River Cruising Wasn't What I Expected. Here’s Why

[@lafsop]

The HUGE difference between a bus tour and river boat you didn't mention....no unpacking and repacking! It's awesome.

[@ScaryGamesInMyHeart]

I didn’t think of that… That’s one of the main drawbacks for me when I’m on a regimented tour is always having to pack up and leave each day… But I don’t think I would mind the regimented schedule as much if I could just leave my stuff in my room…

[@rockets4kids]

Got kind of tired packing and unpacking Town to town and up and down the dial Maybe you and me were never meant to be But baby think of me once in awhile

[@pookiecatblue]

@@rockets4kids I'm at WKRP in Cincinnati. 🎵

[@larrybarnett5799]

@@pookiecatblue old school

[@LHLK-q2v]

Do people unpack I just live out of the suitcase

[@alexremkes7591]

Absolutely loved our river cruise. So much history, entertainment, socializing and different cultures. Among meeting and making lifetime friends. Plus calm waters and spectacular scenery. So much better than any sea cruise we've been on. River cruises any time!!

[@duncanmacisaac3749]

Yup. Did the Scenic European River cruise. LOVED it. Want to do the one in Portugal! No interest in doing a cruise ship cruise.

[@Scocia]

You sold me on “no sea sickness, no entertainment and small group of people”. I’m in! I like quiet and peaceful!

[@tomcal25]

Just finished a Danube River cruise with Viking. Best vacation ever. No kids, no drunks, no waiting on line for buffet, no rock-climbing wall, no overpriced drinks, no whining gambling losers, no rough seas. Choice of Excellent shore excursions showing culture of each county you visit, Prague, Passau, Vienna, Budapest. Friendly, polite people. Can't wait to do another river cruise on the Rhine. And NO cattle car mentality.

[@johnryman-f3c]

sounds really boring and ultimate middle class bore

[@tomcal25]

@@johnryman-f3c Sorry you can't afford it. Re-financing your single wide might help you.

[@Heretic10001]

@@tomcal25Brilliant reply, right on the mark. Love it!!!

[@BrigitofBergental]

This sounds much more like my kind of thing - I have no interest in hanging out on a floating hotel-casino for days on end. I want to see historic sites and museums.

[@Milesco]

Me too! :-)

[@caeligood6607]

I know... duh...

[@pattid8729]

Perhaps you’ve not been on the right kind of cruise. I would suggest Oceania ocean cruises. No children, no gigantic casinos, 1200 - 1500 people, very manageable. The river cruises sound very much like a bus tour. We like to manage our own activities, not to be pigeonholed into what their limited activities are.

[@judeirwin2222]

There are smaller ocean going vessels, you know, with knowledgeable lecturers and guides to historic or cultural places. Noble Caledonia springs to mind. I would never, ever take a cruise on one of those giant, ugly floating hotel things. Ugh.

[@deborahsmith403]

I'm quite introverted and have done 2 European river cruises with Avalon Waterways and can't recommend them enough. I'm a history geek and loved being able to visit so many interesting places without spending days traveling between cities. Only having 110-120 people on a ship was wonderful and the staff were brilliant - they worked out I was a quiet person and found me a nice quiet corner in the restaurant but still fussed over me to make sure I had everything I wanted. You can eat in the smaller panorama lounge if you want rather than the restaurant plus there is another lounge with all day coffee/tea/juice, fruit and snacks. I was also able to do my own thing rather than join the group tours a couple of times - the cruise director will help you plan. These cruises are for adults so there arent any loud excitable children.

[@hewaschuk]

I hope your video does not discourage people from going on a river cruise - they are great!

[@davidhatton583]

No worries… it doesn’t. Just reinforces my plan to never ocean cruise Ever

[@brendasoares4442]

Puts me off ocean cruise now need to do a river cruise

[@jerrygerloff1126]

My wife and I did 3 Viking river cruises. We love them. The small intimate group of pleasant people on each cruise was great. We liked the crews on each ship, the food, ease of disembarking and returning to the ship.Everything was very efficient and well organized, from the minute they greeted us at the airport when we flew in to the moment they dropped us at the airport for our return flight home. No noisy casino, no screaming children. Lots of pampering. we could learn some culture and history of the visited regions.

[@larsrons7937]

Same here. I can only recommend river cruises and encourage people to do them. But all the things the narrator complained about (and I myself would enjoy) are really things I would look into before bying the ticket so I knew what to expect - or alternatively be open and appreciating whatever experience the trip would give me. I don't think I could ever do a trip and then complain, unless something was completely the opposite of what was promised in details.

[@larrymartin9556]

@@larsrons7937 check out Viking you know exactly what you will be doing every day all day

[@larsrons7937]

@@larrymartin9556 Viking sounds like a good experience to me. And of course you can always do something different than planned, as long as it fits within the boats schedules (that's how it is with boats).

[@studentoftheword6115]

I love everything you said. Especially about the airport arrival and drop off. Woooo. Needed to know that!

[@bookgirlny8511]

Sounds wonderful. Maybe one day… I’m an English teacher, but I love history

[@lrajek3389]

I'm sorry, dear, but the very things you lambast are what attracts me to the river cruises. In the 70s and 80s, I hitched all over Europe, staying in youth hostels and tiny B n Bs, but am now widowed and somewhat disabled. An ocean cruise with 3000 drunk strangers and their unsupervised brats is my idea of Hell. I love culture and history, not gorging at 15 buffets or listening to children scream on a go-cart track. I also enjoy feeling safe, which does not happen among thousands of people confined to one floating monstrosity.

[@marykay8587]

😂 unsupervised brats....geez!

[@samsdaughterdehaven9990]

30 or 40 years ago, my sister-in-law came back from an ocean cruise with her girl friends. They laughed at how one of them had sex with an employee and it sounded like the most immoral type of vacation that I would have never have imagined. Well, you just might as well to to Sodom or Gomorrah and vacation if that's your lifestyle choice and what you find to be fun. Plus, gambling. It's an excuse for many to be completely decadent and feel like it's justified in their sight.

[@felsenruh]

? Mr. Bembridge was very, very clear about the pros and cons of river cruising. He didn't criticize or lambast; he merely pointed out differences.

[@janetwhite7786]

@@marykay8587 What, you dont recognize the words? Im totally down with her viewpoint. But then, im old as well.

[@janetwhite7786]

Totally agree with you. I love history and architecture and it sounds wonderful to my husband and me.

[@wendysmith8365]

My husband and I enjoyed a Viking River Cruise with two other couples and thoroughly enjoyed it. We were older and the pace was just right for the 6 of us. We toured the Rhine River all the way to Switzerland, stopping in lovely towns during the day and traveling at night. The food was outstanding, the nightly entertainment great, and the villages we visited wonderful. I would HIGHLY recommend it for adults; children would not be interested.

[@tomdalton4293]

People complain about going through the canal locks, that would be my favorite part!

[@elizabethroessner8487]

I would love to go through a lock. As a child, I watched the boats go through the lock in Kittanning. Pa. across the river from my Grandma's house. 😊

[@jzero53]

I did a Panama Canal cruise and the day going thru the locks from east to west was so much fun and amazing!

[@louisehenderson5798]

@@jzero53 I agree. It was fascinating seeing how the locks worked.

[@SteveandLizDonaldson]

My wife and I did a Viking Danube cruise and really enjoyed it. Our approach: each evening we would look at the schedule for the next day, and very often that day we would eat breakfast aboard the ship, have a detailed conversation with the concierge (always knowledgeable and had city maps we could take) including subways use, etc, then we would head out on our own for the day, to be back on the ship for dinner. The only real cost was lunch out on our own in the city, plus we enjoyed finding local restaurants, and not having to rush back to eat.

[@MsJackRyan]

What a Debbie Downer. I have, as many other commenters here have, taken many river cruises and absolutely loved them all. It put me off ocean cruises, even the Viking ones, forever.

[@RobAlfieri]

I’ve taken two Viking River Cruises and it was amazing. It’s all about experiencing a different city every day. For people who love history, architecture, culture, and food it is perfect. We filled our days with tours and explored on our own. Planning a Viking Ocean Cruise next year. The company is wonderful.

[@philipnorman2861]

G' day Rob, my beautiful wife and I have done two Scenic river cruises - South West France and Portugal. Brilliant ! Some of what the reviewer said applys, but we had much more choice. Yep, set meal times, but they were generous in length of time. So people would come and go as they pleased. Also, room service would bring you a snack or meal pretty much any time. We would sometimes enjoy breakfast in the dining area at 9:00-ish, sometimes at 11:00-ish. Whatever we felt like. Always plenty of options for guided tours most days as well. Highly recommend Scenic. Best wishes.

[@1SCme]

There isn't a lot in common between river and ocean cruising - perhaps the biggest difference is that *on an Ocean cruise the attraction most of the time is on the ship, on a river cruise the attraction is the stops and the scenery off the ship* as it cruises.

[@markmiller3279]

@@1SCme It depends a lot on the size and kind of ship you're on. There are ocean cruise ships just as small as river cruise ships, with 100-200 passengers. These are mostly luxury ships with most things included. They have minimal onboard entertainment, often nothing more than a pianist or maybe a combo in the lounge. There are often no casinos.

[@1SCme]

@@markmiller3279 Those definitely aren't the norm, I suspect have fewer stops (the attractions and entertainment on river cruises, 2 to 3 stops a day). River cruises offer entertainment beyond piano and a bar most evenings (it is cheaper, the entertainment embarks and disembarks at stops, canal gates, or they will pause at a dock without tying up). If you take an ocean cruise ship and remove the on-board entertainment, then why not just stay at a luxury resort?

[@woodwaker1]

@Raymond Carver The food is great (two Viking cruises )

[@beverlymorgan2433]

I’ve done 2 Viking Cruises and found it was easy to go off my own and explore. No one questioned me and it was fabulous. I definitely prefer river cruising over ocean cruising. No children was a plus!

[@raew5263]

Thank you for commenting. I keep asking myself, “Do they force you to go out w/the group?” I mean, it should be an option - especially if you want some solitude w/nature etc. 🙏🏻

[@hurst-cs2jh]

Hi Beverly, how are you doing?

[@terrym4840]

River boats are great!. Viking is fantastic, the no kids part really is a plus. No gambling , its relaxing and no loud music blaring. Great service, food and options. This guy in the video likes Disney cruses I bet.

[@marybusch6182]

@@raew5263 The tours are not that long so you still have time to explore on your own. We ate at a great restaurant in Passau where the rivers meet.

[@joansmith5870]

No kid's!!! Hallelujah!

[@ashe48]

Our riverboat cruise was such a pleasure. Passengers & staff were friendly and most accommodating. Excursions and meals were organized to make the most of our eight days. We made our choices prior to sailing. The crew did all the rest. Seeing and learning about history and culture in elegant comfort made for wonderful memories.

[@BarryGrove]

Dont go on them ,and stop whinging.

[@ashe48]

@@BarryGrove Whining?

[@rod_at_adelaide5766]

@@ashe48 I think he meant the the guy who posted this video not you, I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise 😊😊

[@VanessaJohnson-g7f]

​@@ashe48winge is British/UKspeak for whining.

[@joanmyers3941]

​@@ashe48nope, whinging. England's version of whining and moaning.

[@PowerfulTruth]

Appreciate your perspective here. AND: We have had nothing but exceptional experiences with our Viking River Cruises, and have made lifelong friends on the smaller boats of both Viking and Windstar. We can no longer imagine - nor desire - having the experience again of those massive Ocean Cruises of the other Cruise Lines around the world. We like the intimacy of these smaller boats, and the caliber of the guests as seasoned travelers and exclusively adults. The pace is leisurely, the Tours have been very good and immersive, and the boat’s amenities are customized to the people and tastes who are their core customers. Simply cannot go back to the Big Boats. We have been spoiled by Viking and Windstar.

[@dianefalk8915]

I just returned from a Viking ocean cruise. Fabulous! Lots of amenities, excellent food and enrichment lectures. No casino, no children. 880 people so quite manageable. Excellent entertainment too. We have already signed up for another one.

[@Roc1948]

Different strokes for different folks! We loved the river boat cruise much more than the ocean cruise.

[@A.Cheevers_Co.]

Thanks for pointing out the differences. Great information! You've provided a valuable service to travelers. I'm not a "joiner" so thanks for helping me avoid an expensive mistake. As you said, neither type cruise is better, just different strokes for different folks. Smooth sailing,everyone!

[@michaelbaker2552]

I've been on seven Viking River cruises and really enjoyed them. The ship usually cruises at night and ties up at a different town each morning. You go tour the city and then return to the ship which leaves in the evening to move to the next town. It's like having your hotel always there.

[@jerrygerloff1126]

An not having to pack and unpack at each new destination.

[@mothmagic1]

Cruising at night defeats the object n my opinion. The whole idea is to motor sedately along enjoying watching the world go by.

[@jerrygerloff4322]

@@mothmagic1 ocean cruise ship sail from port to port at night too.

[@mothmagic1]

@@jerrygerloff4322 sorry I thought someone got the wrong idea about river cruises

[@annebenn353]

@@mothmagic1 and the scenery.

[@JBass33]

Another great video, Gary. My wife and I had been on a number of ocean cruises (Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, etc.) and we decided to go on our first river cruise in 2019. It was an Emerald cruise down the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel. It was the best cruising experience we’ve ever had. It was relaxing, fun, and educational. No cattle calls to get on/off the ship, assemble for meals, etc. There were no packed elevators and big crowds. All port tours were included in the price and you could choose from easy tours to more strenuous tours. If you didn’t want to go on a particular tour, then you simply didn’t go. All the tour guides were good. You could easily see the scenery on both sides of the ship at the same time from pretty much any part of the ship. It was so relaxing to watch cities, towns, cathedrals, castles, windmills, etc. glide by. No boring days at sea. No on-board shops. No miles to walk and multiple decks to traverse to get to your room, or to meals, or to get on/off the ship. The food was good and changed depending on the country we were going through. Our ship was nicely furnished. The only downside was that we once had to walk up and down the slippery outside stairs of another ship in the rain to get to our ship at a stop. People were easy to talk to and become acquainted with. We would go on another river cruise in a heartbeat.

[@happytraveller2122]

Absolutely true. Can't really understand people not enjoying a RC 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[@ruthwickline1000]

Thank you for your comment, now, could you talk my husband into going on one😟…please….

[@happytraveller2122]

@@ruthwickline1000 just book it yourself. I do 😂

[@barbaracronin4164]

James: Thank you for debating point for point. I did not have the patience todo so. I have been watching/following this gentleman for some Time. I TRULY DONT know what caused him to 180 his tone, style, classy “present”, and valuable tips and hacks. I have been on 11 River cruises (actually 10 different - Viking Paris to Normandy (fan girl for Giverney et Monet) and approximately 30 ocean cruises - all lines from Virgin Atlantic to Carnival lol! I don’t like what I saw here and wont watch again

[@debbiet-t.3773]

Boring days at sea ? If you’re bored on a cruise-there’s a problem w/ you-so much to do ! Or perhaps you’re going on a cheapo cruise filled w/ screaming kids & drunks. There are many fine cruises w/ classes to take, lectures, etc. I suggest you try something other than Carnival, like Crystal Cruises, Holland America, etc

[@brickyard4313]

Viking river cruises can’t be beat. Fantastic food, accommodations , and crew members, plus the number of passengers is less than 200.

[@crew-dog2668]

My wife and I never cruised, then we did a Viking river cruise with friends, it was great! We have now done a total of 7 Viking river cruises, and one Viking ocean cruise. The ocean was great as well. Max is 900 people, never felt crowded. No kids, no casino. Have 3 cruises scheduled in the next year.

[@drwirzba]

My husband and I have been on two river cruises and two ocean cruises. We far preferred the river cruises as it was so easy to disembark and see the lovely towns and sites along the river. The food was wonderful and the chance for meeting interesting people was great too.

[@valeriecoopet9897]

I love the intimate size of a river cruise. I also enjoy the scheduled tours because they were included, not an extra purchase for the most part. The tours really suited my needs and interests. It never occurred to me that having scheduled meal times was an issue. I enjoyed the food and the people we ate with at dinner. Lastly, I enjoyed sitting on deck and watching the scenery. No lines, no waiting and a calmer crowd. Never had my time interfered with drunken, loud tourists. I love museums and historical sites and the insights the guides provide.

[@joykennedy6489]

While this report is basically true, it is heavily slated. No casino--great, no shops--great. No endless food everywhere--good. You can get food at off times but gone are the days of decadent overflowing buffets. You go to historic places. If you don't want the free tour--skip it. We arranged our own outing and wandered around Bruge eating mussels and beer. We spent our free afternoons wandering the city, buying from local shops. The lectures we were offered were great, the daily tour very well organized. Maybe some folks need lots of action and distraction. We watched France, Germany, glide by while reading.

[@susie9893]

👍👍👍👍

[@harlessdon]

River cruises are one of my favorite vacations. Smaller, quieter, better class of tourists.

[@susie9893]

That's a kinda snobby way to phrase it but at least you know that most of the ppl on board are there because they're interested in learning the history behind what they're seeing - stuff like that. Not there to party (which doesn't mean: not there to have a good time)

[@AndrewBrak]

As Chuck said most of your "negatives'" are actually positives for many discerning cruisers. So far we've done 5 European river cruises with different operators (we choose what suits our plans) and all were what one can expect: a great holiday, enchanting cities and towns along beautiful landscapes, castles and valleys. On board excellent service, nice food and respectful and interesting fellow travelers. No more ocean cruising for us.

[@bookgirlny8511]

You are really tempting me!

[@inyobill]

Exactly. THe huge ships with thousands of people om board is a negative for me.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

These are all subjective judgements. Great that you enjoyed it so much, but that’s you. I wouldn’t choose one based on this, because I cannot stand to be regimented with a schedule. I also don’t want to hang out with people who feel the need to describe themselves as discerning when someone else expresses a different view. These cruises take decision making off you - how do you evolve and grow when you’re locked in like that? Restrictive environments are not my cup of tea, but you can enjoy nonetheless,

[@helenabennet3997]

Took two, Rhine (favorite) and Danube Christmas time River cruises. Yup,got cold but hot GULL WINE SAVED THE DAY! Loved the souvenir mugs. The excursions were great and the guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Was scheduled for a Portuguese river cruise but COVID cancelled those plans🤬

[@inyobill]

@@helenabennet3997 No dis, "Glu (pronounced approximately 'glue') wine" I make typos too. The Advent season in Germany is a ton of fun, especially the Weihnachtsmaerkte in the old castles!

[@aninasalerno-aita2341]

Everything he said makes me want to try a river cruise. I did two ocean cruises, and I didn’t like the huge size of the ships, or the many hours we spent at sea with nothing to see but the sea.

[@lisaluciani5676]

I’ve been on a few river cruises. Every one of them was fabulous. I recommend them.

[@ahwhite2022]

All that footage of the Donau... I miss it so. Would love to do one of those long river cruises. Used to watch those boats go by so often.

[@mothmagic1]

Do it, I'm sure you won't be sorry. My wife and I have done one on the Rhein and enjoyed every minute of it. We have no interest in ocean cruises because it always looks like a floating version of the local town centre.

[@karynbenson6318]

@@mothmagic1 The last few ocean cruises I have done have been on small ships for that very reason, and we have chosen cruises that are in port nearly every day. Glad to hear you enjoyed the Rhine. We are booked to go on that next year.

[@hollyharris711]

I enjoyed my 2 river cruises

[@chuckd2483]

Most of the things you described as negative I found to be positive. On ocean cruises, the crowds of 3,000+ were overwhelming, with many of them being obnoxious drunkards. On one ocean cruise, there was one woman so drunk that as she laid out on the sun deck she urinated a huge puddle under her chair. Well after the fact a crew member came along and led her off to her room while another was relegated to cleaning her mess. The value of smaller ships is that guests get to know one another and that tends to minimize confrontations and other sour situations common to ocean cruises. I can get along well without the constant bombardment of clanging casinos and garish entertainment. Many times it is more comforting to side up to a good book. Some of us are so well-rounded that we do not need constant outside stimulus. We can create our own stimuli.

[@woodwaker1]

Well explained and so true

[@nsloane5384]

YES! I’ve been on 3 ocean cruises and quite often retired to my cabin to get away from the rowdy drunks, wild children and noisy casinos and “picture auctions”. I think I’ll explore river cruises this time.

[@vincekerrigan8300]

Chuck D: The lack of what passes nowadays for 'entertainment', would be a big advantage as far as I am concerned.

[@1SCme]

@@nsloane5384 If you do Europe, Amsterdam to Budapest, either as 1 trip or split up, is the trip that has everyone glowing about afterwards. If you want to go a step smaller in passenger size, lean more culturally than tourist sites, and get into areas you would have difficulty driving to, look into Asian river cruises as well. I haven't tried the Amazon cruises yet.

[@JeanettePerezEDRN]

Totally agree. I love Disney Cruise Line and AmaWaterWays!

[@klausfranz6158]

Congratulations!!! Your explanations match 100 % EXACLTLY what happens on a River Cruise. Forgot one important thing: NO CHILDREN!

[@veradoling8580]

Having done both ocean and river cruising, river cruises are for me. Less crowded, more mature passengers and the food is always awesome. It’s a moving hotel, that gives you a fantastic immersion into the country you’re visiting.

[@bryan143]

Been on several Viking river cruises, and all were excellent. Best vacations I’ve been on. I have no interest in boring ocean cruises (Casinos? You can keep them).

[@Luna.3.3.3]

I agree with your view on ocean cruises. You'd have to pay me to go on one - but this strict schedule is not for us either. My husband is Hungarian & last time we visited Budapest, his relatives told us about an overnight cruise to Vienna. That's more our style.

[@anja4790]

Who needs a casino when on vacation? Also, I can shop where I live and don't need to do this on a ship. The scenery is spectacular, not just water

[@dixieinstrumental805]

I just want a sun deck to lounge on and have a "screw the world I am comfortable attitude"

[@georgedunn320]

I guess it's like a lot of things: you'll like this if this is the sort of thing you like.

[@lonniedotson7558]

@@georgedunn320 My wife and I love casinos, but we found the ones on Ocean ships are small and not much to speak of...based upon the lack of people in there at any time I don't see folks takeing trips for the casino experaince what so ever....it's there if you want but not a big draw.....

[@mariedeangelis5550]

We just returned from our first river cruise. We took an AMA Waterways Rhine River cruise and loved every minute of it! We enjoy small group travel so this was just perfect for us. We had no morning wake-up calls; we were free to come and go as we pleased. No one is forcing you to do any of the tours if you feel like simply staying aboard the beautiful ship - in our case, AmaSerena. The smaller group size made everything more intimate and enjoyable and that applies to the amazing staff and crew, too. They couldn't do enough for you and always with grace and a smile. Can't wait to take another river cruise! (would never go on an ocean cruise again).

[@loranna1118]

Sailed on the AMAserena several years ago and loved it. Leaving soon on the AMACello burgundy and Provence. Wonderful line.

[@barbaralewis5951]

I enjoyed my river cruises on Viking. being on a river you always have sight of land, so there is always something to see throughout the passing landscape, unlike an ocen cruise where you may be at sea for two days (with a view of the ocean) till your next destination . guided excursions were included, but you may venture on your own. it's all a persional choice. best river cruise ever, Moscow to St. Petersburg.

[@Bethi4WFH]

I have read through many of the comments below. Nobody seems to have had the reaction I had on my one and only cruise liner. We had two separate full days at sea, going from the UK to Genoa. I thought I would happily lie on a lounger, reading a book, but in fact it was so depressing that It shocked my husband to the core to find me staring at the steely blue line of the horizon with tears rolling down my face! Not a green leaf, blade of grass or village to be seen......I now know it will be river cruises for me, all the way!

[@hurst-cs2jh]

Hi Barbara, how are you doing?

[@susie9893]

Good to know. Not a choice right now tho I wouldn't think

[@pippasmith4813]

The advantage for me was that my husband could go off and do his walk in the quaint village while I could go off and climb the mountain. We had many options when moored and made the most of them! When I had checked out the price of us visiting all the places we wanted to along the part of the Danube ending up in Budapest, it worked out cheaper on the cruise than trying to drag our luggage along with us using public transport and hotels.

[@1SCme]

Outside the major cities with enough attractions to fill several days, river cruising is the bet way to see Europe - rather than checking in and out of hotels and catching trains or renting a car, you check into the hotel once, and the hotel goes to each city.

[@jacquidavis90]

Love river cruises. Best memory was when everyone got off at Cologne and I stayed on board on the sun deck reading my book. Whole place to myself. Beautiful!

[@richdouglas2311]

I've done both and I'll take a river cruise every time. Smaller, more intimate, quieter, and you get much closer to the venues along the way.

[@SamtheMan0508]

If I was going on a cruise, it would definitely be river. Nothing about an ocean cruise appeals to me but history, architecture and culture does.

[@johnkeith2450]

Cruise ship....A prison with an option for drowning

[@lauraduplooy]

I was thinking the same thing! I assumed they were similar to ocean cruises, which sound like torture. The active schedule, getting to know your group fairly well, lots of guided tours with historical/cultural background? Heaven! I will definitely bring my own wine and snacks though. Great video; thank you!!

[@CharleneCTX]

It depends on the ocean cruise. We're not "resort" people and I saw ocean cruises as a resort on water. But I really enjoyed our Alaska cruise. The ship moved at night and docked during the day. You could book any of several activites or not. We went zip-lining, took a helicopter to a glacier and went dogsledding, attended a salmon bake, explored several towns on our own, etc. I was contemplating a river cruise, but I'm glad I saw this video. I'd hate the coach-tour regimentation of it.

[@venusreena2532]

I agree.. RC cruise ship although new and huge left much to be desired

[@hurst-cs2jh]

Hi Michelle, how are you doing?

[@jimmyf6145]

Sorry mate, if I were to choose between ocean cruise and river cruise, I will definitely choose the latter. The idea of having a vacation with a few thousand people whom you don’t know on the ocean liner is simply not my way of vacationing. Who would prefer to look at the ocean everyday when compared to beautiful sceneries on a river cruise?

[@jimw.4161]

👍

[@nevans6542]

Sounds much more my cuppa tea. Been on a big cruise liner......never again!

[@keithjohnsonsr5622]

The Mrs. and I took the Viking Rhine River cruise several years ago because of a TV add and decided to go for it. We had already been on a cruise ship and wanted to see the difference. The big differences we noticed were the cruise ships had all the 24 hour lifestyles of different things to do. My river cruise lacked the amenities the cruise ship had, but to see the sights and beauty of a country side in slow motion on a river cruise are memories you won’t soon forget. I can’t speak for other river cruises but it seemed to cater to much older folks just wanting relaxation. Loved the walking tours. Stopped at Normandy Beach during one of our stops which happened to be on Veterans Day. They had given us veterans a special salute in honor of all who served. Must admit, i had a tear or two stream from my eyes. I’d recommend a river cruise especially if you love all the beer and wine you can drink while eating. As ABBA says, Take a chance - Take a Chance.

[@hurst-cs2jh]

Hi Keith, how are you doing today?

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

River cruises are great for sheep who like being herded around like cattle.

[@gayleray4535]

@@PreservationEnthusiast 7

[@michaelmullin3585]

Relaxation, luxury, and QUIET is what I would want on a river cruise or an ocean cruise. I shudder at the thought of an ocean cruise with 5,000 other humans. Ugh!

[@suzannegrenier7642]

@@PreservationEnthusiast you obviously have never been on a river cruise. What you spend your time onshore doing is totally up to you. They have daily tours, but you are not required to participate.

[@jkhegarty4317]

Bring binoculars. As you are traveling up/down the river, you may want to see the coastline up close.

[@suzannegrenier7642]

I've been on 5 viking river cruises...never needed binoculars to see the shore or the hillsides. If I needed a closer view, my camera/phone telephoto option was enough.

[@elizabethroessner8487]

Great Tip!!! I wouldn't have thought to bring any!

[@iankershaw4772]

We have done many ocean cruises, but our Avalon cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam was awesome! The best and friendliest cruise we have ever done! A day out on a bus tour to Salzburg was great and visiting many other European stops on the way also rewarding. The entertainers brought on-board at many locks kept us amused at night. From my experience, Avalon do it well and don’t inflict butlers upon you!! Nothing but fun! On ocean cruises you get smoky casinos, walking through smoky areas when deck walking and on a Carnival cruise there were too many sugared up kids running rampant.

[@fay5479]

I went on a cruise on the Mekong River and ended up in Angkor Wat. At night the boat would move and we'd wake up in a different location. We visited schools and projects the cruise company supported, as well as museums and the killing Fields (tough visit, but must never be forgotten). We managed to visit places that by land would have been difficult. I highly recommend it. I'm not great at getting up early, but everyday was awe inspiring, and I've never eaten so much fruit, amazing flavours!!!

[@annemorris505]

I suppose it depends on what you're looking for. I did two small (very small) cruises, one down the Danube from Munich to Vienna and one from Amsterdam to Bruges. Both were delightful. The passengers were lovely - I think you meet a more seasoned traveler on these. At every port we had optional activities or could just take off on the bikes they provided and explore on our own. It felt like a gathering of friends rather than a crowd of strangers stuck in a mall. It's definitely riverboat cruises for me.

[@war-painter]

I did it from Chang Rai (Thailand) down the Mekong through Laos, stopping overnight in a little Laotian village and watching local dancers- - then on to the Buddha Caves outside Luang Prabang before ending there at the capital Luang Prabang which is one of the most beautiful places on earth, hands down. Exquisite river, now I want to go back, but I don’t think any riverboat can go over those waterfalls in the 4,000 Islands area of Laos on the border of Cambodia, very treacherous and amazing. Rivers are glorious!

[@lilybay1]

Frequent long duration ocean cruiser here. Took the American Queen on the Mississippi River, USA. it was superb. Had the opportunity to meet many fellow passengers at the hotel prior to beginning the cruise. Excellent food, served by the same personnel each day. Great entertainment every day and also educational lectures throughout the cruise. Wonderful excursions offered. Elegant furnishings and great veranda stateroom. While I like ocean cruising this river cruise was so much nicer. You really got to know your fellow passengers, the crew was attentive and the food and entertainment were A+. I would do more river cruising in the USA.

[@brendad3570]

I've often thought I would like to do Mississippi cruise

[@hpharridan]

if you liked learning about the history of and on the Mississippi River, read "Minn of the Mississippi" by Holling Clancy Holling. it's about the great river as seen through the eyes of a 3 legged snapping turtle as she traverses the entire river in her lifetime.

[@WISOTT]

@@waitwhat9412 As Sartre would have said: 'hell is other people - and an ocean cruise'

[@wendytravis6427]

Did you have to wake when they said wake?

[@edl617]

The American Queen is a beauty.

[@brucetidwell7715]

Thank you for this. It confirms my suspicions that I would much prefer a river cruise. I value a very high quality experience even with limited choices over crowds, bustle, and a sort of pop-culture atmosphere. Your videos look like exactly my sort of crowd and my preferred decor, although I think I definitely want a cabin above the waterline. Who needs entertainment when you have that scenery passing by.

[@weatherchaser1166]

My mom did a ton of the river cruises and enjoyed them more than the big ships. I think Hungary was her favorite with the old architecture.

[@tempestsonata1102]

Thank you very much! I'm from Hungary and I used to work as a guide.

[@collins5038]

I too loved Budapest. That is one place I would have visited again.

[@dianehogan2471]

We went on Grand Circle from Amsterdam to Vienna. It was WONDERFUL!! Smaller ships than Viking, which we MUCH prefer!! The intimacy was lovely.

[@pushoverparente4947]

We went on a Grand Central tour from Vienna to New Amsterdam. Absolutely loved everything. Plenty to do IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO. Loved smaller ship and getting to know everyone. Food was delicious, plenty to do on board as Grand Central made absolutely sure you were happy. We had plenty of free time. Accommodations lovely. Tour guides extremely knowledgeable and fun. Just note when reading what the true includes. Some cruises had more trips where you were Spending time on bus rides to certain destinations. YES, we will take more smaller cruises!

[@hurst-cs2jh]

Hi Diane, how are you doing?

[@yeldarbshean5971]

We recently returned from a SCENIC cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest. They offer snacks, sandwiches in the lounge during the afternoon. The suite rooms above the water line had a superior layout /arrangement; full motorised window on the balcony drops to waist level. Absolutely lovely. Very similar concept to other river cruise companies. The food was excellent, evening entertainment was nice; when we decided not to go on a tour nobody bothered us. It was excellent. Keep in mind that each stop is similar, historical, church, castle, abbey. If you aren’t interested in history the itinerary can be boring by day 7.

[@apgx6032]

Only ever river cruised on the Egyptian Nile. On our second cruise it was an older boat and reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile- fab!

[@skylineuk1485]

The Nile cruise was one of our best cruising experiences. I would suggest anyone doing it to get a personal tour guide who stays with you on the boat as it made the whole experience so much better we reckon.

[@ronschlorff7089]

Since you write this, I assume you survived!! :D

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@AScrapOfKindness We are "kindred spirits" to be sure!! I've seen all the Poirot movies, and TV shows on Masterpiece, old and new. Particularly loved Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot. And I'm a huge fan of anything ancient Egyptian; the Nile river cruise sounds fascinating to me! .....However, I'll leave my gun at home! ;D

[@apgx6032]

@@ronschlorff7089 🤣

[@stuartlast8156]

We did a 10 day cruise on the Nile on the SS Misr, several years ago, fantastic, it's like being transported back in time, very "Death on the Nile -ish" !!

[@judihaller8051]

I love river cruising. You do not have to follow the whole schedule. I love it being small and intimate. We ate lunch in town often. There were free snacks, hot chocolate, coffee, etc all day long on board. We went on GCT. The staff actually helped us make plans to go to a town that my brother lived in when he was in Germany for five years. We met some nice people. And we could sit wherever we wanted for breakfast and dinner. We never had someone starring back at us from another boat. Ocean cruises are too big for me.

[@Unkn0wnGuy]

My wife and I started river cruising in our mid 30s. We absolutely love them. There is no better way to see many different places in Europe. The luxury options are amazing, the people are typically great - both staff and passengers, food is typically great, excursions are awesome and the history is endless. We have come to enjoy Scenic river cruises and look forward to enjoying their luxury yacht one day

[@toforgetisagem8145]

No partying! No families with children! Shock Horror, culture and architecture! Sign me Up!

[@jimw.4161]

Exactly! 👍

[@californianorma876]

Sounds perfect ❤

[@kencopeland3471]

Perfect

[@christinatady4951]

OMG, no casino, no crowds! In Croatia, I walked right on to my ship. The thousands of people cued up for the floating city were sweating in sun!

[@cathychurch9974]

We have been on 2 European Viking River Cruises! Loved every minute! Less than 200 passengers so it was easy to meet and get to know people. We took some of the organized walking tours and walked around by ourselves in other ports. I would go again in a heartbeat!

[@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042]

Fewer than 200.

[@nichtsistkostenlos6565]

@@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042 Thanks, there's no way I would have understood what she meant. You're really doing the lord's work.

[@claregrana]

@@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042 thanks! It kills me too.

[@pattiday431]

@@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042 😆

[@swise63]

@@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042 Awesome. Let's start a whole commenting thread fighting about the differences between UK English and US English....

[@patrickmcdaniel8123]

My friends travel a lot and said one of the things they did not like was constantly being asked to tip and pay for services. This river cruise seems like it cuts out a lot of that because everything is already taken care of. I find this very appealing.

[@donnahadfield3156]

I have been on 4 of them and I absolutely love it. It is a great way to see Europe and not have to pack and move every other day. You don’t have to do the tours if you choose not to I have gone on grand circle and love the company

[@bradfordpatterson9887]

Gary I found your dismal description of River Cruises to be a great disservice to what is a grand and elegant way to see several great cities and wonder scenery from your floating semi-private boat. I took a Danube cruise with Uniworld. This was my initial cruise. I loved the idea of traveling with only 158 other individuals rather than 5000 of the masses. First, and most importantly, there were no children. No one running around, no screaming, no temper tantrums and no audible whining. Though the average age of my fellow travelers was in the upper 60's,there were a few travelers in their 40's which was a nice for a single male travelers who enjoyed something more than dining and going to bed. We were each treated so nicely and respectfully by our mostly Easter European staff. The food was extremely good and tasty. I enjoyed sleeping in each morning and catching the last 20 minutes of breakfast. As I did not participate in any of the side tours, I was able to wander through all the towns and cities at my own pace. I ended up visit more museums, more quaint shops and local quesine than any of my fellow passengers. I never felt limited in what I was able to do when in port. As far as when we were under water, I spent most of my time on the open upper deck enjoying the panoramic views of castles, vineyards and villages. You sold this experience very short. I would recommend it to anyone over 50. No herds to tolerate and plenty of privacy outside of your room if you take a tour and look for it.

[@maggi0310]

Do they expect you to get off and do land tours ..sometimes might want to get off other i might not wamt to..

[@bradfordpatterson9887]

@@maggi0310 I didn't personally go on most of the tours. I would wander into the towns/cities myself and often pass by the tour groups being led by someone who has a specific agenda to keep the group moving which doesn't allow for a stop where you might think is more interesting than the 2 minutes the tour allows. You can decide to stop into a interesting shop or down an colorful street and not miss anything.

[@farmecologist3395]

Thanks for the excellent video. One thing to note, as I'm sure you know, is that the non-balcony rooms are *significantly* less expensive than any of the balcony rooms. On our sailing, $1500 less expensive. And because the ships are so small, it very easy to reach the deck areas in just a few steps. This makes the non-balcony rooms on a river cruise far less 'intrusive' than interior/oceanview rooms on a large ocean going vessel.

[@ahuehuete4703]

It's basically an organized tour where your room follows you, so you don't have to be constantly packing and repacking, plus the ride is more scenic, and you aren't confined to a bus seat while travelling.. I will say that I was a little underwhelmed with the food (Viking). It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't great. Of course, on an organized bus tour you will dine at preselected venues, which are also likely to be "averagey".

[@RockandRollWoman]

Exactly. You get a lot more time to do things, because you aren't spending all of your time checking in and out of hotels. The only time I had a problem going off on my own was in China. The Chinese didn't take kindly to my idea of going off on my own on up the Yangtze before the three gorges dam was fully flooded. 🤫

[@lynnleipold2617]

We just came back from a Viking cruise on the Douro in Portugal. I will agree that I was also underwhelmed with the food. There were some notable exceptions to that though. The service was also a little hit and miss. Our cruise director was drunk some of the time. When I booked I thought I booked a balcony cabin. I was shocked when they told us that we were in a below water cabin. They did update us to a balcony cabin at no upcharge. Several people were also sickened with stomach ailments including my husband and me on different days. I missed quite amfew tours becaause of this. That being said, I would give them another try. We met many lovely people and generally had a very good time. We have done two ocean cruises with Viking that were great. The food was much better on the ocean cruises!

[@susie9893]

Interesting feedback on the food on Viking here. Not what I've heard other places so it's good to get a different perspective

[@johnstoddart5523]

I went on Scenic Basel to Amsterdam and I could get a snack any time of the day or night and I often had a whisky in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep any more. I was never woken up and sometimes didn’t bother with the escorted tours. They were great as was the food. OK there’s no kids running around, no big theatre featuring gormless entertainments and the staggerers seem to confine themselves to cruise ships. If your thing is to be late and make people wait for you and have a five course meal and then play the poker machines for”fun”? ; then stick to the ocean liners. But you quite liked your river cruise, if i remember Gary.

[@mkim269]

I went on the same river cruise but the other way with amawater way at the Christmas market over thanksgiving and it was very nice and I love how they accommodate how the people can fast walkers one group medium the second group and pink walk that was me the slow walkers I will hope to do it again 🥰🥰😍

[@aluckyman2668]

Sounds like a floating nursing home to me personally. 😏 But hey if that's your thing nor power to ya. Just not for me.

[@theresaakins2317]

@@aluckyman2668 just because some of us over 50's don't want to slam beers down our gullet until we barf but rather have a nice flavorful alcoholic drink to be savored, nor do we want to stay up all night and sleep until noon etc doesn't mean we have one foot 8n the grave. We like to drink, dance and have fun but in a reasonable manner.

[@susie9893]

​@@mkim269I'm not yet 50 and I've NEVER been attracted to the idea of ocean cruising 🤢 When I was younger I was heavily into backpacking, now that I'm getting older I'm still backpacking but at a slower (and more discerning) pace and starting to love the idea of a river cruise thrown in there as a little bit of a break in the pace. And ppl who think that nursing home residents would be capable of the walking tours most river criuses offer have no comprehension of why ppl have to go into nursing homes

[@agriperma]

I live in a place (Florida) where cruise ships are a big industry, lived here most my life, and I have never been interested in being on a cruise ship at sea, now, these river cruises, look interesting, and definitely something I would like to do, like you said these are basically tours, being done on a boat, but the idea you are in a new town/place every day, and no sea sickness, is very attractive to me.

[@patti1044]

We loved our cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg - amazing country that I would not attempt any other way.

[@sharonduke5718]

Hi Patti. What cruise line did you go on? We have been on Emerald Waterways but wondered about other cruise lines.

[@patti1044]

@@sharonduke5718 We sailed with Viking - lovely! Different than European river cruises but an excellent trip. I love local foods so enjoyed trying the daily offerings of Russian cuisine. We did our own pre-cruise in Amsterdam and flew in to Moscow to join the cruise. Next time I would plan time on our own at each end to really explore these very different cities - Moscow and St Petersburg.

[@susie9893]

I had much the same thinking. However, all thoughts in that direction are on permanent pause for now

[@justmeowme6499]

I love river cruises and yes you can explore by yourself.. I’ve done it many times just need to know when they pull .. and I’ve never had any issues getting a meal.

[@sandradavies7804]

Sounds better than being marooned at sea for weeks. The whole idea of a river cruise is that it takes you to parts of Europe that are worth seeing, and the escorted tours are a wonderful chance to see ancient cities. And it only lasts eight days. And (presumably) you don't get seasick. What's not to like?

[@geograph-ology4343]

We did Viking before the pandemic. It was great. History, scenic Vistas, and great service. We look forward to our next one. Great work by Gary laying out the differences. The one thing that can be s bump in the road is river levels...you may have to switch boats if river water levels get low, but Viking has many identical boats and the switch is almost flawless.

[@darlenevm]

After going on 2 ocean cruises (one Bahama’s and one Key West/Mexico, I realized they weren’t for me. I don’t like sunbathing and would rather spend my time visiting locations and learn the history. River cruises sound EXACTLY what I’m looking for! Thanks for sharing the differences between the two, along with an explanation of what to expect on a River cruise.

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

Be assured.a river cruise IS what you want. On an ocean cruise, they are ALL trying to sell you something the whole time. It's like going on a floating "timeshare"...... We did the Rhine - it was relaxing, historical , and fun. It wasn't crowded EITHER. Great scenery passing by with EXPLANATIONS in various languages!

[@JTA1961]

Well put👍

[@hurst-cs2jh]

Hi Darlene, how are you doing?

[@carolhagon2653]

Ocean cruising is what you make it, where you go, not just about sunbathing. Our first two cruises were Northern European, first Iceland, Scotland and Norway, second the Baltic including 2 days in Russia. No sunbathing. Then we did Alaska, beautiful scenery, history and wildlife.

[@elouise5593]

Unless you can afford it, don't do a Viking cruise! Yikes! Those fares are sky high! I don't know about the other river cruise lines.

[@charlieromeo7663]

Like many others here, every feature of a river cruise you point out are the exactly why river cruising is so enjoyable. My wife and I have taken two Viking cruises and enjoyed both of them very much. We were by far the youngest couple on the ships, which was quite enjoyable as well. I suppose I could be considered a lazy traveler, in that I don’t enjoy making plans. On both cruises, I had no idea what the excursions were prior to the cruise so it was as if every one was a pleasant surprise. I found there was plenty of time for quiet relaxation on deck observing the beautiful sights.

[@barbre105]

All I can say is I did a Viking Cruise in Europe 7 day and it was the best vacation I ever had. It was flawless, great food, great new boat, not too big but big enough not too many people and we stayed busy enough. Went to 5 ports and they were great. If you get a chance GO!

[@sharisiemonof-falcon9086]

Crystal River Cruises have 24 hour room service!! Much more flexible tour schedule. Best river cruising experience. River luxury at its best.

[@war-painter]

How blissful to be on the river when the sun comes out. This fellow did his best to make river cruising seem unappetizing by photographing it under chilly overcast skies, making the ceilings appear low, scenery grey and dank. His insistence on the lack of “entertainment” and choice of bars and shops only made the riverboats more appealing to me in every way. And just how many times a day do you need to EAT? The wonderful variety in the passing scenery is the point, the changing architecture, the historical passage of time, the different cultures….. He can go back to his activity filled ocean cruise ships packed to the gills with people and party on. To each his own.

[@Operator75100]

I think he didnt sugar coat it .Its much more expensive so you expect high quality .Rooms are small and there are pros and cons i felt he was being truthful .

[@sandranorris8538]

I have been on many ocean cruises, but the best cruise I have been on was the river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest..I loved the size, never having to put my hand in my pocket to pay for drinks and the fact all of our excursions were included in the price. I loved the courtesy, our butler service .

[@davidsutherland4280]

Totally agree. The only difference was we went the opposite direction and I think I would prefer the direction you did. Why you may ask? Simple, the pace of everything is more frenetic the nearer you get to Amsterdam whereas we found the Budapest end much more relaxed. So as a holiday starting at the busy end and moving to the chilled end fits more with the detuning process that goes with a holiday. We finished with a week in Berlin - awesome. However we loved every minute of it.

[@mjkirk12]

How many days was this cruise? You switched ships from Rhine to Danube - at which cities?

[@sandranorris8538]

@@mjkirk12 the cruise I think was 16 days, but because of heavy rain in the previous month the lock was broken in Vienna. Whilst they changed our boat they put us up in the Hilton in Vienna. All of our things were transferred to the boat on the other side of the lock. We went from the Scenic Ruby to the Scenic Pearl. We had nothing extra to pay. It was really hard staying in Vienna 😂😂😂loved every minute of it. Best holiday ever.

[@mjkirk12]

@@sandranorris8538 Thanks for this info. I searched and read there is a Rhine-Main-Danube canal (with 16 locks) that interconnect the 2 rivers. Completed in 1992. You can cruise from Amsterdam to the Black Sea.

[@1SCme]

I get the feeling that the Amsterdam to Budapest is by far the best (and definitely want to spend some time at the departure and arrival city). I did a Paris to Normandy which wasn't a big a gain over seeing the same things travelling by other means. *After Amsterdam to Budapest, consider changing continents* - Asian river cruises are a completely different experience.

[@janetray2527]

We've done 3 river cruises and we skip a lot of their tours and basically use the boat to get to the next port and then we head off to see what we can see.

[@hurst-cs2jh]

Hi Janet, how are you doing?

[@mkb7997]

This video is spot on the pluses and minuses. I wished I had watched it before our Russian River cruise. I wanted to knock my head up against the wall as I was going stir crazy. We only had a few hours off the boat each day. I think there will come a point in time in our lives that this mode of travel will be desirable. But if you’re fit and mobile, river cruising has too much downtime to be enjoyable.

[@teleriferchnyfain]

My parents did several river cruises in Europe in the 90s, & my mother went on a couple in the 2000s on the Danube. She loved all the cruises 🚢 as did my stepdad.

[@Bobrogers99]

Well stated. Ocean cruises are all about the onboard experience. It's like a well-equipped resort that floats, and the shore tours are incidental. River cruises are all about the shore tours and experiencing the countries you pass through, and the onboard experience is incidental. As you point out, it's like a bus tour that floats. I've been on one Caribbean cruise and would never go again, but I've enjoyed many river cruises.

[@nogames8982]

Well, everything you said about the river cruise makes me prefer it over an ocean cruise. I've never been interested in an ocean cruise, except maybe the one up to Alaska. But I think I could do a river cruise.

[@robertmoore8166]

I have done a dozen ocean cruises. My only river cruise was on the Yangtze river in China. We were the last cruise ship to go through the Three Gorges Dam before they closed it off and started filling the dam. It was a fantastic cruise. Loved it.

[@haya14goor]

We did the same river cruise in China. The ship wasn't impressive, but the day trips were amazing, places you can't get there without a ship.

[@anneeh1591]

I have done both river and ocean cruising and give me river cruising any time. It was fabulous. We travelled with Uniworld and I could not fault them.

[@maurineportocavazos3361]

My husband & I did a Viking River cruise shirtly after we retired & did not enjoy it. Many of the passengers were quite elderly and if limited mobility, we did not meet any that were particularly interesting & the evening entertainment was very limited. We enjoy history & architecture but felt the tours were quite superficial. The set schedule was boring after a few days. We did not like docking next to other ships most of the time & having to look at their windows & walk through them. The rivers were quite low when we went & we were bussed around several times. Just our experience but I won't do another one.

[@helenepawlikowski5803]

Did 3 Viking River Cruises....they were amazing, food was decadent, the staff was attentive, the sights and tours are incredible!

[@jacquelyns9709]

Gary is talking about European River Cruising. US River Cruising is different in some ways and the same in others. First, there is much more diversity in size and design of the ships. Second there are 3 major areas involved. Great Lakes and St Lawrence River, Northwest rivers in Washington State and neighbors, Mississippi River and its tributaries which has the most variety. Third, ships rarely are in port at the same time. So far, I've only taken one US river cruise. It was on the American Queen Steamboat which is a true steamboat with a rear paddle wheel. Passengers can visit the engine room but they must be able to walk up and down 1 flight of stairs. She holds just under 500 passengers. She has inside and outside cabins all above the water line. Some are for solo travelers. She has a main dining room with 2 seatings for dinner. She also has a small buffet restaurant with a bar and snack area as well. In the afternoon, hamburgers and hotdogs are served on a rear deck. She has a real swimming pool deep enough to swim short laps. She has elevators and several sets of stairs inside and out. She has lectures and music entertainment every day. She has a real theater with a major show in the evening. Although I didn't go, there was a comedian in one of the lounges most evenings. Included shore excursions were offered in every port. Buses made loops through the towns dropping people off and picking them up. You get to choose where and how long you stopped at each place. You could get off and walk around and pick the bus up at a different stop. Usually an extra cost excursion was also offered. It was more regimented. Most of her cruises originate or return to New Orleans, but not all. She's not inexpensive but I believe she's worth the money. Yes, you have to participate in a muster drill. Can't get out of that.

[@terryv]

I’ve done three cruises on the American Queen (not counting a fourth that was canceled by COVID), and I will never bother with ocean cruising again. Gary, sounds like you’re shocked! shocked! to find that there’s a difference between styles of cruising! Jacquelyn S describes the Queen experience thoroughly and accurately. I’ll just add that, personally, I’ve come to prefer only "round-trip" Mississippi & Ohio River itineraries, i.e. departing & returning at the same port, for ease of getting to & from that same port by car. Also, although the formal dining room is delightful, I quickly came to prefer the buffet venue at the rear of the ship. And it’s nice to have the much more economical option of an interior room (without a costly view). The on & off at-will free bus excursions are adequate for me, and the twice-nightly shows are absolutely fantastic. There’s a port-call nearly every day - all of them very enjoyable. And the views of the riverbanks, towns, and passing river traffic beat the heck out of staring at empty ocean for days at a stretch. Aboard ship, if you’re not partaking of the piano music or the lectures or tours of the ship, there is an incredible array of onboard lounges, reading rooms, and cubbyholes to relax in, all exquisitely furnished and decorated. And it’s all much less rigidly structured than is apparently the case on the European cruises as described (a bit negatively?) on the video. So don’t let the video sour you on river cruising... of COURSE it’s different from ocean cruising! Enjoy it for what it is!

[@robertcolfack26]

I agree American river cruises are a blast more time to relax and unwind and much bigger ships more places on the ships to go.....

[@evelanpatton]

I’ve seen the ads for the steamship River cruises & I would genuinely enjoy taking one. My mom has an emotional support certified animal with paperwork, do you know if these or any river boat services allow such pets? P.S.Thank you for sharing.

[@robertcolfack26]

@@evelanpatton I'm not sure the times I was on an American river cruise I never saw a dog on the ship sorry I couldn't help you....

[@jacquelyns9709]

@@evelanpatton I don't know of any US river boats that allow pets on board. I don't know if they allow certified therapy animals on board. If you inquire do not ever refer to them as pets. You are more likely to get permission if you refer to them as therapy animals. I do know that guide dogs for the blind are generally accepted but have to be cleared in advance. The only ship I know of that accepts pets is the Queen Mary II on her transatlantic crossing. She only allows a limited number of dogs and cats. Fees are very expensive.

[@1tommyday]

Sounds very nice to me actually. I love socializing and schedules. And you can bring back food from any place. Works for me! Im also reading all these comments and they are very positive for river cruises so this isnt working to dissuade

[@helmutklarn9658]

We did a one week rhone cruise and in the week after just took a rental car and explored the same area on our own. And this combination of a one week cruise and a second week just on our own with in depth exploring is something, that i really enjoy.

[@mc-nw1rk]

@Helmut Klarn..Good thinking 99!!!

[@ellap8231]

That’s a clever idea! Thanks

[@IesKorpershoek]

I did all, River, trans-Atlantic, and ocean cruising in various parts of the world. I enjoyed them all. I was well informed on the cruise I was taking and non was disappointing. On the river cruises we did all the exploring on our own, no questions asked. Being back on board on time was all it takes.

[@Sheba62000]

Good video explaining the differences between ocean and river cruises. I have done both and I can tell you I GREATLY PREFER river cruises over ocean cruises. The reasons I prefer river cruises: a more personalized experience, more culture and history tours, no kids, much better food, beautiful scenery all the time, no sea sickness. Things I don’t miss that an ocean cruise has: room service (I never use it), workout room (I can workout at home), endless boring water views, casinos (I’m not a gambler), feeling like just a number with so many people on board. So it just depends on what you like. Your choice! Enjoy!

[@merryhunt9153]

I have cruised the Elbe, the Danube and the Rhein, and I enjoyed them all It helps to be interested in nature, the birds, and the architecture of the towns and cities you pass. We spent many hours on the top deck, relaxing and watching Europe go by. You don't have to go on all the excursions, and we did not feel regimented.

[@dougjoslin2331]

Your video just solidifies our desire to drive down the Rhine gorge, drive through Alsace, and visit Switzerland on our own. We are senior citizens, but we will wait until we are older for a river cruise.

[@dougmacmillan1712]

Excellent choice. Just take a day cruise through the heart of the Rhine and you're all set.

[@brandywineblogger1411]

We've been on two Viking Cruises: The Upper Danube and the Rhine. For someone who wants to feel cozy, safe and cared for, they're great. And we really enjoyed being immersed in the culture. But on the other hand the regimentation made me feel like I was in overnight Girl Scout Camp. I need time to breathe and be me. And yes, as you mentioned, the other negative for me on the 2nd cruise was somehow Norovirus went thru the ship. About 20+ passengers, including me, which is a huge chunk of the passengers, were sickened. There are no trained medical personnel on board and if you really need one, they will get a taxi to take you to a doctor. But the 2nd cruise was such a bad experience I will never go again.

[@eppsislike]

I thoroughly enjoy river cruising. Especially around the christmas period.

[@JTA1961]

Ba~Hamburg

[@mikegehre570]

Went on a UNIWORLD river cruise and loved it. Relaxing and enjoyable I’ve been on ocean cruises and prefer this pace far more

[@annasolovyeva1013]

In my country river cruises are a popular thing (because there's a couple big rivers with all the little historical towns and small cities on them). They're often referred to as not as "cruises" at all, but "river motor ship tours". "Passenger river motor ship" is one word in Russian - "теплоход". "Teplohod" Entertainers and lecturers sometimes give a concert or a series of lectures onboard of such a ship. Those ships also cater for parties e.g. weddings. There's a whole range of local pop songs about river cruising that are typically played on board of this ships or welcome them in various ports.

[@susie9893]

Thank you for this perspective bcos I'd recently looked into river cruising in Russia (b4 all this Ukraine thing blew up)

[@cfjruth]

You mention that river cruises have few excursion choices and that it's rare to go on your own at a given port. I've taken two Viking river cruises and most ports had 3-6 options - plenty of choice. We chose a cruise on the same stretch of the Danube for our second cruise, and went out on our own at nearly every stop, which wasn't a problem at all. We knew the cities by then, and I speak German, which made navigating those German and Austrian cities even easier. We'd explore the given city all day, doing whatevet we wanted, and just make sure to return before the ship leaves port. My wife and I had a blast both times, enjoying ourselves much more than the ocean cruises we have taken. The focus on history and culture vs casinos and shows is a big PLUS for us, not a negative. You're 100% right about river cruises attracting an older crowd though. We're in our early/mid 30s and were easily the youngest passengers on our two cruises by a good couple of decades. Most people were in their late 50s through early 70s. We didn't mind a bit though, and loved getting to know everyone. We made several friends who we still keep in touch with a few years later. We find the "party" crowd of the ocean-going ships to be a bit exhausting, and the larger capacity and asymmetrical dining times of those ships to be a bit isolating. We much prefer the smaller, more intimate river ships that let us get to know our fellow passengers.

[@chomperthefirst533]

Good points Corey. Casinos, shopping and shooters are not what I want from a cruise. Good conversations and relationships to share experiences with and learn from, are a definite plus. The views look amazing.

[@cfjruth]

@@chomperthefirst533 exactly!

[@brclyn]

We did the Rhine/Moselle cruise with Scenic and it was fantastic. We had the tours in the morning, then could self explore until we had to be back at the boat. We could eat in the towns or go back to the boat and eat (limited but very good) at the bar cafe. Most evenings were either someone from the crew doing something, or they brought someone on. We also had a piano recital in the town castle at one stop. All in all we had the most relaxed time we had ever had. Couldn't say the same for the 3 day bus tour to finish of. while the tour guide and bus driver were fantastic it was hell being enclosed in a bus all day.

[@Josy8289]

Thank you so much for the pros and cons. Well balanced. Other people’s videos usually just show the “good”. It helps with planning so all families are satisfied

[@jimmorehead9188]

I did a 5-6 day trip on the Nile from Cairo to Aswan, and back. It was an absolute experience of a lifetime! I paid for a PHD Egyptologist with a great personality & spirit to serve. He read hieroglyphics and got me into a couple of archeological sites not readily open to tourists every day so, having studied theology and archeology in college, I was in awe of what I experienced every day! Truly a bucket list thing for me. Anyway, small boat, calm waters good food & service - I’m reliving it in my mind right now. 😊

[@couchphotography8861]

That is not your average dull as ditchwater European cruise, I did something similar in the 1990's and it was amazing. Small group, got access to many different and beautiful tombs, and in the Valley of the Kings we were set free to choose the tombs we wanted to visit. I chose King Seti 1, and it was so stunning in there, just me and the 2 Egyptian guards and candlelight. Can still see it now.

[@janedemeo3003]

May I ask which river cruise line you used and time of year for your travel? Thanks!

[@jimmorehead9188]

@@janedemeo3003 my wife and I are trying to recall the boat we were on but cannot remember. I’m going to see if I can dig up the information and will let you know if I find it. Cheers!

[@jimmorehead9188]

@@janedemeo3003 FYI the boat was The Sonesta Moon Goddess. Very nice accommodations (and we’re pretty picky these days, lol)

[@jimmorehead9188]

@@janedemeo3003 I forgot to mention it was mid-September.

[@jasondale4704]

How different the experiences.... after many Ocean cruises we loved our Danube River trip with Arosa. If you pay the big bucks and want the full inclusive package of tours etc. then this sounds like what you are describing. We did whatever we wanted in every port, without the hassle of tenders or having to line up. Absolute freedom!

[@lori-annefay4138]

First time viewer. You kind of make it all seem like a big downer. It sounds to me like if you want to keep it simple and streamline, if you want to make connections with the people around you, or feel secure in a new location this would be great. The upside is you can swim to the shore,lol. Sounds great for photography. Culture sounds great, before it's all gone. I like a mature, intelligent crowd, leave the heavy lifting to the staff, just relax. And good for the beginner. Then level up to the Ocean...Honestly sounds lovely like learning vacation and a great place to write. Now I must suscribe.

[@alicelau9856]

We've done 2 river cruises, both with Uniworld and had a fabulous time both trips. My husband and I just went with adult friends and family and it was really great. This last time, we took our 12 year old, and I was a little hesitant that our kiddo would be bored or lonely, but honestly it was the opposite. I wouldn't recommend Uniworld for young children, but our preteen was old enough to appreciate the excursions - art, culture, history, etc and they love food so it was exciting to get to try local cuisine. The thing about river cruising that I really enjoy is that you get to really know the people you're cruising with, and the staff onboard as well as the tour guides. We found that the bartenders on our cruise rarely get kids, so they made a game or of creating the most unique, tasty virgin cocktails they possibly could at each cocktail hour and meal for our kiddo. We also did a private dining experience one night where the executive chef and sommelier put together a menu and wine pairing. Our kiddo wanted to come because they love trying different foods and love cooking, and the sommelier chose a special non alcoholic wine or drink to pair with each course especially for them so they felt included. I feel like river cruising can give you that rockstar, special treatment you can't get on ocean cruising without paying for the exclusive perks.

[@1SCme]

To go to the next level on most of what you spoke about, look into Asian river cruises (Pandaw is the largest operator).

[@Ahuka]

Our first cruise was a Viking River Cruise, and we loved it. Then we did a Caribbean cruise with MSC. Now we will be doing another river cruise with Viking. For us it works great, but it isn't necessarily our only way to travel and see sights. But Viking took such good care of us that we would love to do Viking every few years, interspersed with some other things. One of our concerns was having a restricted diet because of diabetes, and with Vikinbg the Maitre'd came to us every morning to discuss the days dinner menu and make sure we had foods that worked for us. And with the smaller group we made friends with people, which never happened on the anonymous MSC cruise.

[@marlenegold280]

Having T1D is a concern for me to get the right foods. I eat meat and non-starchy vegetables and healthy animal fats. Harder to get when travelling; so many places have meals that are really high carb.

[@KevinOBrien-de6zp]

@@marlenegold280 Well, we could not have asked for better service from Viking in that regard. WE got exactly what wwe needed. When other people people were getting potatoes or rice, we would get steamed or roasted vegetables, and so on.

[@1SCme]

If you're looking for variety, look into Asian river cruises (Pandaw is the best I have used) - it's a completely different experience from European river and ocean cruises.

[@ahavrilla9577]

@@1SCme How was it different?

[@gflucas4285]

@@marlenegold280 The food on an European River cruise is both fresh and non starchy or high carb. Unlike the buffet rubbish on Ocean cruises. You can stipulate your dietary requirements when booking. The meals on most are 5 stars gourmet.

[@stansharpe3816]

Recently returned from our second European River cruise with Scenic, and just booked our third yesterday! We have travelled extensively and have found the river cruise experience to suit us very well! We are in our late 50’s, remain active, and have personal and professional interests in cultural and historical tourism. We appreciate that river cruises focus on history, culture, art, and architecture. River cruises are learning experiences. We really appreciate how the smaller ships create better opportunities for getting to know your fellow travellers and for higher quality personalized service. The river cruise experience seems so much more relaxed and personalized than the larger mega ships. No lines, no noise, easy on and off the ship (just swipe your identification card and walk off), the staff knows you personally by name. Like you, I like to workout. As you noted, the gym facilities are very basic on river cruise ships. The workout on a river cruise is all the walking you do on your daily tours. You were right to note that the entertainment options at night are far more limited than on a larger vessel. But, we found that after spending our entire days enjoying the historical and cultural excursions, we were pretty tired after dinner and wanted to get some rest to be ready for the next day’s experiences. So, we didn’t really need much in the way of entertainment. Food options,as you mentioned, might seem more limited on a river cruise because there is only one restaurant on board, but they do provide many options. The food is excellent! They often offer regional specialties. The staff are very keen to accommodate special dietary needs, which the smaller number of passengers makes it easier for them to do. We have been pleased and impressed by the quality of the food we are served on river cruises. I think it is fair to say that the river cruise experience is a different travel experience than the larger cruise ships. You should be clear about what you want out of a travel experience before you book. River cruises are smaller groups, personalized service, and focused on cultural and historical learning experiences. If that is what you seek, then river cruising is for you! Salute to Scenic who we have cruised with twice (soon to be three times) they have provided exemplary service and their ship board staff have always been polite, courteous, friendly, and professional.

[@kathycoaker8698]

We absolutely love River cruising with Avalon. We like that there is a basic structure for the day but you are always free to not go with the group and explore on your own as well as choose to stay on the ship. We will be repeating a couple of stops on our next river cruise and already looking forward to exploring things we didn’t see previously.

[@winnifredmorris5790]

My husband and I went on a river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest , was fabulous lots to do great food and you didn’t have to go out if you didn’t want to , what I really liked was that you didn’t have to go and watch paint dry