JWT Cruises experts share their insights and top tips for river cruising; and select some of the most stunning river cruises to explore Europe and the world to inspire your next adventure.
“River cruising is a very different experience to ocean voyages, as guests embark on much smaller, intimate ships taking them to the heart of the cities,” explains Caroline O’Toole, head of Luxury and Cruises at JWT Travel. “There is more of a focus on cultural immersion and enjoying a relaxed travel experience.”
“They are becoming increasingly popular among guests new to cruising but also avid cruisers keen to try something different.”
TOP RIVER CRUISE DESTINATIONS
The Rhine and Danube rivers in Central Europe; and Porto and the Douro Valley in Portugal and into Spain remain the most requested destinations. They are classic European river cruises where guests sail regions of magnificent beauty such as the Rhine Gorge and the wine making regions along the Douro River, visiting historic cities such as Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna on the Danube.
Paris and Normandy, Provence and the Bordeaux regions in France; and Venice and the Veneto region in Italy are becoming hot new favourites. The travel experience combines sightseeing, history and cultural experiences with extraordinary local gastronomy.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS AND NEW YEAR
From late November, cities across Europe transform into a winter wonderland, hosting traditional Christmas Markets. Embarking on a river cruise, guests sail right into the heart of each city where they can explore local markets and soak in the festive atmosphere.
Many cruise lines also have special departures for those looking to celebrate Christmas Day or welcome the New Year onboard; some specifically designed for solo travellers.
“There is incredible choice at the moment both for destinations and also cruising style,” adds Caroline, “Guests can opt for a short 4-night cruise, sail for a week or longer journeys of two weeks and more. We work with superb cruise lines from 5 star to boutique and ultra luxury, and we can help guests pick the perfect one for them.”
EXOTIC RIVER CRUISES
Beyond Europe, there are incredible destinations and iconic waterways that can be explored by river cruise such as the Nile River in Egypt; the Mekong across Vietnam and Cambodia and the Sacred Ganges in India. They offer once in a lifetime river cruise experiences that can also be extended and combined with tours to explore the regions further.
The Amazon River in Peru can be combined with Machu Picchu for instance, and African river cruises can be combined with unforgettable safari experiences.
ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR RIVER CRUISING
First time going on a river cruise? Here are some essential tips to have in mind:
- The classic duration of a river cruise is 7 nights however there are also options for shorter and longer sailings, depending on the destination you are looking to travel to. In some cases you can extend your trip with pre-cruise and post-cruise stays in the different cities.
- If you are planning an exotic river cruise, we highly recommend extending the experience with some land tours.
- Typically river cruise ships can host around 150 passengers so think of it as your boutique floating hotel.
- The price of cabins will depend on where they are located on the ship, generally those located in lower decks will be cheaper.
- Certain dates are in high demand, such as Spring, Autumn and Christmas Markets, so book in advance if you can.
- Some cruise lines offer specific sailings for solo travellers, while others might waive their solo supplement or have special offers, talk to our team to learn more.
- We recommend checking the ship plan and amenities to make sure they cater for what you are looking for, ie. deck pool, fitness room, bikes, etc…
- The food offering on river cruises tends to be of top quality and locally sourced so guests can expect a gourmet type of food experience, inspired by the regions they travel to.
- The excursions and activities are generally included, in some cases you will have a choice. This could range from guided tours to cookery demonstrations or wine tasting or more active bike tours for instance, depending on the cruise line. You can also opt to relax onboard or do your own thing and explore at your own pace!
Have you got any questions about river cruising? Contact our expert team!
At JWT Travel we work with some of the top river cruise lines including: AmaWaterways, APT Travelmarvel, Avalon Waterways, Emerald, Riviera Travel, Scenic, Uniworld and more.
Make sure you follow JWT Travel on Instagram @jwt.travel for special and last minute offers.
We hope you enjoyed our selection of stunning river cruises to explore Europe and the world, contact our cruise team for more advice and to book your next river cruise.
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