River cruising has evolved to entice youthful adventurers keen for active and immersive experiences.
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Way beyond what never-cruisers may imagine river cruising to be – say, as slow tripping for seniors – the global realm of river cruising has evolved to entice youthful adventurers keen for active and immersive experiences.
To gauge a sense of trends in the burgeoning excitement for river cruising, I consulted two travel advisor experts in small ship cruising, coincidentally from Alberta. Slow travel on a river cruise, they agreed, enhances opportunities to delve into the spirit of a place, while enjoying the service and luxe amenities of a floating boutique hotel without the hassle of transportation, yet with the ease of guided excursions.
Samuel Spencer, owner of Ocean & River Cruises Travel in Calgary, noted river cruise lines – whose guests previously were in their 60s and up – now entice people in their 40s and 50s by offering energetic excursions. Sure, Spencer’s clients in all demographics appreciate the casual atmosphere and accessibility of a small boat that docks in the heart of a destination where they can step ashore for walking tours, museum and cultural visits. But younger clients crave heart-pumping activities including cycling, hiking or kayaking expeditions, as well as chances to imbibe the local vibe.
Brenda Goodby, manager of the Maritime Travel office in Lethbridge, said exploring a destination by river cruise has become the economic alternative to pricey hotels. And excursions that include exclusive or priority admissions to top sites add great value to the budget. Goodby, whose clients also include solo travellers, noted the intimate size of river cruises provides a safe social environment with chances to meet like-minded people.
The trend is booking back-to-back river cruises
With the rising costs of flights and the challenges of navigating through airports, both advisors said the trend is to maximize travel investment by booking longer trips. While some prefer, say, two 7-night back-to-back cruises for a two-week holiday, others choose longer itineraries.
Realizing this, some lines have combined multiple river itineraries with overland transportation. For example, in France, several lines have combined cruises on the Seine and Rhone rivers with transportation in between to provide an immersive jaunt through Provence, Normandy and Bordeaux.
An example of this is Viking’s new, three-week consecutive cruise. It sails from Amsterdam on the Rhine to Main River, Germany where it links to the Danube to cruise through Austria and Hungary, before joining the Lower Danube enroute to the Black Sea. Here, guests may disembark to join land tours to Bucharest or Istanbul.
While first time river cruisers tend toward the popular Danube and Rhine rivers, experienced cruisers typically choose the Douro River. Seasoned adventure seekers look to exploring the Mekong Delta from Vietnam to Siem Riep, or cruising Egypt’s Nile River or the Peruvian Amazon. Whatever their choice, people tend to extend their stay with pre- and post-land tours.
As for Europe’s newest trend: the previous “quiet off season” that started with short Christmas market cruises is now extended through winter. Both Viking and AmaWaterways offer January and February cruises on the Rhine and Danube River. And AmaWaterways has extended Douro River cruises through December.
As cruise lines see the penchant for exploring new global destinations, many offer similar itineraries on the same waterways.
Here are eight exciting choices to inspire your 2024-2025 river cruise
#1 AmaWaterways’ Magic of Colombia
Along the way, they’ll taste Latin American cuisine, and feel the beat of local entertainment and culture. Ports include the 16th century colonial town of Mompox, known for its architectural beauty; Magangue, its nature haven thriving with birds; and Palanque, notable in the African diaspora as the first “free town” for those fleeing slavery during colonial times. Organized pre- and post-cruise options include stays in Panama and Medellin.
#2 Viking’s Grand European Tour
After calling at Austria’s Melk and Vienna, the voyage ends in Budapest, Hungary. Notable for lovers of arts, culture and cuisine, this itinerary is popular among Second World War history buffs. Active pursuits along the way include guided cycling and hiking tours. Guests typically book pre- and post-cruise stays in Amsterdam and Budapest.
#3 Uniworld’s Venice Lagoon and the Jewels of Veneto
The enchanting voyage sails through fertile valleys of northwest Italy offers guests exclusive visits to Saint Mark’s Basilica, the historic Jewish Ghetto, Burana glass art centre, and Chiogggia fishing village. Besides private tours in UNESCO World Heritage cities Vicenza and Padua, excursions include wineries, cycling, artisan and museum tours.
#4 Avalon Waterways’ Vida Portugal
While Porto itself oozes history, the charm of this region is in exploring the rural villages with remnants of Roman, Medieval, Romanesque, Gothic or Baroque architecture, tasting the local cuisine and indulging in the magnificent wines, particularly the mouthwatering Port. Designed for scenic viewing, the new 102-guest Avalon Alegria has wide-windowed accommodations and an outdoor pool. Guests typically add a pre- or post-cruise stay in Lisbon to enhance the Portugal experience.
#5 Viking’s Elegant Elbe
After scenic sailing through Saxon Switzerland and Bad Schandau, Germany, guests arrive in the Czech Republic. Historic experiences include the Decin Synagogue, the only one in Sudetenland to survive WWll, a Jewish history tour of Prague, plus an overnight in Prague’s “City of Hundred Spires” to take in Hradcany Castle and stroll the iconic Charles Bridge. Although Viking includes on-board overnights in Berlin and Prague, these cities’ myriad sites and nightlife make it worth adding pre- and post-cruise stays.
#6 Uniworld’s Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia and the Mekong
Starting in Ho Chi Minh, previously called Saigon, the voyage continues to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s bustling capital. In Kampong Cham, guests disembark for a coach transfer to Siem Reap for a three-night included hotel stay near the UNESCO-designated architectural marvel of Angkor Wat Temple. From here, guest fly to Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city and cultural centre. Along the way, excursions include a visit to the Viet Cong’s underground tunnel network, sailing in traditional sampans to see village artisans at their crafts, visits to Buddhist temples and palaces as well as the horrific Khmer Rouge “killing fields,” opportunities to attend cooking classes, plus exploring local streets by motorcycle rickshaws.
#7 Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids
Looping from Cairo, the epic voyage on Viking’s 82-passenger Viking Osiris, purpose-built for cruising the Nile, flows through the Egypt’s 5000-year history with visits to the Pyramids of Giza, the iconic Sphinx, Karnak’s Valley of the Kings, the temples of Luxor, and the artisans of Aswan. Excursions include visits to the Cairo Citadel and Egyptian Museum, local markets, camel rides, and engaging with local artisans at their crafts.
#8 Avalon Waterways’ From Inca Empire to the Peruvian Amazon
This unique journey into the ancient Inca civilization aboard the 44-passenger, all-suite Delphin III includes flights to Cusco and Iquitos with exclusive guided tours. From Cusco, guests descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, then go up to the magnificent mountain setting of Machu Picchu, built around 1450.
From Iquitos, they experience the biodiversity of the Amazon wilderness with naturalist-guided panga rides through the Ucayali and Maranon tributaries of the Amazon River. Excursions along the way include swimming with dolphins and visiting native villages.
For those craving a more intensive Peru adventure, Uniworld’s similar, 16-day itinerary looping from Lima includes a trek to Machu Picchu.