River Cruise Lines Don't Like Talking About These Issues

[@dmorton41595]

Water level issues need to be discussed more often! I love river cruising and as a travel agent I find it mind blowing that people have no idea there can be an issue.

[@sandya2948]

Sure wish we had seen this before we took our Danube cruise several years ago!🤣 Due to low water levels, it was essentially a bus tour. We missed every one of our chosen excursions. Every other warning point you made proved to be true in our case. There wasn’t much we liked about our experience, and we had never ocean cruised so had nothing to compare it to. Never again! However, we just finished an Alaskan cruise and loved it!

[@TarrelScot]

Ouch!

[@moose354]

We picked June just to make sure there was neither too much or too little water. Our cruise was outstanding.

[@paulkoza8652]

Climate change.

[@danielclitheroe1869]

Been on two river cruises this summer, sole occupancy of superior cabins, booked late and paid circa £800 including flights and transfers. That was for all-inclusive as well.

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Which lines, Daniel?

[@danielclitheroe1869]

Last one was on the Tui Isla from Frankfurt flyong out of Heathrow: Tui have a link to "solo travelers" on their offers for river cruises. One couple on board had two sole occupancy cabins because the husband snores and the price was the same.

[@well-blazeredman6187]

@@danielclitheroe1869 Thank you.

[@laratheplanespotter]

River cruises really do please me in an educational way. I’ve got a masters of art in history and one of these cruises actually helped me pick a dissertation topic and on another I got to represent the Royal British Legion in laying a wreath at the Menin Gate on 11/11/2018. I actually thought I’d be too young to enjoy them but no. The daily excursions wore me out so all I wanted to do when we got back was to chill out, have dinner and go to bed.

[@carolinekaplan542]

you are a bright girl and will go far

[@BruceJSkelly]

Gary, as always very good points. On my most recent Viking River cruise, we had been to one of the ports before, so instead of the included tour we took a bicycle tour. We had a great time, and it was a wonderful way to see an old port with new eyes.

[@koartravel]

Bruce you are so right. I did the Danube a couple of times taking a different excursion and exploring the same port in a different way was really nice.

[@carolynsteele9929]

You have done an excellent job of highlighting he very big differences for River cruising. I’ve done both - and enjoyed both but you do need to be prepared for the changes.

[@PortsladeBySea]

Excellent review. My wife and I have never been on a river cruise but we have sailed with NCL, around Europe, and Viking, around the Caribbean, via New York. We have also been on a Sail Croatia holiday. We booked the best cabin on the boat but when the boats are tied up at night you can’t see anything from your window/balcony. On the first morning I looked out of the window and saw and 48 people looking at me whilst they eat their breakfast 🤣😢🤣 Also at night the boats run their engines to generate electricity and to circulate cold air and water. The diesel fumes and noise were appalling. We would not sail again with them for those reasons 😢

[@jordonpilling]

I just did an 8 day on the River Main (Mainz to Nuremberg) - with Riviera - there was 41 locks! The big advantage though was water levels - the Rhine was super low and boats were getting stuck (it was even in the BBC news in the UK) but the Main was absolutely fine - presumably thanks to the shear number of locks - also - there was far less traffic - over 8 days we didn’t have to Moore alongside another boat - not even once. I did have to pay early double for my cabin though - brutal pricing.

[@Bobrogers99]

To my recently-retired friends I have suggested river cruising while they are still physically fit. On an ocean cruise the emphasis is on activities on a handicapped-accessible ship. On a river cruise the tours are the primary focus, and many of the historic places that they would want to visit are not easily handicapped-accessible. I have also told them that the smaller the ship, the better. Small tour groups are more intimate and friendly, and they can visit places that cannot cope with mobs of people.

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

Agree- I like the canal cruises; around 20 people, so you get to know everyone.

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

Good summation! Some e.g. Uniworld give a choice of excursion- two or even three options. Noise- choose a cabin that is not too close to the lounge- you walk a bit further, but it is much quieter. I spend little time in the cabin, so usually go for the cheap bottom level- everything is the same except the window view, and much cheaper; so you can take more trips!

[@Michael-Bennett]

A very informative video which confirms many of the concerns I had about river cruises. We will definitely stick to the ocean cruises on the big ships.

[@carolynherrmann9404]

We just did our grand European river cruise by Viking in mid July. It was the most wonderful vacation I’ve had. The excursions and the food were superb. We did have to switch boats seven days in for the final seven days but that was not a real big deal. They worked really hard for us to stay on the boat as long as possible until it just wasn’t feasible anymore. I loved cruising at night and watching the world go by. The upper deck was a fantastic way to view the scenery and the castles as we went by. We really had fun. We are in our 50s so we were on the younger side but that really wasn’t a big deal. I have heard the water levels will continue to be low for a while so River Cruising will have to change with the times I guess. But I would recommend Viking to anyone who wants to take or try a river cruise. The service was exemplary.

[@shellyvick6300]

My husband and I did the Grand European in our early 50's in 2018. We also had to change boats twice, but it wasn't a big deal. For some of the older passengers, Viking even packed and unpacked for them. Definitely check water levels before your cruise. Right now, France is good, but the Rhine and Danube are both really low.

[@amandaslade9072]

That's down to nature and part of River Cruising. Just because you don't like River Cruising, many of us love it. Your comparing apples and oranges aren't you! Stick to ocean Cruising 🛳

[@JT_70]

We did the Viking Grand European in July-August 2 yrs ago and loved it. However, river levels required some changes. Our ship could only go so far upriver because of low water. We were then bussed upstream to a sister ship. Once we reached the Rhine it was closed to all ship traffic so the last 3 days of our journey were via motor coach. Viking took great care of us, handled all our baggage transfers, booked us into excellent hotels, paid for everything and sent us a partial refund afterwards and even refunded part of the prepaid gratuities. We felt bad for those on cruises set to depart after us as both the Rhine and Danube had been closed to ship traffic. A couple of experienced travelers on our boat did not receive their luggage until the last day of the 15-day excursion. It was the airlines’ fault, not Vikings.

[@peterjaro6804]

I can't BELIEVE they are usually sold out well in advance. There are loads of companies offering the same routes on Mosel & Rhine, with LOADS of boats. I can't believe there are still more demand than supply... really?

[@hategoog]

IMO, no need to pay several months in advance. River cruise is overpriced, over hype. Median age > 60. If you started to travel at 20, by the time you are 60, still physically fit, you don't want river cruise.

[@TanukiOfficial]

Thank you so much!! I have always wanted to take a river cruise, but I am now considering not doing one. For the cost, I would expect the food to be exceptional, but it sounds like I'd be going to a school cafeteria. No room service is a hard one too. And I have to be worried about water levels. Great information.

[@shellyvick6300]

I don't think he wanted to imply that the food is bad; just that there aren't multiple restaurants. The food on Viking River Cruises is excellent.

[@robertcolfack26]

I just took a river cruise in America the Mississippi river cruise the American Queen steamboat the big one.... I really enjoyed it I chose it because of it's size it had lots of public spaces on the ship to go to.... The only thing I didn't like about it it was 7 days way too short....I like longer cruises 10 days or longer....I probably will never take a European river cruise but maybe one of those barge canal cruises I saw one that actually had a small swimming pool on it... It held about 10 people with a crew of about 4....

[@patti1044]

Loved our river cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg and it was a bit different from the other European ships as it sails in deeper water so our bottom floor cabin was above the waterline and the window did open. I continue to be amazed when people will plunk down a considerable amount of money for a river cruise but have not taken the time to learn about the limitations/considerations. Next year we will return to Europe to enjoy land vacation as well as river cruise - can't wait.

[@koartravel]

Patti, which river are you looking to do next year?

[@patti1044]

@@koartravel Next year is Budapest to Amsterdam after spending time in Prague and Budapest on our own.

[@TarrelScot]

Gold-plated cattle-herding! Not my scene I'm afraid. Thanks for heading me off at the pass. Looking at the prices, one could do a tour of some of those locations, staying in top class hotels, eating in very good restaurants and travelling by first class rail for less. I know it's not really a fair comparison, but that would be my preference.

[@Tugela60]

Not the point, you get a different point of view from the river than you would on land.

[@TarrelScot]

@@Tugela60 Seems a high price to pay, both financially and in freedom of movement, for that different point of view though.

[@Veterans_for_Harris]

River cruising is soooooo much better than ocean cruising.

[@MichelleWalterdoesArt]

I just saw the Viking Mississippi docked in St. Paul (as that’s where I live)! Much bigger than these European ships (4-5 decks).

[@koartravel]

It definitely is much bigger Michelle. The ship in Europe are define mostly by the lock size which is not an issue on the Mississippi.

[@tonyclemens4213]

Cruised the Rhine, Danube and Nile, yet to do a big boat ocean cruise.

[@oldtwinsna8347]

So these are just expensive, limited distance, floating hotels with prepaid meal options in the cafe. Views in a premium cabin may be great one day but may not be the next if there's a neighboring ship docked literally a few feet parallel to you. Gotcha.

[@hategoog]

expensive because people save all their life to splurge at the last stage of life.

[@melo3555]

One thing that you didn’t mention, was the food. I will tell you that I have never felt so ripped off as I did on an Avalon cruise recently. I am a vegetarian and they had nothing for protein. One night they gave me about $.75 worth of tofu. And the rest of the nights nothing. Everybody else was eating steak and lobster, rack of lamb. And there was nothing for me for protein. I was so disappointed, especially since everything I read they talked about Avalon being all about healthy eating, and that the two chefs owned a vegetarian restaurant. I also attended the meeting about food, where the chefs came and we told them that I was a vegetarian and allergic to shellfish.

[@arribaficationwineho32]

Fine for those who prefer structure.

[@mullstang]

We went in November. Not a Xmas cruise.

[@YoutubeAndRedditModsAreNazis]

You rock Gary Bembridge!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks :-)

[@user-wx9zr8jp4f]

The most BORING cruise we went on was a Viking cruise. On the ship, there was NOTHING to do. Well there was the lounge lizard playing the piano, and a couple of entertainers were brought on, but that was it. And we couldn't use our balcony because the bilge pumps constantly flooded it. NOTHING of TV except Downton Abbey. We do nothing but small ship cruising. There are just no excuses for not having entertainment every night and a fuller TV line up.

[@user-wx9zr8jp4f]

And we are in our early 60's, we were the youngest people not he ship.

[@AbsalomMcVey-i1f]

Calling an employee whose job it is to play the piano in the lounge, a "lounge lizard" is not very kind. Additionally, I'm not on a cruise to see the nightly entertainment, but to see the scenery go by, if we're cruising, and to go on the excursions into towns etc. Although we choose to book suites, we do not use the balconies, as you only see half of the river as it goes by. Much more prefer to go on the sun deck or in the lounge to see both sides of the rivers. Also, we enjoy meeting and talking with the other passengers.

[@lizhoward9754]

Very, very informative.

[@capt2026]

You’re still the best !

[@cassieo]

How would river cruises accommodate families with four children? Would they require parents to split and keep two children each, or are there cabins that sleep four children and two adults in the same space? This is something that prevents us from even considering a cruise-our children have to be in our family cabin. They are all under twelve 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@war-painter]

Viking doesn’t take under 18 years of age

[@Mr.Faris98]

Dobra plata!

[@vickikohler5067]

Are there any Cruise Ships that are more accessible for people with disabilities that use walkers or wheelchairs or do most of them have little accessibility? Thank you. I appreciate your information on the difficulties of getting on and off the River Cruise ships when docking next to another ship and no elevators available. I don't want to call to make a reservation and be told they have everything to accommodate a disabled person just to make a sale and then have problems when I get there. Thanks for any help and advice you can give me.

[@katherinepll]

I am a retired travel agent and have been on three Viking River cruises as well as many,many ocean cruises. I would not recommend a river cruise if you have mobility issues. Most of the European excursions would be a real challenge with lots of group walking, steps, etc. I would love to do another river cruise, but my knees are telling me I couldn’t handle the walking! And there is a lot of walking involved in the tours you have paid for. Ocean cruises offer more options.

[@AbsalomMcVey-i1f]

Let me echo what Katherine said, and in addition, you are in medieval portions of towns with cobblestone streets and steps, lots of steps. Lots of cruise ships do have elevators, and it is possible for you to take a cruise and just stay on the ship. I would enjoy that, but I think I'm unique in that aspect, and I would not recommend Riverboat cruising for you.

[@ClaireBeatty]

Sounds like my idea of hell.

[@phil36310]

mass tourism, no thank you!

[@nigelcartwright5986]

Here we go again, ocean cruise v river cruise, battle lines being drawn. You're on vacation, just enjoy them both. You're a long time dead.

[@bobcochran2890]

We just completed our fifth Viking river cruise in May, Capitals of Eastern Europe. 17 days. We flew into Vienna, flew home from Bucharest. Our stops included Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Novi Sad, Belgrade, Vratsa, Sofia, Pleven, Constanta, and Bucharest. As before, service was outstanding, food was excellent, and our excursions were very good. We opted for the overnight excursion to Sofia, and it was worth every penny. We are in our 70s, but we kept up just fine with the many long walks.

[@artfrontgalleries1818]

Susan and I are dedicated to Viking. They treat us well and tend to compensate us for low or high water levels.. We also tend to arrive at a start point a week before departure and spend time in a city. We usually commit to 2 months at the end of a cruise in a city of our choice and find ways to visit other cities. We are infatuated with Budapest and central/Eastern Europe. We are "Church and Castle tourists looking for museums, history and architecture. We are considering a year in Budapest in 2024. We are in our 70's and need to make the most of our remaining time

[@pfranks75]

We feel the same way.

[@birbluv9595]

How do you deal with the 30-day limit of the post office holding mail? Once I moved away from the house where I was living with my brother (who rarely traveled and could bring in my mail), I haven’t been able to leave home for more than 30 days straight.

[@sjurg192]

Can you offer some “off the beaten path” sites for first time visitors to Budapest? We cruise the Danube with Viking in June. Thanks!

[@artfrontgalleries1818]

@@sjurg192 I District 8, there is the National Cemetery. You will find monumental sculpture from the Hapsburgs through the Soviet occupation. The recently re opened Museum of fine Art at Hero square is wonderful and has mostly English speaking attendants some of whom have returned. from exile in the Bronx. The collection and the quality if curation is at least equal to if not better than the Met in NYC. There is so much in the city that Susan and I spent 3 months there, constantly walking the streets and on our last day, still found things we ad never seen before

[@sjurg192]

@@artfrontgalleries1818 Thank you!

[@devorahanatolia8999]

Very realistic portrayal of river cruising. I do both ocean and river cruises. People often overlook the accessibility issues, especially if they've never been to Europe. Looking forward to my upcoming Christmas cruise thru The Netherlands and Belgium on Tauck. I'm an almost 70 year old female who enjoys solo travel. Cruising to me is the best of both worlds - I can be with others if I want but also have private alone time.

[@paulkoza8652]

So contribute some of your hard earned cash to environmental causes so that future generations can enjoy this the same way you do,.

[@skeller61]

@@paulkoza8652Who says you can’t do both? I notice you replied to the first two comments with the same enviroshaming. Perhaps your time would be better spent picking up trash on a roadway near you?

[@paulkoza8652]

@@skeller61 An egotistical response.

[@Cheeeesseee3678]

​@@paulkoza8652Ironic as your entire unprompted approach here wreaks of arrogance. I guarantee I do significantly more than you to fight both climate change and the horrific destruction of our wider environment.

[@stevevet3652]

I've watched three of your river cruise videos. In everyone you are completely negative against river cruises. By your own words, the river cruises are sold out early. I guess a lot of travels enjoy river cruises. Maybe you should stay with ocean cruises. You come across stuffy. Very stuffy.

[@allanbriggs807]

Im agree. I went on my first River cruise and I was quite aware of many of the possible problems mentioned (eg river heights - tours - accommodation - what was included - limitations. Our travel agent told us most of them, but common sense answers most of the questions. We used the second class of APT and found them excellent. Actually we were the only boat to get through one part. That was actually exciting as we scraped the bottom a couple of times. Some people just too precious.

[@war-painter]

To me Gary comes across as a guy who LOVES ocean cruising and detests river cruises and now is out to tear their playhouse down. Why? It’s really bad karma. Unless he’s just doing his bit for overtourism, which, yeah, it’s getting out of hand, but…..people want to see the world. Theres something magic about a river! Since time immemorial, man has built spiritual shrines where three rivers met. Places like Varanasi, India have been considered holy for thousands of years.

[@veronicwbrennan4002]

Watched several of your thoughts of river cruises. You always seem to come across as very negative. I personally would rather have a river cruise than an ocean. It to me is a much more intimate experience.

[@mullstang]

Completed 3 river cruises and will never go on an ocean cruise again. Planning our 4th for 2025. AMA is upfront with everything, no small print, no hidden information. Much better food than ocean cruises, better excursions, and small number of guests, and we have never seen anyone under the age of 50 as guests.

[@butalina]

NO THANK YOU...a possibility of it turning into a bus tour...that is a game ender for me...I have been on 35 ocean cruises...mostly with Oceania and Celebrity...ABSOLUTELY LOVE Ocean cruises.

[@travelswithatwist307]

Disagree -- comparing Ports and Excursions, there are BIG DIFFERENCES and these include actual sites of mooring. AND, some "stops" with one lines are more "shopping oriented" rather than the ability to see and visit historical sites or sites where you can participate in activities and interests. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE among River Cruise Lines.

[@oceanfroggie]

Good video. Personally we found river cruising less regimented and more relaxing than ocean. Small ships so docked in town and city centres facilitated informal walk on walk off in city centres when ever you felt like it. Less herded by disembarkation logistics in the crowded floating tower block ocean ships.

[@alexbaker7871]

Loving your infovids and looking forward to my Rhine River cruise with Avalon coming up in August this year. I chose Avalon over the other popular cruise lines simply because I travel solo and Viking for instance charge a full double fare, where Avalon discount with a singles supplement making this more attractive for me. Plus the fare includes wine and beer with meals, gratuities, guided tours at every port, the use of bicycles and much more to attract me. Gary one small thing for future videos, you mentioned prices in dollars! You didn’t say whether you meant AUD, US$ or another $ currency. Coming from Australia it’s often a struggle when narrators use narrative which is irrelevant to us especially in the southern hemisphere. Dates are another issue, 1/8 v 8/1, it’s so much easier if we got used to using letters for the month. I love giving positive feedback, so please forgive me this small transgression.

[@kevintunnicliffe2181]

So glad you mentioned the "myth" of "all-inclusive". Tere are so many different interpretations of the term it is largely meaningless. As you said, read the small print and find out what you are getting and equally what you are not.

[@julieolson9832]

I’ve been on one river cruise. It became a bus tour, moving us to a different Viking boat when the river wasn’t deep enough. We also got bused to our last port, Amsterdam via Rotterdam. Which is a fascinating place to visit. But I’d rather we’d been able to stay on the first boat. The food was better than the others.

[@aureliacornelia79adgracchu29]

This is what puts me off river cruises. I want to be on the water; not on a bus!

[@ameliaerin1544]

Life is tough!

[@davidturk6170]

Simply put, river cruising is not ocean cruising, so to compare the two disengenuous. Ocean cruising is an experience. River cruising is essentially a mobile hotel that you leave in the morning and pick up at night. Obviously, there are exceptions, but if you have that mind set, you’ll do ok.

[@sharonh2991]

Our friends went on a river cruise last summer and were very disappointed when the entire cruise had to be reworked due to water lever. Instead of cruising they were put on a bus and stayed in hotel rooms in each stop. They still had a fun time but they never even stepped foot on the boat.

[@paulkoza8652]

This is going to be a reoccuring theme. River cruising with climate change is going to be a challenge. Gary is ignoring this point completely.

[@christinehore4624]

@@paulkoza8652 The water levels have been a problem for 20 years. This happened with my aunt when she used to go to Europe. So climate so no issue back then.

[@NerdsTravels]

Ugh. Stop trying to cater to kids on adult centric itineraries.

[@Ahuka]

This is a fair assessment. We just did our second Viking cruise, and we love it, but we are around 70, and like the structure. It is more expensive, so we can do one about once every three years. We also have very restrictive diets, and have found Viking to be extremely responsive in giving us exactly what we need.

[@GardenGuy52]

Kevin, how much lead time did u give Viking about your restrictive dining?

[@Ahuka]

@@GardenGuy52 When we made the reservation some months in advance (FAll 2021 for a ruise last June), I went to the MyViking web site, entered my reservation number, and then checked a box for "Diabetic diet". Then when I got on the ship I talked to the Maitre'd, and told him specifically what I needed. He listened, then assigned me to a specific server who knew just what we needed and made sure we got it every night. I really could not have asked for more. On a previous cruise in 2019, the Maitre'd would sit down with us at breakfast, go over the menu for dinner, and arrange substitutions as needed. Again, perfect service. We are happy enough to have just started preparations for another cruise with them in a few years time.

[@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042]

I wonder if a 70+ could handle a Viking River cruise if they ambulate very slowly with a cane?

[@Ahuka]

@@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042 I don't think that is a happy combination. Most of the Viking excursions are based on walking, in my experience. I have only done 2 cruises with them, but it was consistent on both (Rhine and Danube).

[@paulkoza8652]

Well, at least you weren't put on a cattle car to Auschwitz. Stop complaining.

[@OrioleBeagle]

Have you considered going on an American river cruise such as on the Mississippi or the Chesapeake Bay? Several years ago they used a river cruise ship as a temporary dormitory for St Mary's College (in St Mary's County Maryland) because they were treating mold issues in the dormitories. The college is on the banks of a river.

[@donkiml5805]

Very good comments and observations about river cruising. We did an Avalon Waterway land and cruise tour from Prague to Budapest. It was one of our most favorite cruises. My husband and I like the in-depth culture experiences. We had the best activity Director, and the food and wine was local and wonderful. You get to meet more people on a smaller cruise. We booked the low deck room because we we out and about, viewing from the deck or lounge. Love Avalon Waterway.

[@annebotterill7971]

Same here. Great company. The biking excursions are great

[@leslieselder116]

Love your videos, Gary! Very succinct & informative. We did a Viking Holland/Belgium river cruise in June. It had been postponed twice due to Covid, so much anticipated. I’d researched all things “river cruise” beforehand, so no big surprises. Your analysis is correct; generally older people (we’re active early 60’s), small cabins, limited dining etc. Expensive too. Except for a few rushed tours & one port that was unimpressive, we had a good time.

[@cherifurr3935]

One tip I’d give is that July was VERY crowded in port, especially Vienna.

[@julieolson9832]

So was August, especially in the smaller towns.

[@Jimmy-Mc]

If multiple ships dock at the same time, the tourist sites will be packed.

[@Ape4Apes]

Hi, Gary. Look forward to your video each week. One thing I have not seen mentioned is limited access to the sun deck. I did the 2-week Grand European tour on Viking in 2018. For at least the first week we were not allowed access to the upper deck while we were under way because the railings were down. Probably a water-level issue to ease passage under bridges, but it was not discussed. Just, “Stay off sun deck!” PS After two Covid-related cancellations (2021 & 2022), I am eagerly awaiting my first Saga ocean cruise experience next May.

[@Jimmy-Mc]

I love the idea of river cruises, but as a young adult solo traveller, it just doesn't make sense when you compare it to something like a Eurail pass.

[@paulkoza8652]

These cruises are for old foggy baby boomers. You are better off on your own.

[@war-painter]

Here here! It’s only when you get ancient and arthritic that river cruising begins to look vaguely attractive. I’m used to boats and stairs don’t bother me at all. My problem is aimless standing around with nothing to occupy my mind. Mind you, I can no longer walk five miles in a day, so if the excursions are demanding, I’m out. But until I was 73, I wouldn’t step foot on a ship with more than twenty people on it. Even now, my limit is 200 people on a ship. Cruise ships give me the heebie jeebies.

[@Graygeezer]

When we planned our river cruises with Viking, we asked about water levels and when were the best time to visit Kukenhof Gardens near Amsterdam. We had no problems with water levels and had a spectacular time. Planning, research, and the advice of experts like Gary here are the keys.

[@charliegr202]

We went on our 1st Viking Cruise this year and absolutely loved it. I don't like crowds and the ocean cruises, for me, were much too crowded. The river cruise, with less passengers is perfect for me. Plus found it much easier to converse with others.

[@allanbriggs807]

Same here.

[@davidszakacs6888]

I’ve watched several of your river cruise reviews. You’re obviously an ocean cruiser. I suggest you stick to reviews of ocean cruises because of your bias. We’ve done both and aren’t as critical as you are of river cruises. Oh, and why do you insist on always wearing jeans on cruises? You look strange.

[@kjh789az]

Thanks for this important information. The points about an excursion-based approach and impact of water levels are so important and easily overlooked by those used to ocean cruising. I imagine if we saw data about the extent of itinerary changes due to low water levels for the very hot summer 2022, we' d be shocked. Ocean cruises sometimes change routes to avoid bad weather or port issues, but this rarely seems so significant in my view, as the whole ocean cruise experience is less constrained.

[@kymjepson28]

Hi Your pricing is a bit off for us who live in Australia we have a starting price from $5.995.00AUD per person then it goes up to $14.995.00 pp and above and that is for 90% of the cruise companies but some being even more expensive plus the price varies with the time of year you may wish to cruise and that can change by over a $1000 per more pp in the space of a couple of days

[@brandikorte8151]

I’m curious to know, since you’ve river cruised so much, if you’ve ever done any of the more budget-friendly river cruises to compare them to the more luxury river cruise experiences?

[@rojackson4843]

Very helpful analysis. I have thought about doing a river cruise, but for the price I think I will stick with ocean cruises for now.

[@irishinusa1615]

Agree with you. We think same

[@nancyoffenhiser4916]

Try an American Cruise lines trip on the Mississippi River! Viking now has a ship on the Mississippi but it's double sized and double the cost. The American Melody is a lovely ship.

[@cliffnorman178]

Many thanks for the wonderful video. My wife and I have been looking at the possibility of river cruising, but after watching your video we have decided that it is the very last thing we would like to do. Thank you for enlightening us. We will stick to ocean cruising.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for watching and your support, as always! River cruises are not for everyone and great this helped....

[@allanbriggs807]

We are the opposite. prefer River cruising to ocean cruising

[@annebotterill7971]

A very negative article trying almost to put ppl off. We’ve had three perfect river cruises in the last year. Tge best think is there’s always places to explore. No boring days at sea and you are only sharing the ship with a hundred it so other people not thousands like an ocean cruise.

[@war-painter]

Gary is helping efficiently rid the planet of overtourism by herding all the humans onto large cruise ships where y’all can eat and drink and entertain yourselves while staring at the ocean. Less crowds to contend with at the historic sites in Europe this summer and along her lovely waterways. Thank you Gary for disincentivizing river cruising, we will enjoy our summer nevertheless.

[@cherifurr3935]

I was lucky in July 2019 that water levels were perfect on the Danube from Budapest to Prague.

[@luizucchetto2528]

Great video and very accurate. What this type of cruising real appeal is to a first time traveller to Europe and wants a guided experience. We personally enjoyed our river cruise very much and it showed us want places that we really wanted to revisit again.

[@cherifurr3935]

Thanks for the tips on this subject, Gary. Am considering a river cruise right now. Already running into many “sold out” dates in 2023!

[@tipsfortravellers]

yes, they are going to be really popular next year!!! Especially as water levels were so bad this year many people I assume cancelled and moved to next

[@koartravel]

Cheri, I agree with Gary, plus with all the remnants from the backlog of the pandemic cancellations, 2023 is filling up quickly. What time of the year were you looking to river cruise in 2023 Cheri?

[@jps1179]

Loved the Rhine cruise we did in April. But did not love being left behind by the guide in Holland. Had to get a taxi to the next port.

[@viktorm1883]

ABC cruising "Another bloody castle or Another bloody cathedral"

[@bryanitz8401]

Thanks for the candid look at river cruising Gary!! We just returned from a late July/early August Danube River Cruise with Avalon beginning in Budapest and heading upriver. On the first night, we were told that the ship could not make it to our final port of Passau due to low water upstream. Passengers were offered the option to leave and be reimbursed for the unused days. Nobody left. Avalon then included another stop in Bratislava and set up tours at the spur of the moment which was very nice. We ended the river portion in Regensberg and were then bused to Prague for the conclusion of our cruise/land tour. We chose Avalon based on your videos. The cabin with the big sliding door and no real balcony was wonderful as it gave us extra living space in the cabin. The food was amazing. Our cruise director, Danielle, went above and beyond for all guests. NOW, for the SNAFU!!! We booked on an airfare promotion, which as we found out, took away all decision making on our flights from us and our travel agent and put them in complete control of Globus. It seemed like every month, we would get updates to our flights being changed. Our FINAL itinerary had us flying from DFW to Atlanta, then to Paris, then to Budapest. We noted that the allotted connection time in Atlanta was ONLY 50 minutes. I told my wife, if our plane is delayed leaving DFW, we won't make our overseas flight and even if we make it to Atlanta, there is NO WAY our luggage will get from our first flight to the overseas flight. I and our travel agent called Globus numerous times to try and get us on an earlier flight from DFW to Atlanta just to give the baggage a better chance of making the connection. We were continually told that there were contracts with the airlines that had to be followed. We even offered to pay for an earlier flight which was denied by Globus. Well, we made all of our flights BUT in Budapest, we had no luggage. Since we were in Budapest several days, we were told it would be delivered to our hotel which never happened. The ship left and we headed upriver. I provided a docking location for Vienna and were told the bags would be delivered there. Never happened. We shopped in Budapest and Vienna for clothes, shoes and personal items which was fine. The ship washed our clothes free of charge which was also fine. On the Saturday, while in Prague, before we were leaving to fly home, I got a call from the DFW airport that my wife's luggage was at the airport. I told them we would pick it up when we arrived on the following Monday. Then on Sunday, while in Prague, I got an email stating MY luggage was out for delivery to our home!!! Long story short, our luggage made it home before we did. HA!!! It apparently traveled from Dallas Fort Worth to Atlanta to Paris to Budapest back to Paris then to Detroit then to Atlanta then back to Dallas Fort Worth!!! We have filed with the airline and are now waiting for some sort of reimbursement for the expenses we incurred to be clothed and clean while we spent 13 days in Europe with no luggage. I will NEVER book travel again without the ability to be involved in the flight booking process. There was no semblance of Risk Management/Aversion taken by Globus. Who books a 50 minute layover for a connecting international flight? I certainly expected better service considering the cost of this trip.

[@mlcs179]

This was very helpful, thanks for the warning. I would be so stressed about the flights it would make it hard to enjoy the trip. Well done.

[@maryfettig3378]

We had similar experience. Viking changed our flight without even asking us if it would work. We paid extra to be on same flight with in laws. You guessed it they put us on separate flights on way home. We drove to the airport together! After much confusion we got on same flight a day later. Expected better viking!

[@kimberlyberlin4999]

I'm so glad I read your comment. I will be sure to book our own airfare. I can't imagine a 13 day trip with only the clothes on your back. My husband and I always travel carry-on only when we go abroad but being on a ship and not having to pack and unpack every few days I am considering bringing checked luggage.

[@carly4513]

My daughter had a similar snafu recently flying Lufthansa, where they changed her flight and gave her a 50 minute layover in Frankfurt Germany (flying to Budapest). Before she could even try to catch the flight, they told her she'd missed her connection and they rebooked her 5 hours later, arriving in Budapest at 10:30 at night instead of that morning, thus missing a day of vacation. The airlines are brutal these days. But what I wanted to say was you should buy an airtag for your luggage. This allowed her to notice that her luggage didn't move from where she checked it in. At the last moment, she showed it to the flight attendant who miraculously got her luggage loaded on the plane and it arrived with her. I should say she booked these flights herself. (You still don't have any control because flights are generally full.) It ended up taking her 36 hours to go from Boston to Budapest. At least she had her luggage.

[@paulkoza8652]

I didn't read all of this, but anyone who thinks that river cruising in EU is the same as it was is kidding themselves. Climate change will kill the industry, and I'm not shedding any tears.

[@nevkrisjackson8065]

I booked a river cruise for my husband & I but sadly my darling died January 2022. I have a friend coming with me. We leave from Regensburg this Saturday cruise to Budapest

[@maxstuder6477]

We live in Basle, Switzerland, and make every year five to six cruises in off season and pay between 90$ and 140$ (per person) for 3 to 4 day trips. (Mostly from Basle to Strasbourg.) We love it.

[@robertbeaty4088]

Why have you never mentioned TAUCK river cruises? I know that they are an american line so not so well known to Europeans, biut I think you should know about them since you only talk about cruises. They are , in my opinion, the best river cruise line. Granted all cruise lines go to the same cities but Tauck gives you better experiences, such as after hours tours of many museums etc. Also, there are evening meals in special places, such as a palace in Vienna the pre and post cruise hotels are excellent, such as the Gresham Palace in Budapest. I think that you need to try them if you haven't because I think you are missing one of the best cruises, I think much better than Viking.

[@AbsalomMcVey-i1f]

I know Tauck is better than viking. Also Uniworld and Ama Waterways are better than Viking.

[@war-painter]

Gary never mentioned Tauck in any of his videos and you notice there’s never any Tauck ships showing in his photos either. Telling.

[@ponderosapondhomestead4344]

Thanks for sharing this information with us! I am considering a river cruise and this gives me some things to consider.

[@cherifurr3935]

Look at Grand Circle Tours - they have great visits to local schools and meals with a local family in the morning or afternoon and usually three guides from three different countries who give really interesting port talks at night.

[@tomdrewenskus8167]

My wife and I took a Viking cruise on the Elbe (Prague to Potsdam) in 2015 when there were extremely low water levels. We spent half the cruise on a ship docked in Dresden, and the other half on an identical sister ship docked further up the river. Each day we did bus tours (with packed lunches) to numerous sites of interest, and returned to the ship for dinner, evening programs, and breakfast the next day. We actually enjoyed the daily itineraries, and the bus took us to many more locations than a cruising ship could have. Halfway through the trip we packed up and moved to the sister ship. For the inconvenience of not cruising we were given a $1000usd credit per person to use on any Viking cruise booked within 12 months. So, we booked a lovely 2016 early December Viking cruise on the Danube (Budapest to Passau) in order to see the Christmas markets. We enjoyed both of these cruises immensely. Combined cost of these two cruises per person was less than $3000usd. We used frequent flyer miles to pay for our airfares.

[@josephgaviota]

Very informative. I was thinking about a river cruise; this was enlightening.

[@kcvail7409]

Some of really do prefer river cruises to the huge ocean going ones

[@Geoduck.]

My gosh we had no idea the cost of river curses! Informative, thank you Gary.

[@MattTaylor-vj3up]

Thank you for sharing these helpful tips!!! I have two questions: 1) Is there a better time of year to book a Danube river cruise to try to avoid issues with high or low water levels? 2) Would you please consider posting a review of Gate1 and TUI river cruises? These seem to offer good value - but I don't see much information about them online. Thanks again - my wife and I have now taken about half of your ten best ocean cruises and have really enjoyed this experience much more because of all your helpful tips and suggestions. We are now starting to think about a river cruise on the Danube. Best Wishes!!!

[@cynthiacrouch7921]

Have you ever taken an American river cruise? I'm interested in one that goes down the Snake River in Idaho through to the Columbia and out to the Pacific Ocean. I haven't seen any reviews about American cruises and I'm curious. The European cruises sound wonderful except for the limited mobility options. Happy Sailing!

[@billboggs6641]

I enjoyed my Viking river cruise very much but had one complaint. Usually I have no problem waiting for dinner, but on some occasions I would get a little hungry at say 2 or 3 in the afternoon and there was no access to food like on the big cruise ships.

[@philq01]

One question I have is I am on a strict diet (Whole food Plant Based -low sodium-low sugar) Do any of these river cruising companies offer whole food plantt-based meals?

[@paulkoza8652]

Thanks Gary, as always. My comments. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Do your homework. Really, do you think I care about your limitations? I probably would not want to hang out with you anyway. The European waterways are drying up, so you better book your voyage now. And better in the spring while the water levels are high, otherewise book a bus tour.

[@arfabarmcake2776]

Thanks for the interesting points you have made, very helpful 👍

[@kencarruthers6714]

River and Ocean cruising in my experience are as different as chalk and cheese. Both can be very enjoyable but they’re not the same sort of holiday experience.

[@michaellove4131]

Thank you for that. You made it perfect, mentioning almost everything that I hate about a river cruise.

[@edegidijuskas4030]

It is customary to tip. Waiter, steward. 300 eur for two, 7 days is about norm, or 20-25 eur for waiter a day.

[@maryfettig3378]

Viking is not for us. For the money disappointed

[@Dan-oj4iq]

This information is all I needed to ever know that I would never take one of these cruises. So for me the video is a great success.

[@corner559]

Your video is good but some of your info simply isn't true on river cruises outside of Europe which you don't even mention.

[@hugoglenn9741]

What time of year are most constrained by river levels Spring Summer or late fall

[@well-blazeredman6187]

I suppose that one of the advantages of European river cruising is that you're always within coverage of your UK GHIC. Another: if you miss the boat's sailing you can probably catch up with it again, without too much drama.

[@owensmith7530]

Gary didn't mention that some river cruise ships (APT, Scenic, Riviera) have a lower sun deck half a deck down, and others (Viking, Amadeus) do not with all the decks on one level. I prefer the lower sun deck design of ship, each staircase in the atrium is only half a flight long (good for people with mobility issues) and the lower sun deck stays open even when sailing under low bridges (though the crew ensure you stay sat down). This matters much more on the Main and Danube than it does on the Rhine for example

[@carlmarks7448]

Excellent presentation. Fair, honest and informative. Just took a Danube with Viking in August via a last minute flash sale at incredible savings with French balcony. Booked the Rhine with Viking for summer 2023.

[@koartravel]

Very well put Gary. In fact, I was just talking about water levels in my video from last week. It definitely is the bane of existence for the river cruise lines. Thank you for this video.

[@joemichaels4231]

Thank you for this video!!! I love all of your work!!! You just saved a HUGE fight between my wife and I.