RIVER CRUISING SPOTLIGHTS HISTORY, CULTURE

Relax on a floating hotel

By Brian Wilson

Cruising Squared U.K. Correspondent

River cruising may not have the glamorous image of sea cruising – but things are changing – what with new ships, even more exciting destinations and tours – more and more people are giving river cruising for the first time.

Let’s start with the boats – if all your experiences are on ocean liners that have 2,000 or more passengers, river cruise boats will seem small as they only hold 100-160 passengers.

The best way of thinking of it is as a “floating hotel.”

Many of the more recently refurbished boats have been specially designed by naval architects and interior designers so guests can enjoy all the amenities that they would expect of a top class hotel. But this “hotel” is very special; as it journeys through some of the world’s most beautiful scenery and you can “steep” yourself in history and culture.

Watch the world go by from your stateroom as you cruise to your next part of call (that could be one of Europe’s capitals or large cities).

But choose wisely as not all boats are the same – make sure you have a balcony and check what is included with your room e.g. TV. WIFI etc).

Be aware that many of these boats do not have the wide range of “opportunities” to keep children happy – they just do not have the space.

On the other hand, journeying through some of the world’s most important rivers and calling into a new city or town every day may well stimulate young minds in new ways.

  

Dining on river cruise boats will be an experience – to attract customers; food is invariably of a high standard in an elegant atmosphere (many cruises do not require formal wear at all times). Most Companies will offer you differing courses during your trip to reflect your port/country of call.

When you are being taken through “liquid history” you could expect to have a choice of talks, demonstrations, lectures – plus on-shore exploration.

A river cruise boat on the Rhine River

In Europe you can choose to tour the Rhine (including Cologne, Koblenz Heidelberg, Basel) – Seine and Rhone (Paris and south to Burgundy and The Mediterranean) – Danube (Budapest, Vienna) – and there are lots more. You can also enjoy trips of a lifetime from Moscow to St. Petersburg or China, or the Mekong.

Let us not forget the many river cruises in the USA – from Alaska, via the Great Lakes (OK this includes Canada; and why not?!), the Mississippi, New England, Pacific North West.

River cruising has created new venues and trips over the past few years – but perhaps the “top of the pops” should go the Egypt. River cruising has been a part of the tourist trail for years.

The boats will be smaller; as are some cabins, but where else can you “cram in” so many fantastic experiences of history and culture in one trip and not have to change your hotel?

Tours invariably include stops at Luxor and Thebes (so many temples, let’s not forget the Valley of the Kings), Edfu (for the Temple of Horus) and Aswan (visit the temples that were saved when they built the Dam.

One thing is certain – the choice of tour is as wide as it can be. So Google “river cruises in  (where you want to go)" and let your fingers do all the work.