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JOURNEYS magazine
Volume II, 2014
SMALL SHIPS = BIG FUN
River cruise ships are generally smaller than ocean
cruise ships as they have to navigate the sometimes
shallow and tricky waters of an inland waterway.
Most generally accommodate between 100 and 200
people, although, some are even smaller. The ship’s
motion on a river is quite different from an ocean
cruise, and is much less likely to bother anyone
who may be prone to motion sickness.
River ships truly afford you the opportunity to
see more of the world, visiting intimate, ancient
towns and villages that can never be reached by
ocean going ships. Charming cities like Amsterdam,
Vienna, Budapest, Rouen, Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg,
Prague, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Beijing, the Nile
River, the Mekong River of Vietnam and many more
can only be reached by river cruise ship.
River cruising is available year round in most
warm weather climates, but most cruise lines curtail
their sailings from November to March. In northern
climates the rivers freeze in winter, necessitating a
shorter season that usually runs from April or May
through October or November, depending on river
conditions. Because river cruise ships hold fewer
passengers and do not run as frequently as ocean
cruise ships, accommodations tend to fill up rather
quickly. Your best bet is to book your river cruise as
early as possible to ensure your place on the ship.
Be sure to contact your local travel professional
to help you find the perfect river cruise that fits
your personal taste. Avalon Waterways, Uniworld
Boutique River Cruise Collection and Viking River
Cruises offer cruises to Europe, Asia and many more
fascinating destinations by way of some of the
world’s most celebrated rivers and waterways.
Expert tour guides provide travelers with a
background, context and regional perspective on
the many towns, cities and ports of call visited.
As well, cruisers can enjoy plenty of deep cultural
enrichment with demonstrations, workshops and
performances that supplement onshore exploration.
Themed river cruises and cruisetours are very popular
and heighten in-depth experiences even further.
TOP
The culinary
programs aboard
river cruises honor
regional and
seasonal specialties,
using the freshest,
locally-sourced
ingredients.
CRUISE SPOTLIGHT
RIVER SHIPS TRULY AFFORD YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE MORE
OF THE WORLD, VISITING INTIMATE, ANCIENT TOWNS AND VILLAGES THAT CAN
NEVER BE REACHED BY OCEAN GOING SHIPS.
