Anatomy of a River Cruise

​So you want to go on your first river cruise and you don't know what to expect.  We'll walk you through the cruise from start to finish.

If you've been on ocean cruises before, and not on a river cruise, you'd notice several differences upon arrival at the embarkation port. You'll probably first notice it's a much smaller ship with not as many people. Perhaps one of the most dramatic, and welcome differences, will be how easy the embarkation process is.

Pre-Cruise Option

click images to enlarge

We will assume a European river cruise for the purposes of this post.   Since most passengers are traveling from overseas, the cruise line offers a pre-cruise package.  Selecting this option takes all the extra planning out of the equation and offers the most seamless experience.

You arrive at your destination one or two days before the cruise departure and are either met at the airport or you can arrange your own transportation to the pre--cruise hotel.  Let's assume you have the first day to explore on your own.  Most hotels have mid-afternoon check-in times, but they can store your baggage so that you aren't held hostage to your bags until then.  You can then explore the city until later in the day.

The day of your cruise there are two choices:  a pre-cruise excursion (usually at an extra cost ) or transportation to the pier.  In either case, when you arrive at the ship, you'll drop off your baggage and meet in the lounge on the ship.   The crew will take care of your checked bags.

Embarkation will take place in the ship's lounge.  Someone from the crew will come around and check you in and then the staff will give a short briefing about the evening's events.   After a champagne toast and introduction of the crew, it's time to head to your cabin to freshen up before dinner.

Welcome Aboard Briefing

Each evening you'll gather in the lounge for a briefing about the next day's tour options.   On most cruise lines, there will be included excursions and there may be optional excursions available for additional cost.   Most tours will have different groups so that you can participate at your own pace.  Walking tours for example will have slow pace and fast pace at a minimum.  

Besides the briefing, there usually is a cocktail hour before dinner.   Most lines have open seating for dinner so you can meet different people throughout the cruise or stay with your own group.

To Be Continued ...

You've had an enjoyable day at the pre-cruise excursion.  You've already made some new friends during the past two days, and you are planning to meet them for dinner.  It's time to relax a bit before the evening festivities. 

 

Click the banner above for the latest cruise promotions

 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

Choose Cruise Month (click for mini-series)

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How Suite It Is on the River

What Are Suites Like On a River Cruise? 

During Plan a Cruise Month, Fridays are #RiverCruiseFriday. 

While all river cruise ships may look about the same, cabins are not all alike. Take a peek at one of our favorite accommodations on the rivers - Avalon Waterways' Panoramic Suites.

 

click images to enlarge

Staterooms on Avalon Aristry II

The Artistry II is one of Avalon Waterways Suite Ships®.

Avalon’s revolutionary Panorama Suites are the most unique accommodations in river cruising. Thirty percent larger than industry standard and featuring huge wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows, they're staterooms that feel like a balcony. Even the placement of the bed is distinct, so you won’t miss a single passing riverscape. Here is one of those moments we captured during our Rhine & Moselle cruise.

• Panorama Suite^SM is 200 sq. ft.
• Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window - 50% wider than industry standard
• Panoramic Window opens to create a large Open-Air Balcony®

Rooms With a View

 Our Panorama Suite was the last one on the port side, Cabin 326.   This was a great location for me in the morning because I could run to the Club Lounge for a cup of coffee.  You can hear the engine vibration when going thru locks or other maneuvers, but that wasn't disturbing.   If you have the window open, you can get some fuel smell depending on how the wind is blowing.

More P:ictures: Avalon Artistry II   

 Royal Suite - 300 sq. ft.

We had the opportunity to tour one of the two Royal Suites on Artistry II because it was not occupied during our cruise (due to a last-minute cancellation).

The Royal Suite was 50% larger than our stateroom. The major differences were the larger flat-screen TV, more sitting area, and the bathroom had a different configuration (including another sink which was separate from the shower).

Deluxe Stateroom - 172 sq. ft.

Even the standard staterooms on Artistry II are quite comfortable. When you compare that size cabin to most ocean cruise ships,  that is equal or greater than the average standard / deluxe staterooms. Missing from the Deluxe Stateroom are the sitting area and of course, the view.  During the Rhine cruise, there were times where we were sailing that you'd want to have a view (such as when passing the castles).   The Sky Deck or one of the lounges would provide the desired viewing area.

 

Click the banner above for the latest cruise promotions

 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

Choose Cruise Month (click for mini-series)

Follow Us On

        

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat 

Now Trending: River Cruising

Every Friday in October is  #RiverCruiseFriday 

We continue our #CLIA Plan a Cruise Month #ChooseCruise series with this special introduction into the newest and fastest growing segment of cruising.... River Cruising.

Click here for River Cruising Guide

Discover the Beauty of River Cruising

See more than you could ever imagine on a river cruise. Get up-close and personal to destinations larger ships only dream to go and become one with history, culture and refined grace. River cruising is becoming really popular and several cruise lines are ramping up to meet the demand.

Viking River Cruises® Adds 7 Longships

Viking River Cruises® grew again in 2019 with plans building an additional 7 ships. New ship Viking Helgrim will sail the Douro River in Portugal. The remaining six will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. Their names will be Viking Einar, Viking Sigrun, Viking Sigyn, VikingTir, Viking Ullur and Viking Vali. These six ships will have Viking River Cruises' signature Longship design, carrying 190 passengers in all-outside cabins. As of July 2018, parent company Viking Cruises® operates a fleet of 62 river vessels and 6 ocean ships.

Adventures by Disney® & AMAWaterways® 
Introduces Family River Cruising

Up until 2016 river cruising was predominantly a couples-only cruise vacation option. The narrow, long, 3 deck ships have cabins that were designed for double occupancy. There were a few exceptions, such as some single occupancy cabins on some AMAWaterways® vessels, made possible when additional stairways had to be added for safety.

Adventures by Disney® now offers sailings along the Danube River aboard the all-new, 170-passenger AmaViola, a river cruise ship that was custom built by AmaWaterways® with families in mind. New family-friendly design elements include specific room configurations, including six sets of connecting staterooms, as well as some rooms and suites that accommodate three- and four-person families, and other unique details that lend themselves to luxury family vacations.

Onboard activities offer something for everyone. Adults can enjoy wine tasting, music, dancing and an onboard fitness center, along with some of the finest cuisine and service available, while Junior Adventures can enjoy activity nights, movies, karaoke, relay games, life-size chess lessons, video games and more. Teens will also find activities created specifically for them.


   

Viking River Cruises® has advanced public awareness about river cruising with their unprecedented expansion and advertising campaigns.  Now, with the partnership of AMAWaterways® & Adventures by Disney®, river cruising has been taken to yet another level as families can be introduced to this great way to explore Europe.

Avalon Waterways® Announces 
More in View - More to Do

Not all river cruise cabins or ships are alike.    Cruising down the Rhine & Mosselle Rivers is an amazing experience on any river cruise ship, but it's  even more amazing when you can recline on your bed with your cabin's doorway open truly being immersed in your surroundings.

When it comes to exploring, all river cruises offer excursions included in the cost of your trip, but Avalon Waterways® has expanded that to include several options so that you can explore your way.

Dining on a river cruise is fabulous, with food and drinks usually sourced from local markets.  Avalon Waterways® now offers several options for you to dine when and where you want during your cruise.   This video explains it better than I can.

As with all cruises, you'll want to speak with a professional to determine which cruise is right for your particular vacation situation.   While all the river cruise ships look alike, they all have something different to offer.

 

Click the banner above for the latest cruise promotions

 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

Choose Cruise Month (click for mini-series)

Follow Us On

        

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat 

Now Trending: River Cruising

Every Friday in October is  #RiverCruiseFriday 

We continue our #CLIA Plan a Cruise Month #ChooseCruise series with this special introduction into the newest and fastest growing segment of cruising.... River Cruising.

Click here for River Cruising Guide

Discover the Beauty of River Cruising

See more than you could ever imagine on a river cruise. Get up-close and personal to destinations larger ships only dream to go and become one with history, culture and refined grace. River cruising is becoming really popular and several cruise lines are ramping up to meet the demand.

Viking River Cruises® Adds 7 Longships

Viking River Cruises® grew again in 2019 with plans building an additional 7 ships. New ship Viking Helgrim will sail the Douro River in Portugal. The remaining six will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. Their names will be Viking Einar, Viking Sigrun, Viking Sigyn, VikingTir, Viking Ullur and Viking Vali. These six ships will have Viking River Cruises' signature Longship design, carrying 190 passengers in all-outside cabins. As of July 2018, parent company Viking Cruises® operates a fleet of 62 river vessels and 6 ocean ships.

Adventures by Disney® & AMAWaterways® 
Introduces Family River Cruising

Up until 2016 river cruising was predominantly a couples-only cruise vacation option. The narrow, long, 3 deck ships have cabins that were designed for double occupancy. There were a few exceptions, such as some single occupancy cabins on some AMAWaterways® vessels, made possible when additional stairways had to be added for safety.

Adventures by Disney® now offers sailings along the Danube River aboard the all-new, 170-passenger AmaViola, a river cruise ship that was custom built by AmaWaterways® with families in mind. New family-friendly design elements include specific room configurations, including six sets of connecting staterooms, as well as some rooms and suites that accommodate three- and four-person families, and other unique details that lend themselves to luxury family vacations.

Onboard activities offer something for everyone. Adults can enjoy wine tasting, music, dancing and an onboard fitness center, along with some of the finest cuisine and service available, while Junior Adventures can enjoy activity nights, movies, karaoke, relay games, life-size chess lessons, video games and more. Teens will also find activities created specifically for them.


   

Viking River Cruises® has advanced public awareness about river cruising with their unprecedented expansion and advertising campaigns.  Now, with the partnership of AMAWaterways® & Adventures by Disney®, river cruising has been taken to yet another level as families can be introduced to this great way to explore Europe.

Avalon Waterways® Announces 
More in View - More to Do

Not all river cruise cabins or ships are alike.    Cruising down the Rhine & Mosselle Rivers is an amazing experience on any river cruise ship, but it's  even more amazing when you can recline on your bed with your cabin's doorway open truly being immersed in your surroundings.

When it comes to exploring, all river cruises offer excursions included in the cost of your trip, but Avalon Waterways® has expanded that to include several options so that you can explore your way.

Dining on a river cruise is fabulous, with food and drinks usually sourced from local markets.  Avalon Waterways® now offers several options for you to dine when and where you want during your cruise.   This video explains it better than I can.

As with all cruises, you'll want to speak with a professional to determine which cruise is right for your particular vacation situation.   While all the river cruise ships look alike, they all have something different to offer.

 

National Plan A Cruise Month Promotions 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

Choose Cruise Month (click for mini-series)

Follow Us On

        

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat