The River Cruise Experience
The experience of river cruising is very different from ocean cruising. First, the capacity of the typical river cruise ship is under 200 guests (as opposed the thousands that sail on ocean cruises). So you are getting a more intimate experience. Second, river cruises include some things that usually cost extra on ocean cruises such as beer and wine with dinner, shore excursions and tours, and Wifi. And third, you will be able to sail into small ports that large ships can't get into, which gets you close to cities and towns in a way that is not possible with an ocean cruise.Value and Pricing
Because of everything that is included in the river cruise fare, river cruising can be a great way to travel through the most beautiful wine regions of Europe. And luckily for wine lovers, European river cruises are some of the most affordable (unlike river cruises to Africa or Asia, which have premium pricing). You can expect to pay between $250 and $750 per person per night for a river cruise, depending on the company and the itinerary. Of all the river cruise companies, Uniworld is the most luxurious, followed by AMA Waterways in the middle, and Avalon and Viking as the more affordable luxury brands. Your pricing will also be affected by your choice of staterooms. Staterooms on the lower decks of the ship may be just as roomy as those on the upper decks, but they will not have the large picture windows, balconies, and views. However, they will be the least expensive, and you will be able to wander freely on the top deck to take in the views. However, for some travelers, waking up to a view is one of the reasons they choose river cruising and the upgrade to a cabin with a veranda or a French balcony is well worth it.What's Included
Most of the cruise lines offer a nearly all-inclusive experience. River cruises will include your meals, your shore excursions, your beer and wine on board, airport transfers, and on board Wifi at no additional charge. When comparing operators to determine the best value, look at the included excursions, stateroom size, age of the ship, and cost of optional tours to get a good picture of which is really the best deal. It is often not the lowest priced cruised. But please remember that not everything is included. Cruise fares do not typically include gratuities for staff and local guides, airfare, trip cancellation insurance and pre and post-trip stays. Many cruise lines offer packages that take care of all of these details however.Wine Themed Itineraries
Look for special wine themed itineraries - Avalon, Viking, Uniworld and AMA Waterways all offer special wine themed cruises designed for wine lovers. These cruises allow you to experience wineries along the major rivers of Europe and are a great value because of the included dinners, wine tastings and winery tours. For links to some of the best wine-themed river cruises click here. Look for cruises along the Rhine Moselle, the Rhone, the Douro and the Danube, where you can experience the views of the wine country from the river and visit wineries and vineyards when at port. Many of the wine-themed cruises are hosted by sommeliers, wine makers, or experts who will conduct on-board tastings and wine dinners to add to your experience.Planning Considerations
Book your cruise early. Early booking allows you to benefit from early booking discounts and the best availability. The popular sailing dates in late spring and early fall fill up fast, so you need to start planning about 6-12 months ahead of when you want to travel. The most popular travel time is from the middle of May to late September and that is also when prices are highest. The winter months offer some great values if you are willing to put up with cooler weather and most cruise lines offer Holiday themed itineraries during these times. If you are interested in going on one of these cruises, it is best to work with a travel agent that knows the cruise lines well and can easily answer your questions about inclusions, excursions and tours, and itineraries that are available from each so you can find the best option for your vacation. If you are wanting to include winery visits, make sure your travel agent knows the wine regions and can help you decide the best options. At Roux Wine Tours we specialize in wine-themed travel, so we could be glad to help. We offer group wine river cruises as well as more customized individual bookings.
