River cruising...was thinking about this for an upcoming birthday. Somewhere in France, Somewhere with food & wine. Looking for true ages of the passengers. Pitfalls to look out for. Crummy tour companies. Foreign language (other than english based) advantages and disadvantages. How active or inactive can a cruise be. Actual add on costs (tips, alcohol, other drinks).

Posted By KT on May 28, 2010, 3:13 PM

Is river cruising appropriate for kids? Or, are there specific companies with itineraries/approaches that are kid-friendly?

Posted By MW on June 1, 2010, 9:08 AM

From what I've seen in brochures etc. (have never river-cruised myself), river cruising is much more expensive than ocean cruising on a mass-market (Princess or Carnival-type) ship. Are there some cheaper locations or companies? websites or other sellers that offer deep discounts? other ways to save money?

Posted By MrGoodrant on June 1, 2010, 9:54 AM

We're thinking about doing a river cruise next year. When will you be starting the articles and answering the questions? Just about every question you posted above I would like to get answers on. Also, when's the best time? We're thinking of mid-May before the crowds start.

Posted By Ken Kronschnabl on June 1, 2010, 11:47 AM

We have cruised on both the Rhone (7 days) and the Rhine (14 days) with Viking River Cruises. Wonderful company, wonderful trips. All shore excursions included on cruises booked in the US.

Posted By Captmsy on June 1, 2010, 12:24 PM

I'd like to know about smoking policies on river boats; my husband is allergic to tobacco smoke, and I dislike it too.

Years ago I cruised the Danube at Christmas, and had a wonderful time. Would like to try something different next year,

Posted By Erica on June 1, 2010, 1:06 PM

Planning a Danube River cruise in July. What weight clothing is recommended and how do river cruise ships' dress codes compare to the formality of ocean cruise ships?

Posted By T K Miller on June 1, 2010, 2:09 PM

I don't like to drive so I've considered river cruising for awhile. But, I'm curious about the amount of cruise time versus land time. I want lots of time to visit villages/towns and poke around, not just watch the world drift by (although that sounds lovely too). Do you have any insight into land/water ratios for river cruises? And, how do I best investigate land time when I'm planning a river cruise? Thanks.

Posted By Joan on June 1, 2010, 2:40 PM

I'm glad your doing an article on river cruises, because I've been intrigued and have wanted to explore the possibilities. The Viking River Cruise brochures look wonderful. What are the downsides? Which cruises co-ordinate and give you time to explore local festivals, theater productions, etc...?

Posted By lou on June 1, 2010, 2:56 PM

We have taken 2 Vantage river cruises and both were
just great--the Holland-Belgium cruise including the great tulip gardens in March and the Castles on
the Rhine from Budapest to Amsterdam--cities/places covered on these tours were wonderful. Price on most river cruises is more expensive, but they are (at least on Vantage) all inclusive and include many tours, concerts, food (terrific). We are looking for some cruises on the
Elbe to go to Berlin and Dresden, but not too much seems to be available.

Posted By Bonnie on June 1, 2010, 3:17 PM

Do any of the river cruise companies offer very low cost--or even free--single supplements?

Posted By Carla on June 1, 2010, 3:40 PM

In May of 2006 , we took the Rhine River Cruise with Uniworld. It started in
Amsterdam and ended in Vienna. It was wonderful. We still have great memories.

Posted By Robert Millard on June 1, 2010, 3:44 PM

I've heard that some river cruises have options where river boat cruisers can bicycle alongside the boat in some places. Where are those tours and has anybody done that?

Posted By Renee on June 1, 2010, 3:47 PM

i am a single woman in my late 30s. i have seen videos of many of these trips and it seems like most of them are filled with retirees. is that true of most trips or is it the time of year or the specific companies? i normally travel with other single women. i am certainly not looking for a party boat (ugh!), but i would like to have a mixture of people of different ages and backgrounds to interact with.

Posted By buttercup on June 1, 2010, 3:56 PM

Years ago (I guess 1996 is years ago) our first cruise ever was on KG Line (I think that's the name) from Frankfurt to Trier, along the Rhine and the Mosel. It was fabulous. Beautiful countryside and wonderful food served with elegance by the international wait staff. ( I still remember our waiter Guiseppe!)

Have since cruised on the Delta Queen and the American Queen and enjoyed it tremendously. Cruised to Alaska on Royal Caribbean and that was great. Cruised Hawaii on NCL and was disappointed in the food and general atmosphere of the ship.

I prefer small cruises, but now that the Queens are out of business in the eastern U.S., prices I've seen are beyond my means. Kids would have been bored on the river cruises, I'm sure.

Posted By Sarah on June 1, 2010, 4:04 PM

How large are the beds on river cruises? My husband is 6'6" and we don't want to be stuck on a cruise with a tiny bed. Small bathrooms could also be a problem. Thanks.

Posted By Doris from New Jersey on June 1, 2010, 5:31 PM

My dream is a barge/ small boat cruise in Burgundy with a chef on board and tours of vineyards.I'd love to get recommendations and details of the possibilities.

Posted By maryann on June 1, 2010, 7:41 PM

I've heard about do-it-yourself river cruising, but I'm having a difficult time finding a reliable resource. Do you know of any good websites or books that can help us plan our own adventure???

Posted By Amy on June 1, 2010, 8:14 PM

I took my 13yr old granddaughter on the Viking river cruise on the Elbe river in Germany 2 yrs ago. It was mostly retirees who took her under their wing and asked her to sit with them at dinner.They wanted her to hear all the history they knew from teaching etc. We had a wonderful time. There is little time on your own,but the pace is leisurely and we could leave the group at times,had lunch on our own and even shopped a little.The best part is just being able to walk off the ship and into the small towns.We love small ships like Cruise West for most of our trips,as everything is included,people are friendly,the coastline is nearby,the food is great and you don't have to wait in line to board or disembark!

Posted By ozarktraveler on June 1, 2010, 8:35 PM

We would be interested to read about river cruises in Russia. We are especially interested in the quality of the ships. We have been on two river cruises with Vantage in Western Europe and loved them.

Posted By Marie on June 1, 2010, 10:15 PM

What is the best river cruise company for your money, and what river(s)?

Posted By Russell on June 1, 2010, 11:13 PM

Have river cruised for 10 days in China with Viking, 12 Days with Gate 1 visiting the Christmas markets on the Danube, and 8 days on the Rhine with Avalon. Doing a two weeker with Avalon this summer in France, can't wait.
River Cruising offers great itineraries with free trips with local guides and buses at each stop (don't forget to tip). Smaller boats mean less people, you can sit anywhere to eat. Buses take you on your visits each day. River cruising is absolutely wonderful; the cabins are bigger that the big guys and the double window slider that opens is great when you go through locks.
Number 1 is Avalon, no motor under the boat, you are pushed by a tug, Gate 1 does a very good job, and Viking tends to have not as nice a ship.
Once your try it you are hooked.

Posted By Karen on June 2, 2010, 12:37 AM

Great topic- my group of friends have been fantastizing for years about doing a self- guided French canal cruise. If you can provide any links to information for those looking to captain their own small barge (6 passenger or so), that would be fantastic!

Posted By cberk on June 2, 2010, 10:12 AM

When you think of River Cruising...don't forget the Erie Canal...NYS Canal System is a jewel and very travel friendly. My boys and I are treating it like the Appalachian Trail...doing it slowly in sections. Some folks do the 'Great Loop' where they live aboard and travel through the canal on their way down the Hudson and eventually up the Mississippi!

Posted By Steve Melcher on June 2, 2010, 11:16 AM

I echo Carla's question about single supplements. I have looked at river cruises for several years and now that certain family obligations are winding down, I am ready to actually do something. My particular interests are Eastern Europe and Russia. I want something that gives me time to explore the country side as well as the cities. Reliability and safety and itinerary are important, while elegance and formality are not. Looking forward to your articles.

Posted By Joyce on June 2, 2010, 3:04 PM

Definitely looking forward to these articles. Husband and I (60's) are looking to do some this fall. Daughter and son-in-law(30's) are looking to do a Rhine cruise with other couples. We are all anxiously awaiting answers to the questions posed above!

Posted By JoAnn on June 2, 2010, 6:37 PM

We are planniing a trip to Italy in July. We have air and hotel, but will use the train to travel between cities. The Trenitalia site indicates that you can buy 15 days in advance and save up to 30%. However, when I try to make a purchase, it denies my credit card. I spoke to my credit card company and they assured me it was nothing that they did to stop it. Do they only allow Italian cards to purchase in advance? Suggestions anyone?

Posted By wendy on June 2, 2010, 8:45 PM

Are there river cruises which are better suited for traveling with older children and teens? We enjoy taking our grandchildren on trips to experience different cultures and history.

Posted By Geni on June 3, 2010, 12:02 PM

This fall is my husband and my first trip to France together. I don't want to commit a week or two of our 3 weeks to a cruise. I'd love to find out about a 1-2 day cruise in France (prefer northern half). I've researched a lot and only find minimum of a week. I'm looking for more of a day trip or overnight. Thanks

Posted By Susan on June 3, 2010, 2:19 PM

My husband & I just took our first river boat cruise & absolutely loved it. We went on the Avalon Waterways cruise from Paris to Normandy in April. The boat was fabulous. The staterooms were large, as were the bathrooms. The staterooms have one wall of window/sliding glass door so the view from your room is terrific. We slept at night with the sliding door open to enjoy the breezes. The staff/crew were wonderful and all spoke English. There was lots of time to wander through many towns both on your own and with an English speaking guide, provided by the cruise company. The food was amazing. Your wine/beer is included with dinner, so unlike an ocean cruise, there was not any extra charge for this. The only area where smoking is allowed is outside on the open sky deck.
While I can't make any comparisons to other cruise companies, other passengers on our boat who had cruised with other companies said Avalon was far above the others. From what we experienced, that is very true. From the moment they picked us up at the airport in Paris to when they returned us to the airport to (sadly) go home, their service was perfect & friendly. It's like they knew what you wanted before you even knew it yourself and had it waiting for you.

Posted By Karyn on June 3, 2010, 3:07 PM

Which European river cruises offer bicycles to those who wish to cycle part of the journey?

Posted By Tammy on June 3, 2010, 4:28 PM

I would love details on the various regions of France. I want to take a river cruise in France next year but I cannot decide which region to sail through. A description of the main areas (burgundy, provence, alsace etc.) would be wonderful!

Posted By Elisabeth on June 3, 2010, 5:04 PM

I went on the Viking 10 day tour of China which included a river boat on the Yangtze and it was all absolutely first class! This November I am taking a Uniworld 7 day cruise from Lyon to Marseilles and it's a gourmet food and wine cruise. Bicycles are one of the perks offered, so I guess you could ride part of the way (to the next town) if you wished.
Just got back from a 7 day cruise on Carnival to the Bahamas. Very pleasant.

Posted By Sue in Texas on June 3, 2010, 5:50 PM

We did a barge trip in Burgandy with French Country Waterways in May 2000.
It was fabulous!

Posted By Penny on June 3, 2010, 7:25 PM

Think about the Western USA with Cruise West. They have a wonderful week long cruise of the Columbia River Gorge and into the Snake River area.

Posted By Elaine on June 3, 2010, 7:30 PM

Never have cruised, except day trips, but have lived and travel in Europe. Larger river cruise boats must dock at commercial freight docks. Generaly these are no more scenic or convenient to city center than most ports in the US. Scenery in route can be lovely, however.

Posted By mihoppygirl on June 4, 2010, 7:02 AM

I would love details on a river cruise to Holland during tulip time that includes biking every day (20-25 miles). I would like a tour that mainly includes Holland, but Bruge would be an nice destination too.

Posted By Linda on June 5, 2010, 7:07 PM

My husband and I have taken 3 self-drive river trips, 2 in France and 1 in Italy. It is an awesome way to see the countryside, meet the locals and have some very memorable adventures. On more than one occasion the proprietors of nearby restaurants picked us up at no charge and took us to their establishment. Ever ride in the back of a Toyota pickup in the south of France sitting on a quilt?

Posted By Patsy on June 7, 2010, 2:49 PM

I went on The Viking River Cruise to Russia (St Petersberg to Moscow)last September. As a single person I was worried that I'd be ignored by all of the couples. I was wrong!! They took me under their wing & I had a blast! The tour guides spoke fluent English & were extremely knowledgable about Russian History, Art etc. The food was unbelievable. Buffet breakfast & 5 course lunch & dinner. The excursions were fabulous. I'm going on another cruise between Budapest & Bucharest next yr & can't wait.

Posted By Shawn on June 7, 2010, 5:35 PM

My husband and I would like to take a barge trip in France, but wonder which area would best be toured in this way. We would like to disembark, ride bikes and meet the local people. Gourmet food is not a high priority, but a variety of food and flexibility on seating and times would be our preference.

Posted By Edwina on June 7, 2010, 11:23 PM

We just got back from a Viking River cruise from St. Petersburg to Moscow and it was wonderful. Early May turned out to be a great time for this particular route as it was springtime and we had wonderful weather. I would highly recommend this cruise - it was a perfect combination of cruising and shore excursions. There was a nice mix of onboard lectures, visits to palaces and museums, and free time. They also had optional tours that you could sign up for after the cruise began (and the prices were very reasonable). If you book one of their renovated ships, you'll love the rooms - queen size beds, plenty of storage, great windows that open. The food was excellent, too - a wide variety at every meal. Seating was open, so we had a chance to meet people from all over the world (total passengers = 196). The ages of passengers ranged from the mid-forties to late eightys - I wouldn't recommend this type of cruise for anyone under 18-21 unless they are able to amuse themselves (and enjoy history a lot!). You also need to be physically fit, as there is a lot of walking and stair-climbing on the shore excursions. This is definitely not a party boat nor are there many activities purely for entertainment. The ships are non-smoking except on the upper sun deck. The crew was wonderful, too. Everyone spoke English, although they were from Russia, Austria, Germany, and the Phillippines. (You can take a Russian language class onboard!). All in all, I can't say enough about how great the cruise was and how wonderful the Viking River Cruise line is - so go and enjoy! (Final recommendation- don't buy the drink package - although drinks on-board are pricey, unless you drink yourself silly, you'll come out ahead just paying per drink.) To see a video of the highlights of our trip, go to tripadvisor's trip wow page at http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-0099-6c7e-a922?lb

Posted By Susan on June 8, 2010, 12:17 PM

We just spent a week on the Canal du Midi; six people who get along really well would be perfect. The boat is simple to operate and you can bicycle and take your time in the towns. If you want to speak French, the 50+ locks allow lots of opportunities.

Posted By Patty on June 9, 2010, 6:06 AM

Have to tell you I did two last year. I did the Rhine River and Tulip Time. They were on Avalon and Viking River Cruises. Yes, I own a travel agency but I went on the trip as a client. I would say the adverage age was 65..some older and younger. I loved that on one of them wine was inc.
The great thing is where they went and that most tours were included. Can't wait to go again!

Posted By Audrey Cain on June 10, 2010, 11:23 AM

We recently completed a Holland/Belgium Waterways and Tulips cruise with Vantage. We are retired as were most of the other 160 passengers. Would take Vantage again since the tours, guides, food, and ship all were excellent. The guides paid all the entrance fees and even bought or provided money for lunch as part of some stops. Could not have had a better time. Having been on three ocean cruises, this was a delightful alternative. Try it. John and Gerri Fredette

Posted By John Fredette on June 10, 2010, 3:00 PM

We have been to two river cruises. Viking in Southern France was the best. Food, land tours, majority of them included, Val Rhone chocolate factory, wineries, and the service on board, were fabulous. Had lots of assistance in gathering info to have my stolen passport (unrelated to Viking), replaced in Marseille. Could have used a bit of more shopping time on this trip.
Last year we went with Vantage on the Bucharest-Budapest Danube cruise. Area in general lacked infrastructure to support tourism. Had to be bussed everywhere for quite some distances,(included), cutting short on the town visits. Awful food, cooked like a bland diet for septuagenarians in a nursing home. Did enjoy the extra additional nights offered in Bucharest, since we went to northern Rumania and saw great castles. Aside from that, the area is still a bit torn by the war of the 90's. I would wait a while for this kind of cruising and never again with Vantage.
In general, we realize that river cruising does not offer much for children, but would appeal to young couples with a thirst for knowledge.
Our best trips nevertheless have been the ones where we go and actually spend more than a day in the cities/towns visited, but as we get older, cruising in general has been a great alternative to the rush of going from one town to the other in the time we allow ourselves for the whole trip.
Except when we lived in Italy for a short while!

Posted By Stargazer on June 10, 2010, 4:14 PM

My husband and I have been on four river cruises, both alone and with others. We also have been on several ocean cruises and several land tours. We enjoy river cruises since they are more like floating hotel rooms. There are pros and cons to taking small river cruises as opposed to large ocean cruises or land based tours. We have run into all the things listed below while on our river cruises. Some barge tours allow you to bike between stops.

The pros are (in no particular order) you only unpack once, the tours are included, the ships usually dock in a very convenient location to explore the villages and cities, you will meet great people and develop new friendships, the meals are adequate and nice, the serving staff and room attendants are attentive, it is simple to get on and off the ship several times a day if you like, all the announcements are in English only (not three or four languages), you are allowed to bring local wines on board to sample either on your balcony, cabin, or public areas. The dress code is business casual. No formals or suits required. There are usually no kids on board. We had a few kids twice and both times they were a distraction because there was nothing for them to do but run around in circles. If you are older, this is a slower, more relaxed way to travel. There also is very little walking required on such small ships. Some river cruises allow lots of time in the evening to visit the cities. Be sure to check the itinerary if shore time at night is as important to you as it was to us.

The cons are (in no particular order): the meals are at set times with open seating, no room service, no options for other food if you miss a meal for any reason, if the water levels are down it may be impossible to navigate the river and get to the towns, if the river is blocked by other ships it causes delays in the amount of time at your next port of call, when traveling on holidays the locks have limited service so you may not be able to do everything outlined on the itinerary. (I have wondered why the cruise lines do not know this in advance so they can advise customers.) Also during the holidays, museums, restaurants, Christmas Markets, and shops may be closed. Europeans typically have more time off than Americans. There is very limited entertainment on board. If you are stuck on ship due to river blockage, low water levels, or inability to enter locks, be prepared to be bored to death or have plenty of reading material. Most of the activities and excursions are geared toward an older clientele. We often would help people with their walkers, canes, etc. The stairs on the small ships may be difficult for some to handle. Since we are a bit younger, we frequently would leave the group to go on our own in order to see more. If there is ice on the river the ship may not be able to go to the higher elevations at certain times of the year. Even if you book your travel through the river cruise company, be prepared for plan B in case they forget to pick you up at the airport (not an isolated incident, by the way!) When this happened to us, I did have some Euros and contacted the ship directly. The result was that we had to find a taxi, the driver could not locate the ship and we had no time left to tour Antwerp. Not a good way to start your holiday! River cruising is not appropriate for small kids. We were with teenage grandchildren on a Disney cruise and a Baltic cruise and they loved them both. Some cabins do not have space for hard sided luggage in the closet or under the bed. In that case, the luggage is stored in the hallway. Unless you like to mingle with couples, singles might be bored on river cruises since there are no evening activities to speak of or meeting places and it is definitely an older crowd. The bed sizes are usually smaller on river cruises although my 6’3 husband has had no big problems with the beds.

Posted By kaiachris on June 10, 2010, 7:46 PM

I am planning a group cruise to the Mediterreanan in May 2011. About 10 of us are going and our ship is leaving from Civitavecchia, Rome. We plan to arrive 2 days prior to tour Rome. Is is better to stay in the heart of Rome and take a shuttle to civitavecchia to get to the ship. Since we will have lots of luggage, is it better to hire a taxi shuttle? If so, How much can I expect to pay from the heart of Rome to Port civitavecchia? Thank Much.

Posted By Terrie W. on June 11, 2010, 10:09 PM

We've been looking at German River Cruises. We'd like to combine it with a visit to family in the Stuttgart area. Is it better to go over earlier or stay longer? Also, which river cruise iternary would end up (or start off) closest to our area?

Posted By Ursula on June 14, 2010, 1:48 PM

Great idea for the cruise article but you should tell us when in what issue it will be in.....don't leave us guessing.....some of us, acording to the questions ,have a deadline.

Posted By Anna Maria Beard on June 19, 2010, 7:01 PM

Wondering if there is much rocking on the river boats, as I tend to get queasy?? Anyone?

Posted By Isabella on June 21, 2010, 3:54 PM

Cruising the Mediterranean in Nov one of the stops will be in Rome..Want to see as much as possible without dropping the cruise lines $345.00 per person to see Rome..Any suggestions..It's our first trip across the pond..Thanks!!

Posted By Gene chacon on June 30, 2010, 2:31 AM

How would you rate river cruises on wheelchair accessibility? Are some cruise lines better than others?

Posted By Jon Faulkner on August 24, 2010, 12:21 PM

I am interested in barging, not river cruises in French Wine Country (Burgundy, Rhone, Bourdeaux, Loire, and Champagne), and other European Wine Regions that is on the cheaper side, with most meals to be had in the towns and villages with suggestions for self exploring. More for active couples in their 30s, 40s, etc. More specific info on trips similar to the one profiled in 2005, the links in that article don't seem to lead to the type of boat that family enjoyed.

Posted By Will on September 13, 2010, 12:43 AM

I haven't seen the Trip Coach for river cruising but am looking for a bike and barge. Something where I can bike along the canal, go into towns for lunch. Not interested in chartering a boat for 6 but rather join an established cruise.

Posted By Kathy on March 7, 2011, 12:50 PM

My boyfriend and I are looking to go on a small canal boat trip this September. I am wondering what company would be best if we want to bike to towns, enjoy markets, taste wine, and prefer no children on boat? Would love food demonstrations by the chef. We are in our late 40's early 50's and active. Is September a good time? Most scenic river?
Thanks

Posted By Annie on May 8, 2011, 8:27 AM