family Travel, said that while cruises in general are “a great value for visiting Europe,” river cruises are particularly immersive. “A quote we always use in the travel industry is, ‘Cruise ships take you to the destination, river cruises take us through the destination,'” she said.

Passengers visit not only major cities but also picturesque villages and often disembark within walking distance of attractions. Once their exploration is complete, they return to a ship with an average of 150 guests.

“It’s more intimate, it’s more comfortable,” Campbell Boles said. “You don’t fight the crowd, obviously.”

That was part of the draw for Jim Jones, 57, who took river cruises on Avalon Waterways with his wife in 2011 and 2014.

“Small towns were an attraction,” said Jones, who is based in Phoenix and works for a software company. For example, he liked to visit Avignon, in the south of France, which was once the seat of the papacy. “I’m a real history nerd,” he said. On their first cruise, he recalls, “almost every town” they visited had a farmers’ market, allowing them to sample local food.

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Unlike ocean-going cruise ships, with their large casinos and numerous bars, on board “it was very relaxed and at a much slower pace.”

River cruise ships tend to have “fewer bells and whistles,” Campbell Boles said (although she added that guests get a more personalized experience because of their smaller size).

Adam Duckworth, president and founder of Travelmation, echoed this. He said cruises are less about the ship and more about its destination. “It’s truly an itinerary experience.”

Are European river cruises cheaper than land travel?

While travelers may find land-based accommodations cheaper than river cruises, there are other factors to consider.

River cruises tend to bundle higher costs, like alcohol, into the fare than a traditional ocean cruise line, Duckworth said (although exact policies vary by company). At least one excursion per day is usually included, Campbell Boles added.

She said demand for Europe was still at “highs” and land prices were particularly high. “Even if you stay in a cabin or suite in the highest category, you spend less than an equivalent hotel,” she said.

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Transportation from one destination to another is also built into a river cruise, while travelers may need to take a train or make other arrangements to visit a combination of locations. “I mean, it really matters in Europe, so it’s a great way to see a lot more variety,” Campbell Boles said.

Passengers can also add pre- and post-cruise stays, allowing them to “have the best of both worlds.”

“What we’re saying is that a river cruise can often be a premium product,” Duckworth added. “But for what you experience – the comfort, the (less) stress, the luxurious experience on board – we find it’s actually the best value for money in Europe in our experience.”

Are European river cruises suitable for children?

Since river cruises require a certain amount of free time — most last at least seven days — they tend to be popular with older guests, according to Duckworth.

But in recent years, he’s seen an increase in multigenerational travel in the area. “We see grandparents bringing their grandchildren, we see young professionals sailing on a river in Europe for the first time,” Duckworth said.

Some operators offer offers particularly suited to young people. Adventures by Disney offers river cruises with AmaWaterways and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises offers a Generations collection.

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Even though the programming is designed for children, Duckworth cautioned that river cruise ships don’t offer the same range of amenities as larger ocean ships. “If your kids want to go to a water park, ride a FlowRider and play putt-putt all day, there are some great lines for you, but a European river cruise probably isn’t one of them right now,” he said. said.

Some lines also don’t accept children or have varying age requirements, so it’s important to do some research beforehand.