Try River Cruising for a Refreshing Alternative
If your idea of a holiday is staying in small independent B&Bs within quaint fishing villages, and your idea of hell is a fortnight in Las Vegas, then a river cruise may suit you.
Without any of the traditional glitz and glam, these intimate cruises afford you the opportunity to take in the surroundings of your destinations, rather than your co-passengers.
Large traditional cruise ships carry up to 2000 people, where as a river ship has a typical capacity of 100 and some as small as 35.
Whilst they are not able to offer luxury facilities, such as spas, swimming pools with wave machines, along with countless bars and restaurants, what they do offer is priceless scenery.
Because these types of cruises sail along rivers throughout Western and Eastern Europe, your experience will be flanked by breathtaking mountainous scenery.
Typically shorter than a traditional cruise, a River Cruise will cram in daily visits to towns and villages.
These cruises still provide onboard entertainment on a low key scale, and most of them are also inclusive of all food and drinks, though you'll likely be eating most of your meals in the same restaurant.
One appealing factor of a river cruise is the fact they cover destinations you might not expect to sail through, such as the Russian cities of Moscow and St Petersburg, along the famous Yangzte River in China or a little closer to home, along the Seine in Paris.
Whatever your stance on traditional cruises there has to be something said for the opulence they provide, so if for some reason you get stuck at sea in a three day Mediterranean storm, as happened to some friends of mine, then at least you won't get bored onboard.
Of course, you also have the advantage that rivers do not generally get affected as badly by storms, so you won't need to worry about gambling with your time at the casino.
If you travel solo, by choice or circumstance, then a River Cruise can be an excellent choice, as many do not charge a single person supplement for your cabin, which is both welcoming and saves you money.
If you're still not sure if River Cruises are for you, why not try a short four day break and take it from there? There are plenty of options available with regards to destinations, size of ship and when you head off.
Without any of the traditional glitz and glam, these intimate cruises afford you the opportunity to take in the surroundings of your destinations, rather than your co-passengers.
Large traditional cruise ships carry up to 2000 people, where as a river ship has a typical capacity of 100 and some as small as 35.
Whilst they are not able to offer luxury facilities, such as spas, swimming pools with wave machines, along with countless bars and restaurants, what they do offer is priceless scenery.
Because these types of cruises sail along rivers throughout Western and Eastern Europe, your experience will be flanked by breathtaking mountainous scenery.
Typically shorter than a traditional cruise, a River Cruise will cram in daily visits to towns and villages.
These cruises still provide onboard entertainment on a low key scale, and most of them are also inclusive of all food and drinks, though you'll likely be eating most of your meals in the same restaurant.
One appealing factor of a river cruise is the fact they cover destinations you might not expect to sail through, such as the Russian cities of Moscow and St Petersburg, along the famous Yangzte River in China or a little closer to home, along the Seine in Paris.
Whatever your stance on traditional cruises there has to be something said for the opulence they provide, so if for some reason you get stuck at sea in a three day Mediterranean storm, as happened to some friends of mine, then at least you won't get bored onboard.
Of course, you also have the advantage that rivers do not generally get affected as badly by storms, so you won't need to worry about gambling with your time at the casino.
If you travel solo, by choice or circumstance, then a River Cruise can be an excellent choice, as many do not charge a single person supplement for your cabin, which is both welcoming and saves you money.
If you're still not sure if River Cruises are for you, why not try a short four day break and take it from there? There are plenty of options available with regards to destinations, size of ship and when you head off.
Source...