River cruising is ideal for families and friends or social clubs with shared interests. It is easy for groups to separate during the day for activities and tours that appeal individually, but meet up again later for dinner or evening relaxation to share stories of the day. Or, you can go on your own, private excursion exclusive to your group.
River cruising has some of the advantages of larger ship cruising such as moving from one location to another without unpacking, but the ships are smaller and can go to villages and cities a large vessel would never make. Riverboats dock right in town. No tendering or long road trips to get to the main city. Step off the ship and you’re off and exploring immediately. You’ll be able to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations, participate in authentic experiences, and have more free time to check out local cafes, markets, and sites.
Most riverboats hold 150-160 guests, and can handle group sizes from 10 to a full ship charter. No lines getting on/off the ship. One seating for meals; no waiting to dine. On-board entertainment includes local performers, artists, lecturers, culinary lessons, and wine and beer tastings. There are special interest cruises with added focus for art, history, food, and holidays of various regions throughout the world.
River cruising is best known for the rivers and canals of Europe – Danube, Rhine, Seine to name a few. But, the convenience combined with the ability to immerse culturally in destinations has broadened river cruising’s appeal to other regions of the world. Indochina, the Amazon, Africa, Russia, China all have well-established river cruise offerings.
Is river cruising the style best suited for your group? Give me a call, I’d love to help you choose.