Cruising has been one of the biggest growing sectors in travel for several years running, and there’s no sign of it slowing down. When people think about cruising, they traditionally think about the large ocean ships that can hold anywhere from 2,000 to upwards of 6,000 guests, heading to the tropics, Alaska, or the Mediterranean. Aside from ocean cruises, there are two additional types of cruising: expedition and river.

River cruising is really in its glow up era right now. How do we know that? The “big” players are getting into the mix. Earlier this year, Celebrity Cruises officially launched bookings for their upcoming river cruise seasons and they were one of the hottest things since Taylor Swift launched her new album. (You could really say Celebrity Cruises is living the life of a showgirl)

So what’s the big deal about river cruising anyway, and who is it for? River cruising may seem to have its niche with older clientele, but it’s actually incredibly popular with multi-generational families. It’s such a popular thing, as a matter of fact, that Disney even partnered with AmaWaterways to collaborate for “Small Ship Adventures”, as part of their Adventures by Disney line of trips.

One of the common misconceptions about river cruising is that you’re going to lose out on that “cruise experience” and, well, that couldn’t be further from the truth. While these aren’t your mega ships that we have come to know in recent years, they absolutely do not skimp on the onboard experiences. You’re not going to have at-sea roller coasters, 10 pools, or an onboard surfing experience, but this is meant to be a different experience.

The magic behind river cruising, to me, starts with the smaller ships; you’re talking around 200 as a maximum passenger count. There are less people (come on, 6,000 people is a lot of people) which makes for more intimate, meaningful experiences. Looking past the smaller ships, you start to get into the fine details of what makes these sailings so special.

TL;DR — more included, period.

With river cruises, you’re going to have more included; from excursions at every port of call, drinks included with meals while onboard the ship, complimentary WiFi, ground transfers, and, oftentimes, reduced or complimentary airfare. (All benefits and amenities may vary based on the cruise line, ship, and itinerary)

You’re going to be taken to places you might not be able to get on other cruises. Think about it: with the mega ships on the ocean, they’re too large to get into most rivers, they displace too much water, and just need deeper water based on their size. These smaller river cruise ships were purpose-built to sail the worlds rivers, which means you get closer to the heart of the cities you’re sailing to. Being able to port in the heart of Vienna, for example, isn’t something you can do on even a 2,000 passenger ocean cruise ship.

Imagine waking up, having coffee in your stateroom as you’re eye-level with historic castles as you’re cruising down a European river to your next destination. These staterooms won’t leave you wanting for more either. With designer toiletries and plush, comfortable bedding, you might find yourself not wanting to leave the ship.

While onboard the ships, you’re also in store for some incredible, award-winning restaurants. AmaMagna, one of AmaWaterways’ newest ships, has 5 bars and 4 unique restaurants, which means there’s no reason for any foodies out there to think they’re not going to enjoy their meals on their trip. On AmaWaterways, their Chef’s Table specialty restaurant (and all others!) is included in the upfront river cruise fare.

Looking for more to do onboard? Enjoy dedicated talks about different stops along the voyage, fitness classes, and spas. Pickeball fans? There are courts on some ships, too!

Sail one of the wildest places on Earth — Africa. If you’ve taken a safari trip and want to see parts of Africa a different way, or if you want to experience Africa in luxury, these sailings might just be for you. Cruise the Nile and experience Egypt like never before. See the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, and even go on an exclusive excursion to the Tomb of Nefertari. To get up close and personal with some of the most majestic animals on the planet, sail down Africa’s Chobe River and see lions, elephants, crocodiles, hippos, and more from vantage points like few others can!

River cruising really can be for everyone. If you’ve cruised before and want to try something different, or are just looking for something a little more quaint but that doesn’t skimp on the important things of being on vacation, I’d highly suggest checking it out.

I would be doing you all a disservice if I didn’t mention one thing: the sticker shock. When you’re looking for river cruises, expect to see a much higher price per person or per stateroom than you would on one of your larger cruise lines. Don’t let that be the thing that deters you, though. Cruises aren’t something that must be paid for immediately up front. If you are a budget conscious person and a planner, look for cruises a couple of years out and we’ll get a price for you so you can add it to your budget!

If you want to know more about river cruising, you can click here for my co-branded AmaWaterways website and here for my co-branded Viking Cruises website.

Looking to go on another cruise? Check out my cruise questionnaire here.

Wishing you safe travels,

-Gary

River Cruising — yes, it really is for you!

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