Sue Bradley, River & Luxury Cruise Specialist: 1-800-876 …setsailinstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AnswersToYourTop10... · Answers to Your Top 10 Questions About River Cruising

Sue Bradley, River & Luxury Cruise Specialist: 1-800-876-0168


Welcome from the Author

Thanks for requesting ‘Answers to Your Top 10 Questions About River Cruising’.

As a Travel Agent and River Cruise Specialist, I’ve noticed that many people are interested in taking a river cruise BUT they don’t know much about it yet. When they start doing a bit of research, they become confused and overwhelmed. There is so much information available on the Internet, and it’s hard to know where to start.

That’s why I put together ‘Answers to Your Top 10 Questions About River Cruising’. I wanted to provide answers to the questions I most commonly hear from my river cruise clients, in a way that’s clear and easy to understand.

I get a great deal of satisfaction from helping my clients plan unforgettable river cruise vacations!

If you’re considering a river cruise, please give me a shout so I can help. I will help you find the river cruise you’re looking for at the best possible price, and provide outstanding customer service.

It’s easy to reach me by email: [email protected] or on my toll-free number: 1-800-876-0168.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Sue Bradley, River & Luxury Cruise SpecialistSmartFlyer Travel (a Virtuoso member)[email protected]

Answers to Your Top 10 Questions About River Cruising


Introduction

Not too long ago, bus tours were a very popular way to explore Europe. “Fourteen countries in 14 days” by bus was a good option if you wanted to cover a lot of ground.

The problem with bus tours is that they’re exhausting!

You stay in a different hotel every night, so you have to unpack multiple times. Mornings get started very early, and you’re required to have your suitcases outside your door by 7 a.m. In addition, service is inconsistent and impersonal because you’re not in one place long enough to get to know the staff.

River cruising provides a more relaxing way to cover a lot of ground.

With river cruising, your ship becomes your comfortable, floating hotel.

It’s docked right in the center of town; it’s an elegant respite to which you retire at the end of every busy day.

The view from your window is constantly changing, and you only unpack once, at the start of your trip.

Service is attentive and your needs and preferences are known and remembered.

With a river cruise, everything is taken care of for you. You have as much freedom as you like, but all the friction normally associated with travel is removed. You can simply relax and enjoy your destination.

Even if you don’t like ocean cruising (or wouldn’t even consider one), you’re likely to enjoy river cruising. As discussed in the section above, river cruising is more similar to a guided land tour than it is to an ocean cruise.

Here are some typical profiles of people who enjoy river cruises:

• Ocean cruisers who enjoy the cruise experience but are perhaps getting a bit tired of ocean cruising (except for the sunny weather) and are searching for the ‘next thing’. These people are looking for a deeper, more enriching travel experience.

• Mature couples - empty nesters, retirees or almost-retired. These couples may or may not have cruised or travelled much in the past. Now, they have more time and money available with which to explore the world. They want someone to take care of things for them, but they still want freedom.



• Girlfriend groups. These are educated, curious ladies, who often travel together. They may be unattached, or perhaps their husbands don’t like to travel (or they take golf trips instead).

Regardless of whether they fit neatly into one of the above categories or not, here are some common characteristics that I’ve noticed exist amongst my river cruise clients. They:

• Are curious. They are always learning, they enjoy meeting new people and they are excited about being exposed to new experiences.

• Enjoy an active lifestyle• Appreciate the arts (music, theatre, and dance)• Want to be taken care of when they are travelling. They want someone else

to worry about the details, so they don’t have to.



1. How Does River Cruising Compare to Ocean Cruising?

A river cruise is better compared to a group bus tour than to an ocean cruise.

However, since so many ocean cruisers become river cruisers, it’s a good idea to point out some important differences.

Focus on the Destination

The biggest difference between ocean and river cruising is that the focus is on the destination rather than on the ship itself.

Many people make decisions about ocean cruises based on what’s available on board, like pools, waterslides, rock climbing walls, casinos, spas, and so on.

On a river cruise ship, there’s not always a pool. There may or may not be an exercise facility. There’s never a casino. River cruise ships are comfortable, to be sure, but they are much smaller and house fewer guests,

In contrast, you will get deeply immersed in your destination.

You’ll eat regional foods and drink regional wines and beers. You’ll be entertained by local performers who come on board for a single evening. When you go ashore, history and culture will come alive with the help of guides who live there and speak the language.

“All-Inclusive”

With both ocean and river cruising, your fare includes your accommodation, your meals, and your on-board entertainment.

However, ocean cruisers are used to being ‘nickle and dimed’ – i.e. required to spend extra money every time they turn around, even for basics.

Many people don’t realize that your ocean cruise fare is a loss-leader for the cruise lines. Yes, the cruise lines buy your business to get you on board! It’s only once you’re on board that they start to make money off you… they count on you to spend money on alcohol, in the casino, on spa treatments and shore excursions.

In contrast, a river cruise includes a lot more. Some things are always included that ocean cruisers are used to paying extra for:

• Accommodation with a view of the river• Excursions in every port



• An on-board cruise director to answer your questions and provide guidance regarding excursions and activities in port

• Wine and beer with dinner (and sometimes with lunch)• Coffee drinks, bottled water, juices, and sodas• Wifi internet access

Other Differences

• There are no ‘formal nights’• There are no triple or quad occupancy cabins. If you’re travelling with three

or four people, they’ll need their own stateroom.• Sometimes you may stay overnight in a port of call.• Children are not generally catered to (except for the new Ama Waterways

sailings where they have partnered with Disney)• You will have difficulty if you have mobility issues. • When you book, the deposit non-refundable (this means that trip insurance

is even more important, especially since you’ll be booking quite far ahead)

Occasionally, a client will say to me, “Who would pay so much for a river cruise? For that price, I could go on 3 ocean cruises!”

It’s true, a river cruise costs at least twice what an ocean cruise does.

A river cruise is a more intimate and luxurious experience, and the price necessarily reflects this.

At minimum, you can expect to pay USD $350 per person, per night.

In return, you’ll get:

• More inclusions• Fewer crowds• More space• Superb food• Locally sourced ingredients• Impeccable service• No standing in line or queuing• A different sort of fellow guest• Deeper, more enriching experiences

If this sounds appealing, then maybe you’re ready for a river cruise.

River cruising is a completely different experience than ocean cruising, and you can’t compare then on a dollar-by-dollar basis.



The bottom line is that you have to believe that the extra money you pay for a river cruise is worth it.



2. Which Itinerary Should I Choose?

Once you’ve decided to take a river cruise, the first step is to choose the river.

Start with the destination, and only then work on finding a cruise ship that will take you there.

There are so many itineraries and destinations to choose from!

The most popular rivers (especially for first-time river cruisers) are in Europe:

• The Rhine/Main/Moselle • The Rhone/Saone• The Danube• The Douro• The Seine• The Elbe

By far, the most popular itinerary is from Amsterdam to Budapest (or reverse), a 15-day sailing on the Danube. This journey is called different names by the various river cruise companies:

• “Magnificent Europe” – Avalon and Ama Waterways• “Jewels of Europe” – Scenic Tours• “European Jewels” – Uniworld• “Grand European Tour” – Viking



However, river cruises are definitely not limited to Europe. Other popular river cruise destinations include:

• The Yangtze, Mekong, and Irrawaddy in Asia• The Nile in Egypt • The Volga in Russia• The Amazon in South America• The Mississippi in the U.S.

To help clients make a selection, I start by asking, “where have you always wanted to go?” Usually, clients have particular cities or countries in mind to get the ball rolling.

Get out a map of the world and start dreaming!

In many cases, your itinerary will be available in two different directions (e.g. Amsterdam to Basel, or Basel to Amsterdam). The direction doesn’t matter – the experience is the same in either case.

Many cruise lines also offer ‘special interest’ cruises on select sailings. These cruises help you experience your destination from the perspective that interests you most, in the company of others who share your passion. You’ll enjoy onboard presentations by subject experts, special activities, and more… at no additional cost.

Examples of special interest cruises include:

• Art & Impressionist Cruises• Beer Tasting Cruises• Culinary Cruises• Festive Time Cruises• Golf Cruises• History Cruises• Jewish Heritage Cruises• Music Cruises• Wellness Cruises• Wine Appreciation Cruises

Please inquire for more information about special interest cruises.



3. Is it Safe to Take a River Cruise These Days?

Many potential river cruisers are justifiably concerned about safety in Europe and other parts of the world, due to recent terrorist acts. They wonder if it is just too risky to take a river cruise.

My feeling is that these events can happen anywhere, not just overseas. Nothing is ever 100% safe, and there is risk in many of our daily activities.

Also, the river cruise lines carefully monitor security threats and take action to ensure their passengers are as safe as possible (for example diverting to alternate airports, or transporting passengers by coach instead of train).

However, if you feel apprehensive or frightened then it might be best to stay home.

There is no right or wrong answer. You should do what is best for you.

Keep in mind that if you’d rather not travel internationally, you could always take a river cruise right here at home.

Two popular river cruise itineraries in the U.S. include the Mississippi and the Columbia/Snake Rivers.



4. Which River Cruise Line Should I Choose?

River cruises have more in common than they do things that set them apart from each other. No matter which cruise line you choose, you’re sure to have a fantastic trip.

Having said that, there may be different inclusions in the price, depending on which cruise line you’re travelling with, and you’ll want to factor this in when you’re comparing them.

However, keep in mind that even if you choose a less inclusive cruise line, you won’t be ‘gouged’ for extra purchases. The philosophy amongst river cruise lines is that they don’t want to make money off your extra purchases like the ocean cruise lines do. There is a demand for these things, so they provide them for you, at a reasonable cost. You’ll pay only a few dollars for a bar drink, and if you choose an optional excursion, the price isn’t inflated… it’s what you would pay from a local vendor if you were to arrange it yourself.

By the way, you may assume that ‘more inclusions’ is better… but that’s not necessarily true. If you don’t use those ‘extras’ (for example, if you don’t drink much – or at all), then you’re subsidizing someone else’s costs.

Things that may or may not be included (or even available):

• Port charges• Gratuities• Spirits and cocktails• A choice of wine and beers (as opposed to the ‘house’ label only)• Wine and beer outside of meal times• Premium excursions• Room service

In addition, each cruise line has a slightly different emphasis that appeals to different people. Here are some examples:

• Uniworld emphasizes ‘six star’, boutique river cruising. They partnered with their award-winning sister company, Red Carnation Hotel Collection, to create the world’s only authentic boutique hotel experience on the rivers. Each of their one-of-a-kind, exquisitely appointed river cruise ships are each a work of art, designed to be as unique as their guests, and as inspiring as the destinations they visit.

• Ama Waterways has a strong focus on fine dining. Executive Chef Primus Perchtold is the winner of three gold medals at the European Championship of Culinary Art. You will find one of his recipes on your pillow every night, just in case you want to recreate his culinary magic at home. Ama



Waterways is the only river cruise line ever inducted into the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, a prestigious international gastronomic society dedicated to fine cuisine.

• Avalon emphasizes ‘bigger rooms, better views, and fewer passengers’. Their Panorama Suites feature 11-foot floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall sliding doors. When the doors are open, there’s a 7-foot opening turns your entire stateroom into a comfortable, indoor balcony. Rather than facing the wall, your bed faces the view.

• Viking focuses on their expertise, and the value they offer. They have won more awards than any other cruise line. They have been recognized consistently by both Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure for their outstanding quality, as well as being named “Best River Cruise Line” multiple times by Cruise Critic. They have a very large fleet, so their costs are lower, allowing them to offer very competitive pricing.

Here are some additional considerations that may be of interest to you. If any of these are important to you, be sure to find out if they are available on the ship and itinerary you select:

• Are bikes available for me to use?• Is there a choice of dining venues on board?• Is there an on-board fitness center?• Is there a pool or hot tub on board?• Are step-out balconies available?• Is there a loyalty program for repeat customers?

I help my clients choose a river cruise company and ship that’s the best fit with their tastes, preferences, and budgets.



5. Can I Get a Break on the Price if I Travel Solo?

A river cruise can be an ideal vacation for a solo traveller, because you’re never alone. The relatively small number of passengers on the ship means you’ll see the same people over and over again. Open seating dinners and smaller excursion numbers are conducive to meeting people and making friends.

River cruise lines tend to be very welcoming to solo travellers compared to the ocean cruise lines:

Viking is the exception. It is the most well known river cruise brand in North America, but it’s the least solo friendly of all the lines. You’re charged twice the twin rate, and you’ll rarely see a break on that price.

Tauck and Ama have single occupancy cabins, with priced-for-one rates. However, there are very few of these cabins available, and they book quickly.

Ama - If you can’t get a single occupancy cabin, you can pay 1.5 times the brochure cost on any stateroom except suites

All Avalon sailings in Europe have ten cabins available for solo travellers, with no single supplement.

With Tauck, there’s no single supplement on ‘Category 1’ cabins. This applies to every departure on European itineraries.

Frequently, you’ll see promotions from various cruise lines, where the single supplement is reduced or waived for solo travellers.

If you’re a solo traveller, please let me know so I can secure you the best price on your cabin.



4. Should I Get a Balcony?

There are no ‘bad’ cabins on a river ship.

Unlike ocean cruise ships, river cruise ships do not have inside staterooms. No matter which type of stateroom you choose, you’ll definitely have an outside view.

Generally, there are four types of cabins you’ll see. Not all of these cabin types will be found on every ship.

Riverview

Stateroom features either a half or full window. The window is ‘fixed’ i.e. it doesn’t open.

Standard Stateroom with River view

Another Standard Stateroom with River View



French Balcony

Stateroom features a full-size window that opens, but does not allow you to step out.

French Balcony

Step-Out Balcony

Stateroom features private seating area outside your cabin.

Step-Out Balcony



Suite

A much larger stateroom, sometimes with a separate bedroom.

Suite

Cabin sizes and styles vary widely between the different cruise lines.

I help my clients understand the cabin specifications for each cruise line, so they are comparing ‘apples to apples’ when looking at prices.



7. What is ‘Rafting’?

River cruising has become extremely popular, and the number of ships on the rivers has increased exponentially. Often, there will be more than one river ship in a port on any given day.

Sometimes, the river ships are required to tie up beside each other, with one ship along the shore, and the second – or third – ship(s) alongside the first one. This is called ‘rafting’.

There are some potential implications when river ships raft together:

• Passengers on the outer ship(s) must walk through the other ships in order to get to shore. Steps may be involved, which may be difficult if you have mobility issues

• The view from your window or balcony may be obstructed by another ship while in port

• People on other ships may be able to see into your cabin (if you leave your curtains open)

There is NO way to avoid rafting. However, you can minimize the possibility of rafting by:

• Choosing a less popular river or itinerary• Travel off-season.

Rafting is part of the river cruise experience, and I encourage you to try and enjoy it. It’s a great way to take a sneak peak at other ships as you quickly pass through.

Here’s what one passenger said about rafting (reported on Cruise Critic):

“We actually shared wine with a couple on a Viking boat rafted 6 inches from our cabin window one evening, and shared coffee and rolls with very surprised people early one morning. We started with our room service and had a great visit. Making lemonade on the river is fun!”



8. How Will Changing Water Levels Affect My Trip?

When you book a river cruise, your expectation is that you will embark the ship and unpack once, enjoy the sights from your river ship as you move along the river between towns, step off the ship in the heart of the cities and towns on your itinerary, and then disembark with your luggage at your final destination.

This is an ‘ideal’ situation, and many people are not aware that it won’t necessarily be this way.

Here’s what often happens instead…

When water levels get too high due to heavy rain and flooding, the river ships may be unable to pass under bridges. Low water levels may also prevent river ships from travelling a river.

When this happens, the river ships stay docked and are not able to move along the river. All the river ships are generally the same size, and are affected equally.

Passengers may be bused to visit the locations on their itinerary, and return to the river ship to spend the night.

You can spend a significant portion of your trip on a bus instead of a river ship like you expected!

Another possibility is that you will have to pack up, go on a bus to another river ship from the same company that’s docked further along the river, and change ships.

There is no way to predict if (or when) this is going to happen. It just depends on the weather, and the water levels change very quickly… often too quickly to warn passengers before they depart from home.

If you book a river cruise and at the last minute become concerned about water levels, don’t cancel your river cruise! You’ll lose all of the money you paid. Instead, wait for the cruise line to make the first move. They’ll offer you alternatives such as switching to another sailing for no cost, cancelling with minimal or no penalties, or taking your river cruise as planned but with a rebate.



9. Do I Need to Bring Formal Attire?

I have to admit it, I pictured river cruises as being full of wealthy people dressed to the nines.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

The dress code on a river cruise is decidedly casual. Women will find that they can easily dress up a more casual outfit by accessorizing.

The cruise lines typically ask for “country club casual” attire. Here are some descriptive examples:

Avalon: "Dress aboard and on shore is casual. Please bring comfortable walking shoes for sightseeing. Dinner attire is casual - open-neck shirts, slacks, dresses. Coats and ties may be worn. The Captain's Welcome and Farewell Dinners are dressy, but not formal. On the Mekong coats and ties are not recommended due to the warm humid climate."

Uniworld: "The dress code on the ship is best described as country club casual/business casual. While at dinner some prefer to wear nice slacks and a button down dress shirt, you are not required. You certainly do not have to wear a tie, sport jacket, or dress coat. A pair of nice jeans or khakis and a polo shirt or similar, would be perfectly acceptable for dinner. There is no strict dress code enforcement and we encourage you to be as comfortably dressed as you would like."

Viking: "Dress is casual and comfortable, both on board and ashore. Because the weather can be unpredictable, it is best to bring layers. Have a sweater or light jacket for spring and summer, and a heavier jacket for chillier months. Rain can happen at any time, so a collapsible umbrella is a "must." You are likely to do a good deal of walking during shore excursions, so you will definitely want sturdy, comfortable walking shoes; but, since our ships are much smaller than ocean cruising vessels, you do not have to worry about too much walking on board. There are no "formal nights" on board, but there is usually a Captain's Welcome Dinner and/or Farewell Dinner; on many itineraries, you will attend a concert, ballet performance or other dressier event. For these evenings, you might like to bring "dressy casual" wear."



10. How Can I Get the Best Possible Price?

Ocean cruisers are used to cruise fares fluctuating from day to day (and even hour to hour), much like airfare does. It’s a matter of waiting for what looks like the best possible deal, and then jumping on it. Sometimes that means waiting and booking at the last minute.

Booking a cruise can feel like a gamble, because you’re afraid that the day after you book, you’ll see exactly the same cruise offered for a lower price.

In contrast, with river cruises, the price is “the price” is THE price. You won’t find discounted fares available through online agencies. Catalogues are printed for the whole year ahead, specifying exactly what you’ll pay.

River cruises DO go on sale, but the best promotions are always the furthest in advance before departure. The further ahead you book, the better the price you’ll pay.

By booking early, you’ll also get the best selection of departure dates and cabins.

With ocean ships, hundreds (or even thousands) of cabins are available on the ships. In contrast, river cruise ships have fewer than 200 people on board, so there are 80 – 100 cabins available at most. Cabins on river cruise ships fill up very quickly!

Also, there is a huge and growing demand for river cruises. The river cruise lines are responding as quickly as they can by building new ships, but right now, demand far exceeds capacity. River cruises consistently sell out on almost every sailing.

Many of my clients agonize over which cruise line they should choose. Quite frankly, this is wasted energy because unless you’re booking at least a year ahead, your decisions are going to be primarily limited by which sailings have cabins available for you.

Plan your river cruise as far ahead as possible. You’ll pay less, AND you’ll have the best selection.

As a travel agent associated with Virtuoso (a consortium dedicated to luxury travellers), I have access to the best prices, as well as special incentives not commonly available to other travel agents. I leverage my connection with Virtuoso to get you the best possible deal on your river cruise.


Questions About a River Cruise?Just Ask!

I’ll help you find a river cruise that meets your needs andfits within your budget.Get in touch today…

Sue Bradley, River & Luxury Cruise SpecialistSmartFlyer Travel (a Virtuoso member)

[email protected]

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Sue Bradley, River & Luxury Cruise Specialist: 1-800-876 …setsailinstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AnswersToYourTop10... · Answers to Your Top 10 Questions About River Cruising