A River Boat Cruise Offers Luxury, Comfort and Excitement

The key to life is new experiences. This is what creates memories and makes you feel fulfilled, as though you're truly living. Most people who go on vacation will go to a resort and remain stationary. In most cases, they will continue to visit that same resort year after year. Human beings are creatures of habit, but they also don't realize they hold the key to changing their life from black-and-white to color.

For instance, even people who go on cruises will often stick to the same boat or the same destinations. Then there are those few who break through that figurative wall and find something new and exciting. A European river boat cruise fits into this category. This is where you will find the ultimate blend of luxury, comfort, excitement, and scenery. The information below provides all information on what is very likely to be the best vacation of a lifetime.

Features Of A River Boat Cruise

A European river boat cruise is much different from a traditional cruise in many ways. The first thing you should know is that these boats are longer and sleeker, which is necessary so they can pass under historic bridges and through canals. A smaller boat might seem like a disadvantage at first, but it's actually a big advantage because smaller ships are capable of accessing places that larger ships cannot.

The average river boat cruise ship is going to have 100-200 passengers. In most cases, there will be one restaurant. However, as you will see from the notes below, that won't always be the case. As far as other features go, the trend is changing toward indoor pools, multiple restaurants, a spa and fitness center, full balconies, and hotel-style rooms with marble bathrooms. Currently, for most river boat cruises, there isn't a lot of focus on onboard amenities because they're not necessary. These cruises stop at a port every day and the focus is on adventure and exploration. However, onboard you will find classy entertainment, such as a symphony or something along those lines.

Why Take A River Cruise Over Ocean

While there aren't a lot of onboard options for entertainment, the cruise ships do a superb job keeping you entertained off the boat. This includes private concerts; chef-led excursions to local food markets; walking tours through cities where you can sample wines, meats, and cheeses; village walks; cycling tours; and even scheduled meals in people's private homes.

Some river boat cruises will also have bicycles for you to take for exploring. This is included with your cruise booking. For example, AmaWaterways will allow you to take a bicycle to explore. Sometimes, they will even allow you to meet the boat in the next port. The same goes for Scenic Cruises, but these are electric bicycles.

With a European river boat cruise, you can explore many cities and villages, including Paris, Amsterdam, Budapest, and Rhone's Province. Not many people can say they have seen and experienced all of these locations. Especially not on a single trip! 

These are all things an ocean cruise can't offer. On top of that, European river boat cruises are more eco-friendly. They are consistently working on improving operating efficiency and their environmental impact. If you would like to use the most eco-friendly cruise, go with Viking River.

Popular River Cruises

The most popular European river boat cruise companies include Avalon, UniWorld, Tauck River Cruising, Viking River, AmaWaterway, and Scenic. A few of these have been mentioned above so you already know what to expect in some regards. For those who like guided tours, Avalon, AmaWaterways, and Tauck River Cruising all provide headsets to hear their guides.

In the vast majority of cases, river cruise boats are kept simple because it's more about the ports and the adventure than the ship itself. That said, UniWorld is changing that with it's S.S. Antoinette, which is highly focused on luxury. Unlike other European river boat cruises, this boat is rich with amenities. This includes a sun deck with high-end lounge chairs and plush pillows, an indoor pool and spa, and a chic Leopard Bar. Overall, European river cruises are gaining popularity at a rapid pace. In addition to all the advantages listed above, they offer superb value.