A day on a European river cruise (with hints and tips)

Travel and Leisure

Most folks that I talk to don't know what river cruising is like. They might have a familiarity with ocean cruising, but that doesn't even come close to the experience on Europe's waterways. We've been on four river cruises (Uniworld, Vantage, Gate 1, and Emerald) and feel comfortable saying that for the most part, they operate the same on a day-to-day basis. So to help you with some questions that you newbies might have, I'll detail what a typical day is like for you, and some hints and tips we've learned along the way. Disclaimer: of course there will be differences here and there; e.g. in Vienna, the ship docks a short coach ride from the centre of the city, or you might elect to take the optional trip to Salzburg instead of staying in Linz. And on the Douro, since you only cruise during the day, that experience is not at all like the rest of European river cruising; some have reported that the places the ship docks for the evening have very little to offer. The day I'll outline below is what you'll experience for 70+% of your days on the ship, when you've docked in a somewhat larger city.

Morning & Breakfast

European-style breakfast in Brussels

Good morning and welcome to your new port-of-call! Hopefully, you've managed to get some rest overnight, as you have a big day ahead. For most, this will mean starting with a leisurely buffet breakfast in the main dining room around 8 am or so; full American-style breakfast options will be available, as well as all sorts of pastries, various cheeses and cold cuts, cereals and fruit. There will be an "early-riser" continental breakfast available in the ship's lounge around 6 am for those that are super eager to get moving. We've never gone into town that early, but the access to something to eat has come in handy when we've had trouble coping with the timezone change (she sends me down the hall for a banana and tea). A tip for those that get hungry easily, is to grab a muffin or an extra piece of fruit from the buffet for a mid-morning boost of energy; I like to make a mini bun-wich from some meats, cheese and a freshly baked roll. We bring along assorted ziplock bags so that your snack doesn't end up smushed all over your stuff in your day bag.

Included walking tour

The ship will usually moor a stone's
throw away from the Old Town

After breakfast, there's enough time to get yourself sorted out for the day; pack your napsack with water, camera, and other essentials, grab your audio device (usually in a charging cradle on the desk or in the closet) and tour lanyard. As you leave the ship, you'll be given a numbered passcard; this is to be handed back in each time you return to the ship, so they can account for your presence. Some operators are using scanners to swipe your badge instead. Onshore, you'll meet the group you've been assigned to and a local tour guide will take you on an hour or so's walk through town. At some point you would have been given the option to participate in the "slow walkers" group, if you were so inclined. This tour group would take the same route, but just at a much more leisurely pace than the rest. Typically, these tours start at the ship around 9:30-10 am, and end before lunch in the middle of town. The guide walks through town, describing the sights with historical context; because you have your audio device, you can hear the guide, but don't necessarily need to be beside them. 

Touring in Regensberg

With a transmitter range of about 30 metres, if you spot a good scene or photo opportunity, you can easily pause to grab your shot, then rejoin the group. You will be given the option to follow the tour guide back to the ship, or you can stay and continue exploring. Most folks tend to wander off on their own; if you're in a larger centre, this is a great time to pull out your Rick Steves free audio tour to get more in-depth insight. Tip: it's pretty safe anywhere your cruise will go to, but take off your nametag lanyard after you've left your tour group; you're still likely to look like a tourist, but perhaps you'll appear less like a target for the unscrupulous.

Lunch

Cheap wiener schnitzel

Since most of the time the ship is docked so close to the old town areas, it makes economic sense to go back to the ship for your mid-day meal. It's also an opportunity for you to change out your wardrobe - e.g. maybe the mid-day sun has burned off the morning mist, and now it's time to shed your jacket and put on some shorts? For lunch onboard, some operators serve a 3-course affair, whereas others offer it buffet-style; some like Emerald offered both. Sometimes there will be the same menu items available in the rear lounge, presented in self-serve chafing dishes, for an easier and quicker lunch option. Of course, you can find a local meal in town, and I would recommend this in places like Vienna or Strasbourg, where the ship is not close by. Tip: when seeking out a meal in town, take a few minutes to walk away from the main pedestrian strasse (also noted as "straße"... the ß replaces ss on some signs etc.); you will find better food at a lower price when you are a block or two from the tourist zone. 

Afternoon

This is where you have a blank slate for most itineraries. Some "Deluxe" operators will have another included excursion planned for you, but for others, you've got the entire afternoon to do as you please. Hopefully, you've figured out what you plan on doing the day before (more on that later). We try to hit the other recommended attractions and must-sees, before strolling the High Street and heading back to the ship. I like to buy a couple of local beers along the way (at a fraction of the price of a beer onboard), and enjoy them on the deck or in our room (if the view is not blocked by another ship). When you re-board the ship, don't forget to hand in your passcards/swipe your badge!

Belgium is for beer!

Likely, you've met some other travellers, and you'll end up swapping stories on what you saw and found on your day's excursion. If you're feeling peckish, there will likely be a snack available either in the lounge or at the back of the ship. We usually end up with an hour or two back on the ship relaxing, and then have some time to freshen up before heading to the cocktail lounge. FYI, drinks in the lounge will carry a charge, unless you are on a Deluxe, truly all-inclusive cruise. You can also use this time for pre-planning the next day's free time - Tripadvisor and other travel sites are good resources for this. An important thing to consider: will you need to download an app or some data to help you navigate or make better use of your time tomorrow? Now is the time to do this, before the ship starts moving, and you lose Wi-Fi. e.g. for larger cities, we like to use Google's offline map feature, and download the data while the ship's connectivity is at its best. More on using your smartphone here.

Port Talk & Dinner

Cruise Director port talk

Each evening, around 6:30 pm, the Cruise Director will give a port briefing for tomorrow's destination. They will outline the day's itinerary, and timing for specific and important events, like when the ship will depart. Optional tours will be described as well, giving those who would like to participate a chance to sign up last minute. On your embarkation day, the welcome reception often includes free cocktails, as well as on the Captain's Dinner evening. Sometimes they hand out maps of the town for tomorrow; if you don't get one, don't worry, as they will have copies at the concierge desk in the morning. There will be a brief Q&A, where things like regional tipping and local attractions are discussed. At the end, the Cruise Director will signal that is time to head to the dining room for a full 4 or 5-course meal. Wine and beer flows freely during dinner; I appreciate a nice bottle of wine, and usually the wine selection is fine for my palate. Tip for those frugal travellers like me: get the serving staff to top-up your wine glass before leaving the dining room and heading to the cocktail lounge. In our case, she doesn't drink, but I get them to fill "her" glass as well.

Evening

Evening stroll around Köln

Occasionally, the ship will stay docked overnight or will depart late, and you will have time again after dinner to explore the town, or grab a pint with the locals in a nearby pub. Some of the best photos from our trips are the ones at night, where the buildings are lit up from below. Photographer's tip: you can use your iPhone to capture some of these images, but try to rest it on a stable surface to avoid blur, and make sure you turn off the flash. If you have a newer iPhone, you should familiarize yourself with the new Night Mode feature that will greatly enhance your low light shots. More often however, you'll start sailing in the evening, sometimes during dinner, so pay attention to when that will be in the port talk. You don't want to be the couple that decided to have a local meal in town, only to arrive back at the dock with no ship to board! Back in the lounge, there will be some sort of local entertainment (don't expect ocean liner-style), or in some cases, a game night run by the Activity Host. We've had quite a bit of fun on these nights, and won some minor prizes for our efforts!

Book bikes ahead of time

Activities usually wind down in the lounge by 9 or 9:30 pm, and most folks head back to their staterooms for some much needed rest. But before your head hits the pillow, if you haven't done so already, we recommend taking some time to review where you will be, and using Google and sites like Tripadvisor, plan out your free time for the next day (see note earlier about downloading - once the ship is in motion, typically Wi-Fi is out). We spent hours in the Speyer Technik Museum, but would never have heard of it if we didn't do some research. Did you want to use the bicycles for touring later tomorrow afternoon? You might need to book those the day/evening before. Or if so equipped, maybe you want to reserve some time in the spa for a massage after tomorrow's 10,000+ steps in town?

That's your day on a river cruise... good night!

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