A while back I was reading an article suggesting some reasons for having a river cruise on your bucket list. . . if not at the top, real close to the top of that list.
Now that I have been on one, I can certainly endorse some of the reasons they mentioned and have some of my own reasons. One of the main differences between an ocean-going cruise and a river cruise is the pace. The river cruises move at a slower, more relaxed pace, and you have the ability to disembark and return at your leisure throughout the trip. Dress is casual with open seating in the dining areas resulting in a friendlier, open opportunity to meet other travelers. Instead of the entertainment venues of the ocean-going ships, the river cruises do have locations on the ships that provide local entertainment as well as lecturers imparting information about the locales to be visited as well as music that reflect the local culture and traditions.
Another difference is that the river ships cruise right into the center of the cities and included with the cruise fare is a shore excursion of the highlights of each of the cities. Then you are on your own to continue exploring the sights or shop to your hearts content. Most of the river cruise lines have operated in the same regions for many years, so they can offer shore experiences based on their knowledge of the area. Every area we visited had a very knowledgeable and entertaining local guide who spoke excellent English. In addition they had the headphone capability to hear the guide who might be 20 yards ahead of you. That is a real plus for those who are hard of hearing.
The dining and beverage offerings were excellent and varied, with an occasional feature of local cuisine. Wine, beer, and cocktails were offered at lunch and dinner and included in the cost of the cruise. One real plus was that the number of guests made it easy to have a personal visit from the chef at your table every evening and in our situation, he was very open to suggestions and welcomed compliments, of course.
Most of the river cruise lines also have made arrangements with the airlines and offer an air package to/from your destination. Occasionally there are sales on the air cost, so it is important to pay close attention to the promotions that they offer.
The Travel Factory is offering another river cruise opportunity next November 14-21, 2015. That’s more than a year away, but because of that, we have some great group rates. The cruise is on the romantic Danube River from Budapest to Nuremberg, with a stop in 5 other cities including Vienna. We only have 24 rooms, so it’s important to plan ahead, and it is certainly an economical vacation option.
Contact us at The Travel Factory for this or any other exciting vacation dream and our experienced agents will go to work for and with you for the trip of a lifetime. We can be reached at 698-1421 or 800-760-4040 or drive over to 4150 Southwest Drive, Ste. 120 on the south side of Abilene. We love to be of service!!