4 Tips To Choose Your River Cruise

1. BOOK EARLY! River cruise ships are small, between 120-190 passengers, which means availability is limited and the ships do sell out. You will get the best cabin selection and best pricing by booking early, 9-12 months in advance. Consider the season that you want to travel in and what the weather might be at that time of year. You can save money by booking shoulder season, March-April OR Oct-Nov.
2.  CHOOSE YOUR DESTINATION! Start by having an idea of which countries you’re looking to visit. Many of these cruises visit multiple countries, and some countries have multiple cruise itineraries, so knowing where you most want to visit will help narrow down the choices. Also consider what you want to experience to decide which countries best suit your desires. Perhaps it’s wine that draws you, the Rhone River in France would be great or maybe art is your passion, then the Paris-Normandy Beaches cruise will allow you to experience Paris, Giverny where Monet’s house & gardens are, AND Auver-sur-Oise where Vincent Van Gogh painted and is buried.

3.  CHOOSE THE LENGTH OF YOUR VACATION! There are river cruises in Europe ranging from 4 nights to 23 nights visiting 11 different countries. You can also add pre or post cruise city stays to your vacation, which often gives you the opportunity to explore that city more in depth. The amount of time you have to spend on your vacation also will help determine which river cruise best suits your desires.

4.  CHOOSE YOUR CRUISE LINE! All of the river ships cruising in Europe must be the same length and width in order to fit into the many locks that they travel through. However, that doesn’t mean that each ship is created equal, or each cruise line offers the same amenities or service. Once you’ve chosen where and how long you want to cruise, the next step is to determine which cruise lines have itineraries there.

Knowing the details and differences of each cruise line? Well, that’s our job, and where it’s best to consult a Travel Professional that specializes in river cruising who will walk you through the choices and suggest the best line for your preferences!

Contact us today to set up your free consultation!