River cruising
A river cruise takes you on a voyage via great inland waterways to a dream destination of your choice by providing you a panoramic and scenic view of breathtaking towns, cities and historical sites. It is an intimate getaway to experience nature’s wonders up close and appreciate the beauty of port destinations that ocean cruise ships and /or other means of transportation cannot travel to. It is calming and relaxing in the sense that river cruise vessels, although compact in size as compared to the ocean cruise liners, provides sightseeing at a slower pace. Many call river cruising “life on the slow lane.”
One is given the opportunity to soak in the beauty of scenery and spend more time visiting town/cities, art galleries, museums, appreciate cultural diversity, etc. After all, river cruise vessels will most likely dock at the heart of key cities or hubs that one only needs to go up the gangway to be transported to another destination. Perhaps the only down side to river cruising is the frequency of stops made from destination to destination. Still, it is an enriching experience to explore cultures (language, food, customs and traditions) and learn the beginnings of how man lived and thrived by the great rivers that we know of today. Some of the great waterways include: the Rhine River, Danube River, Yangtze River, Nile River, Amazon River, Mekong River and Volga River.
Depending on your chosen river cruise destination, one can expect the following amenities:
- An all inclusive package that covers cabin accommodation, port and government taxes, on board meals, drinks, use of on board facilities (gym, pool, etc.), and other incidental costs. This full inclusive package certainly provides for peace of mind and a worry free vacation. The only additional costs would be external factors such as shopping, phone calls, casino bets, etc.
- 5-star hotel ambience complete with sun decks, lounges and dining rooms, fitness facilities, swimming pool, casinos and bar/music rooms for entertainment, sauna and spas, laundry and cleaning services.
On board the river cruise, one can expect the following:
- Guided tours providing passengers with onboard and onshore activities. Onboard activities include celebration of special events like festivities, holidays, concerts, contests, etc. While onshore activities included visiting and exploring historic and cultural sites, museums and art galleries, local attractions, etc. Guides will also give a running commentary on the historical backgrounds of the places visited and of the river itself while sailing or cruising.
River cruises may last from 7 days to 3 weeks, depending on your choice destination. It is an alternative way to cruise the countryside of key cities and towns without the frequency of finding board and lodging, transportation and parking facilities. River cruises have a high rate of satisfaction and turnover due to much improvement in accommodations / facilities and route destinations. Most ocean cruise travellers will also opt for the river cruise to gain a new experience because the best thing guaranteed on a river cruise is being able to wake up every morning to a new picturesque destination and build memories to last a lifetime.