If you’re considering an overseas trip, the cost, time and logistics involved can feel overwhelming – especially if you’re a South African travelling on the rand. But when it comes to value for money and minimal travel logistics while still being adventurous, river cruising is one of travel’s best kept secrets.
Rather than crossing vast stretches of open water as you do on a commercial cruise, a river cruise is a smaller vessel that takes you through some of the world’s most picturesque inland waterways. Whether it’s marvelling at medieval castles along the Rhine and Danube in Europe, winding through Vietnam and Cambodia on the Mekong or exploring the wonders of ancient Egypt via the Nile, a river cruise is an immersive experience that truly lets you soak up your surroundings in a new way.
So if you’ve never been on a river cruise, what else should you know?
A smaller, more intimate experience than a cruise liner
Because they’re specifically designed for narrow waterways, river cruise liners are long, sleek and compact – and much smaller than ocean liners. As a river cruise guest, the experience is far more intimate and immersive. Instead of docking in distant port terminals, you’ll dock in the centre of town. And rather than queuing for buffet meals alongside hundreds of other passengers, you’ll enjoy a gourmet dinner experience where you’ll bond with your fellow guests. Service ratios are also higher than in a commercial ocean cruise, so the comfort and luxury you’ll experience is like being on a floating boutique hotel.
The world is your oyster
Even if you’re a seasoned traveller, exploring a destination via river cruise opens up completely new perspectives to other forms of travel. The waterway itself becomes your window into places that are often invisible to the conventional tourist.
Portugal’s Douro Valley is a perfect example. By land, you might visit Porto and perhaps one or two wine estates by car. By river, you’ll watch steeply terraced vineyards rise on either side as you glide deeper into wine country. In Italy, cruising the Venetian lagoon and the Po river gives you access to a quieter and slower travel experience. Further afield, a cruise on India’s Ganges combines a land journey through the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, with time on the water through villages that few travellers ever reach. And if you’re looking for something truly wild, sailing along Peru’s Amazon river means you’ll navigate tributaries accessible only by boat with wildlife sightings, indigenous community visits and pink river dolphins you won’t see anywhere else.
Operators like Uniworld Boutique River Cruises are leaders in luxury river cruising worldwide and offer itineraries across 17 rivers in 26 countries, giving you an exceptional range of destinations to consider no matter what your budget or travelling group setup is.
An all-inclusive travel option
If you’re a South African fighting a weak currency, an all-inclusive river cruise overseas makes it far easier to budget, as there are far fewer unexpected expenses along the way. As well as your accommodation and transport being covered, most river cruise operators will also include shore excursions, gratuities, onboard dining, wine with meals and airport transfers in the cost of your trip. When you factor all this in, a river cruise can actually offer far more value for money than booking all these elements separately – and it can even be more economical than going on an organised land tour.
Appeal over all seasons
While cruising on warm summer evenings has obvious appeal, going on a river cruise during the “shoulder seasons” of spring and early autumn is also worth considering. At these times of year the weather is more temperate, and you’ll avoid peak season pricing when it comes to flights. Don’t write off winter either: a Christmas voyage along the Rhine and Danube in December is a truly magical experience for both young and old, with Christmas markets glowing along the river banks.
River cruising is an ideal choice if you want to go deeper into a destination and truly experience it, rather than just ticking it off a list. Rather than flying to your destination and then navigating trains, rental cars, hotel bookings and more, a river cruise takes the hassle and stress out of your trip while still giving you freedom and a sense of adventure. If you’re going on an overseas trip this year, river cruising might be the most memorable way to do so.