Think you know everything about river cruising? Test your knowledge with these fascinating facts about river cruising, and soon enough you'll be ready to reign supreme in a round of Jeopardy or local trivia competition!
1. WHY TAKE A RIVER CRUISE: YOU ARE ALWAYS CLOSE TO THE ACTION
Because of their smaller size, river cruise ships can access places that huge ocean cruisers can’t. Instead of floating in the middle of the ocean surrounded by nothing but miles of water, river cruises tend to dock in the heart of a port city or an old medieval town. The minute you step off the ship, you won’t have to travel far to find good food, shopping, and sightseeing destinations.
2. YOU WILL FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TRAVELED BACK IN TIME
Experiencing a river cruise is as close as it gets to time travel. In so many ports you will see and feel what it must have been like to live in centuries past! Much of the geography, location names, and cultural significance remain the same as they were hundreds, if not thousands of years ago.
3. YOU WILL BE SURROUNDED BY LESS PEOPLE
Ocean cruise ships accommodate thousands of passengers. River cruises accommodate less than 200 passengers. Fewer passengers and more staff = no lines and more personalized service for you.
4. YOU WILL NOT GET SEA SICK
Are you curious to explore the world by ship, but feel held back by seasickness? Then a river cruise could be just what you need! With no waves and only gentle wakes, your journey has been designed for maximum stability. So go get out there and seize adventure without worrying about sea-sickness!
5. A GREENER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE WAY TO TRAVEL
While all cruise ships must adhere to strict environmental and sustainable practices, river cruises have set a new standard for eco-friendly travel - ushering in an era of sustainability with room amenities like glass water bottles, washable towels and digital documents instead of paper. They are on the cutting edge when it comes to protecting our rivers while cruising them.
6. WATER LEVELS DETERMINE EVERYTHING
While on a river cruise, you’ll often travel through a series of locks. No idea what locks are? They’re compartmentalized water chambers along a river that are filled and emptied so boats and ships can move vertically up and down a river. High or low water levels might impact the ability for locks to properly regulate river traffic. Additionally, when water is high, ships might not be able to safely pass under bridges - and when water is low, ships run the risk of getting stuck on the riverbed.
7. YOU MIGHT EXPERIENCE A ROOFTOP GANGWAY
While docked at some locations, river cruise lines might need to share the same pier. If so, the ships line up side by side and passengers on the outer ships will have to walk across or through the other ships to go ashore - sometimes along rooftop gangways.
8. A PERFECT BLEND OF UPSCALE + COZY
A river cruise gives you a cozy and comforting feeling combined with the elevated experience of being in a luxury boutique hotel. Planning a special event or a romantic getaway? How about a trip with two or more generations of your family? River cruises are a GREAT way to celebrate in style!
Want to learn more about river cruising? Visit us at rivercruisecomparison.com where you can review our comparisons of the best river cruise lines that sail throughout Europe, learn more about the European rivers you can sail on, and browse our special offers to save a little money on your next sailing. And don't forget to take our one-of-a-kind quiz that will match you to the cruise line best suited to you and your preferences!
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