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JOURNEYS magazine
Volume III, 2014
Eat Your Heart Out
Travelers experience the very best foreign delicacies
on a river cruise. Because the onboard chefs are
usually local to the area guests are traveling
through, they’ll experience the finest local produce
and recipes that are indigenous to each port of call.
Locally sourced wines can also be found onboard.
River cruise dining is an experience all in itself
because of its open seating plan, which encourages
more interaction amongst passengers. Travelers
indulge in gourmet cuisine anywhere they’d like.
Several river cruise lines also offer unique dining
options…expect a chef ’s table and al fresco dining
with Viking Cruises or a bistro option with Avalon
Waterways.
Why Small is Beautiful
River cruise ships are generally smaller than ocean
liners as they have to navigate the sometimes shallow
and tricky waters of an inland waterway. That’s why
most generally accommodate under 200 guests. The
ship’s motion on a river is quite different from that
of the ocean, so travelers who are prone to motion
sickness are much less likely to be affected.
The high staff-to-guest ratio makes for the
highest level of service. Don’t like the brand of
mustard a river cruise ship is stocked with? Not a
problem. Don’t be surprised if something as small
as a mustard preference is accommodated quickly
and with ease.
New Explorations
A value-add for river cruising is its excursions, all
of which are included in the price of a cruise. Ships
dock right in the heart of most cities being visited,
so travelers can easily go back-and-forth between
the ship and its current destination, exploring at
their leisure. Personal audio receivers are often
available so travelers don’t have to be right beside
their guide to hear what they have to say. In
some destinations, guests can be as far as a block
away to hear what’s being said…which is perfect
for travelers who want to window shop or grab a
quick cup of coffee.
River cruise ships are generally
smaller than ocean liners
as they have to navigate the sometimes shallow and
tricky waters of an inland waterway.
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