I. Hate. Traditional. Cruises.
There. I said it. And I meant it!
I’ve never understood the appeal of getting on a massive ship with thousands of other people, spending extra money for things that I feel should already be included, waiting in lines to get off the ship, and arriving at a port only to realize that the most interesting parts of the destination are nowhere near the cruise terminal.
I’ll admit that I’ve done four traditional cruises before. Two Disney and two Royal Caribbean. I have some real experience here. But after our last cruise, I vowed it would be the last.
But give me a smaller ship with thousands less people, beautiful destinations, scenery while you’re cruising, great food, and being able to actually experience a city: now you have my attention.
So when I recently got off the phone with a river cruise expert from a highly respected company, I wasn’t surprised that it would be more appealing. But I was shocked by how stoked I was about trying river cruising.
This blog is my hot take on the subject. Hope you enjoy and are as intrigued as I am right now.
Wait… It’s Actually Included?
One of the first things that caught my attention was how many things are included in a river cruise. At least the company I’m working with…
If you’ve cruised on a traditional ocean cruise, you know how quickly the “too good to be true price” can start climbing.
Want a drink? Get the drink package for the “best deal.” That’s extra.
Want an elevated dining experience? That’s extra.
Want an excursion? Extra.
Want to use the wifi? Extra.
Next thing you know you’ve doubled the cruise fare and you haven’t even boarded yet.
I get FOMO. So I’m going to strongly consider purchasing any package they throw at me. And I think most vacationers get FOMO too. This is most definitely how they give you that cheap vacation feel but you end up spending double than you planned.
With the river cruise I’m considering, excursions, beer and wine with meals, wifi and all restaurants are included.
That really appeals to me as a FOMO girlie..
I want to know what my trip is going to cost without constantly thinking, “Okay, what’s the next thing that’s going to break the bank?”
Small Ship. Smaller Crowd. More Room to Breathe.
This might be the biggest selling point for me.
The river cruise I’m looking at has an average of around 156 guests. The last cruise I took to the Caribbean was carrying over 6000 germ infested paying customers. I was one of the germ infested. We all were. It’s like a science experiment every trip. …I digress.
Obviously, a river cruise provides a completely different travel experience.
You aren’t navigating a floating city. You’re on a much smaller ship where it’s easier to move around, get to know people, finding a deck chair isn’t like The Hunger Games and it’s much easier to relax.
And here’s another detail I loved:
Every stateroom has a window.
Even the lowest-category of staterooms still has a window. It may not be the show stopper view you’d get from a higher-deck room, but you’re not sitting in a dungeon with no natural light.
And the rooms themselves tend to be larger than what you’ll find on many traditional cruise ships.
For me, that makes a difference.
Getting Off the Ship Doesn’t Have to Be a Planned Event
This next part made my jaw drop.
I was told that getting off the ship can take one to three minutes depending where you are located.
One to three minutes.
Think about that.
On a large ocean cruise ship, getting off the ship can mean waiting for elevators, navigating stairs, following crowds, waiting for the ship to clear, and then making your way through the terminal.
When thousands of people are all trying to do the same thing at the same time, it’s a process.
With a river cruise, it’s much faster and you don’t feel like you’ve been rounded up like cattle.
And then there’s the part that really matters to me…
You’re Actually in the Destination.
This may be the top reason I’m ready to give river cruising a try.
I’m tired of arriving at a cruise port and saying “now what?” On a river cruise, the river is running right through the destination.
You wake up, look outside, and you’re sailing through the heart of Europe.
When you get off the ship in places like Budapest or Vienna, you’re not starting your day with a long transfer from a cruise terminal, or worse…tendering. Instead, you can step off the ship and start exploring.
And the Excursions? You Get to Choose Your Adventure.
The included excursions on the brand I’m considering aren’t one-size-fits-all. There is a range of activity levels so you can spend your day the way you prefer.
At each port, you have multiple excursion options to choose from. If the itinerary keeps you in a destination for two days, you can have different experiences on each day.
I love that.
Maybe one day I want to hike up to a castle. The next day, I might want to take it slow, sit down and eat amazing food with wine.
And Then There’s the View.
You’re not just traveling to the destination. You’re experiencing the destination as you go.
Instead of looking at endless ocean for days at a time, you’re watching Europe unfold around you.
Villages.
Castles.
Vineyards.
Historic cities.
Countryside.
Bridges.
Architecture.
And all from the comfort of your ship.
That sounds pretty amazing to me.
So… Am I Becoming a River Cruiser?
I’m not sure. I hope to check it out on a solo trip next spring. I know I will always pick the day exploring a city rather than sitting on a crowded pool deck on the ocean.
But after talking with a river cruise expert, I’m genuinely excited to try this style of travel.
I’m putting together a group river cruise for October 2027 that will take us through Europe, beginning in Germany and ending in Budapest, Hungary.
I’ll be sharing the exact itinerary, dates, ports, and all of the details once I have everything finalized.
Maybe I don’t hate cruising.
Maybe I just hate the kind of cruising I’ve experienced before.
And maybe river cruising is the answer.
Small ship. Smaller crowds. Incredible destinations. Included excursions. Included dining. Beer and wine with meals. And cities that are right outside the door.
And if you’ve ever said, “I hate cruises,” This might be an option for you too!
Interested in joining me on a October 2027 adventure or you are considering a river cruise but you have questions, reach out to Realistic Travel Network.
Let’s find a way to make travel work for you.
I’ll see you on the river.
