WHAT’S NEW IN RIVER CRUISES FOR 2015?

I get more questions and inquiries about river cruising than any other segment of travel. My friends, family and clients are increasingly intrigued about floating down a river, admiring the scenery from their cabin or the top deck, and finding new and charming towns to explore each day.
They are not the only ones. River cruising has exploded in popularity and the cruise lines have responded by adding new ships with new features every year.

2015 RIVER CRUISE TRENDS: NEW SHIPS

Leading the way is Viking cruises with 12 new ships this year; 10 of the popular longships and 2 that carry only 98 passengers on the Elbe.
Though Viking is the best known because of their beautiful ad campaigns, I much prefer other companies that have less dense passenger loads, leading to better service. All of the ships plying the rivers are limited in size, leading to most having small cabins. In order to compete with ocean cruising, many have added balconies. Unfortunately this takes away from the already limited cabin size.

AVALON WATERWAYS RIVER CRUISE SHIPS

Several years ago, Avalon turned the industry on its side by slanting one wall and placing the bed on it to face the window. In addition, the outside wall is entirely made of sliding glass. By opening the sliding doors, you have made your cabin an open air balcony. Brilliant! To date this is still the best use of space I have seen. These panorama ships feature cabins that are 200 square feet. 2015 will bring two more of these panorama ships that will ply the rivers of France.

TAUCK 2015 RIVER CRUISE SHIPS

If you still require more space, Tauck has several new ships out this year that have 14 suites with 300 square feet each. Though all of the lines have a few suites, they go quickly and none of the others have as many as Tauck.

AMAWATERWAYS RIVER CRUISE SHIPS

Another innovation comes from AMA Waterways. Their 2 new ships have connecting cabins for families and groups travelling together. AMA’s new ships also have heated pools with swim-up bars.

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE SHIPS

Uniworld has always been a favorite of mine. Their beautiful and unique décor is like staying in a boutique hotel. But a challenge with their older ships has been small cabin size. Their newest ships, called “super-ships” have larger cabins, a heated pool and Viennese Café.

Uniworld’s SS Antoinette

SCENIC LUXURY RIVER CRUISES

Scenic is one of the newest entrants into this market. Their ships have beautiful contemporary staterooms. Their 2 new “space ships” are all-inclusive with complimentary beer, wine and spirits, butler service, transfers and gratuities.

2015 RIVER CRUISE TRENDS: NEW DESTINATIONS

The most popular rivers continue to be the Rhine, the Danube, and the Seine. However, previous cruisers are always looking for new adventures. Most of the cruise lines have cruises on the Douro in Portugal. Uniworld and Viking both do cruises through Russia; AMA has suspended these cruises due to the tension in the Ukraine. Cruising on the Mekong for Viet Nam and Cambodia is getting more popular. Myanmar (formerly Burma) is one of the newest destinations.

Avalon’s Myanmar Panorama Suite

Uniworld leads the way in developing new areas. They are currently the only company that cruises the Po River in Italy. They recently announced that they will debut “India’s Golden Triangle and the Sacred Ganges” in January of 2016.

2015 RIVER CRUISE TRENDS

River cruises have mostly appealed to the older demographic. But that is changing. Familiesare now starting to travel the river. Tauck extended its popular Bridges tours for families to river cruising. Uniworld also has several itineraries and dates specifically for families.
At the other end of the spectrum, many singles love all kinds of cruising. It has been expensive, as single supplements lead to almost double the price. Most of the river cruise lines are now waiving single supplements for specific dates, making it more economical to travel as a single.

2015 RIVER CRUISES TREND: THEME CRUISES

Theme river cruises are getting more popular. Avalon has always led the way here with the most themed sailings. Wine, wellness, Jewish heritage, and art are typical themes being adopted by many of the river cruise lines. AMA recently announced a beer river cruise and Avalon has a sailing with Patricia Schulty, author of 1000 Places to See Before You Die.
As river cruising continues to gain in popularity, more destinations, enhanced ships, and appeal to all generations will also grow.

IS A RIVER CRUISE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Arnie and I love to cruise. Standing at the back of a ship on the ocean and watching the wake is just heaven to us. Over the years we’ve taken 50+ ocean cruises. We used to get so excited when a newer larger ship debuted.

More exciting things to do and places to eat. But that was back in the 90’s when 80,000 tons was considered large. Now the ships are getting bigger and bigger, glitzier and glitzier. We still sell a lot of them – people still love them.

But to us, the megaships are just “too much” all around. Too many crowds, too much noise, too many extra charges. So if you love the casinos, fancy production shows, ice shows, zip lining through the ship and a choice of 22 restaurants- river cruising is NOT for you.
However if you value quality over quantity and prefer to immerse yourself in the culture of a foreign land instead of one more Caribbean port, river cruising may be just what you’re looking for.

WHAT IS RIVER CRUISING

Like ocean cruising, river cruise companies run the gamut from good to luxury and a good travel agent can inform you of the different lines, ships and itineraries available to find the right fit for you.
The average river ship carries 150 passengers or less. The result is much better and more personalized service. There are never lines for the dining room or to get off the ship. Entertainment is much more low-key than on an ocean cruise. A lecture, a singer or string quartet from the area you are sailing- that is generally what you’ll find. Also there is music for dancing in the evenings. After witnessing countless production shows I find this much more enjoyable.

IS RIVER CRUISING THE RIGHT VACATION FOR YOU?

I find that all the “bells and whistles” on ocean ships are not necessary when you’re visiting beautiful ports every day. Most river cruises include all your excursions. In many ports you can just walk off the ship and into a lovely town to explore. In other areas, there may be buses to take you to a particularly interesting site. Some carry bicycles on board so you can explore locally on your own, or take a tour with a group by bike. And- it’s all included.
Just sailing along the river is an adventure. As you float by you enjoy the beautiful scenery, local houses, castles on a hill, every turn of the river brings new sights. Another advantage- no seasickness. I’ve never had a client complain, in fact you must look outside to even figure out if you’re moving. Besides the lounge or your cabin for viewing, you can go to the top deck to see the scenery on both sides of the river.
Dining is open seating. Instead of dining at the same table every night, you choose when and with whom you want to dine (many ocean cruises now do this as an alternative). Wine and beer is served with every dinner at no charge; some cruise lines also include wine and beer with lunch. Emphasis is generally on food local to the area and presentation is paramount. Some lines are now offering alternative dining venues and most feature at least one cooking demonstration.

RIVER CRUISE ITINERARIES

River cruising offers itineraries that you can’t find on the larger ships. The small size allows these ships to navigate the small towns along the rivers. The most popular itineraries are generally in Europe. There are ships operating in France, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and the Netherlands. Moving further west, you can explore Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. If you like more foreign, exotic destinations, check out the sailings in Russia, Egypt, South America and throughout Asia.
Some people worry about the age of river cruise travelers. If you’re in your 20’s or 30’s this might not be for you. Ages seem to be more in the 50’s and up. But don’t kid yourself. These seniors are generally active, well-travelled and interesting. Recently, with the expansion of the river cruise companies, some are trying to capture a younger audience. There are even some sailings devoted to families.
River cruises will almost always look more expensive than an ocean cruise. But once you realize what is includes the price becomes a little more palatable. Some river cruise lines are even moving to an all-inclusive model includes gratuities and drinks all day.

KINGSBRIDGE TRAVEL WILL PLAN YOUR DREAM CRUISE RIVER VACATION

If you prefer casinos, production shows, a spa and lots of options on a ship- stick with ocean cruising. But if the destination is more important and you prefer a vacation without the crowds, seeing a number of interesting areas, and fine service, you should consider a river cruise.