relax on the River
Don’t overlook these all-star holidays
SUNNY days, starry nights, space to relax – and more sights than almost any other holiday. Book a river cruise and these are just some of the joys.
Often called the Cinderellas of travel, river cruises get less attention than ocean voyages or land-based tours. But fans rave about them. London hoteliers say they secretly dread American guests checking in fresh from a European river cruise. The new arrivals often say their hotel rooms in the city are less luxurious than those they had afloat.
This year the grand rivers of Europe will be as popular as ever for cruises. Holidays on the Danube, Rhine and Rhone lead the list, plus trips on the sunny Douro, the Seine, the Moselle and the Main.
There are new holidays further afield. The big companies offer ultra-luxurious holidays on the Nile, Mekong, Mississippi and more.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The first joy of a river cruise is the intimate nature of the ships. Forget queues and crowds. On one of APT’s Travelmarvel ships there are never more than 182 guests. On a classic European river cruise with Scenic the maximum is 162. With Tui it’s 155 – and almost all river ships are quieter, adults-only affairs. All-inclusive deals are the norm, but there won’t be set times and places to eat. Choose from classy, more formal dining rooms, panoramic bistros and bars, al-fresco café-style servings on deck or room service.
GENEROUS
The size and style of river cruise cabins can surprise first-timers. Expect something generous, often with picture windows or whole walls of glass. With Avalon Waterways, cabin designers decided the huge window was such a feature they turned the room around so beds face it. ‘It’s not a room with a view, it’s a view with a room,’ Avalon says.
Luxuries you’d expect in a five-star hotel on land are features on Viking’s longboats, with anti-fog mirrors and heated bathroom floors. Unexpected touches also add to the experience with Emerald. Its newest Star-Ships have heated pools, and let the pool area be transformed into a cinema space at night for movies by moonlight.
AWESOME ITINERARIES
The other big draw of a river cruise is the chance to cover so many miles on one holiday – after unpacking just once e at the start. Docking D ki in i the th heart h t of f town means you start exploring straight away. And experts say the best views of cities like Paris and Budapest come from the water – so guests get the best photographs.
A final advantage? River cruises often mix day- and night-time sailings: regular guests say they can never decide which they like most. Sail by day and enjoy the countryside from a sun-lounger on deck. Sail by night to wake up to a full day in your next port (plus wonderful star-gazing opportunities as you drift far from light pollution).
CLASSIC CHOICES
An all-new Danube in Depth cruise with Scenic is a great way to see four countries in 10 days. The ship stays overnight in Vienna, Nuremberg and Budapest, so you can enjoy evening concerts or eat late on land. And you’ll have long, lazy days to explore medieval Regensburg, Passau, Linz, Bratislava and Melk Abbey.
A tasting tour amidst the 1,000-year-old vineyards and cellars of Schloss Johannisberg Winery is a highlight of Emerald Cruises’ new Rhine Castles & Moselle Vineyards Vineya holiday. It’s an 11-day cruise through glorious countryside from Basel to eye-catching Amsterdam.
NEW ADVENTURES
Southern charm is guaranteed if you cruise the Mississippi with Viking this summer. The 12-day Heart of the Delta holiday goes from New Orleans to Memphis. From Dixieland jazz and Delta blues to cajun and creole cooking it’s a musical and cultural feast.
Or try Viking’s ‘river and ocean combination’ holiday. The 15-day Rhine, Viking Shores & Fjords holiday starts on a longship on the river and ends on an ocean cruiser on the North Sea to Norway. Fans say it’s ‘one flight, two cruises’.
Also popular are the mighty Mekong and Nile rivers. Smaller ships with higher staff to passenger ratios are common. Avalon Saigon sails with 24 crew and no more than 36 guests. Choose it for the Mekong Discovery cruise and you’ll explore Phnom Penh and the Cambodian and Vietnamese countryside on the way to Ho Chi Minh City.