16 Reasons To Take A River Cruise Through Europe
by Doug Gollan /Photo: Crystal Cruises/Facebook
River cruising is one of the fastest growth areas of the travel industry. After my first river cruise, aboard the Crystal Mozart, it was easy to see why, and why I’m going to do it again:
1. You only have to pack and unpack once.
2. You get to see multiple destinations in one vacation.
3. You don’t have to get in a car, worry about foreign traffic laws and hassle with rental pick-ups and returns—but if you like driving you can still rent before or after your cruise, or even during the day, as port stops often run from 8 a.m. until midnight.
4. You won’t need to lug large suitcases onto and off of a train, or be downstairs on a bus every day or so, as you move around Europe effortlessly, up and down beautiful rivers.
5. It’s a group adventure, making new friends, joining daily excursions to old cities, churches, museums, markets, vineyards, concerts and historical sites.
6. You can do your own thing, whether it’s staying on the ship or wandering into town on your own or experiencing the stops as if you were an independent traveler.
7. You can sample local cuisines from street vendors to Michelin restaurants, or you can keep your wallet in the safe and eat all-inclusively on most vessels. On Crystal Mozart the food was outstanding and we were content to eat onboard.
8. You can enjoy the views of cruising beautiful rivers by day, getting a close-up look at river life and spectacular Instagram-worthy snapshots of centuries-old castles.
9. Many vessels stay in port until midnight or overnight, so you can experience the local nightlife without having to worry about getting up early to move on to your next stop.
10. You can stay active, walking or running on shore; take advantage of an impressive gym with cardio and weight machines as well as free weights; or swim against the current in the high-tech pool. Many river vessels also offer bikes you can use for land-based explorations or just to work up a sweat. On Crystal, there is also a full-service spa.
11. You get to know the crew, and in our case, we enjoyed the same high standard of service the entire trip.
12. You can pack a lot into your days, or take it easy, walking around the deck or hanging in a lounge chair, al fresco when the weather is nice.
13. Sailing through the locks is an interesting experience you can only get on a river.
14. If you get seasick, don’t worry, the motion of a river cruise is negligible.
15. On Crystal and others, menus are increasingly sourced locally so you can get a feel for the tastes of the places you’re visiting.
In terms of value, even at the high end, pricing is quite reasonable. Our 10-day journey priced at about $600 per day for two, including meals, drinks, sightseeing, transfers, tips, 24-hour room service, an open bar with top-shelf liquor, and accommodations that were luxuriously outfitted in marble and leather.
Doug Gollan sailed on Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Mozart, on its 10-day Christmas Markets Cruise from Vienna to Vienna on assignment for Travel Market Report.