The river cruise reference page

Travel and Leisure

I've created a fair bit of content over the last few years pertaining to river cruising. Each time someone on our FB river cruise group asks the same question, rather than re-type the answer again, I have usually been sending the relevant blog page that addresses the question. But today, I learned how to create "jump links" in HTML, so you can click directly to the topic, rather than reading the whole page. Some info gets duplicated across different posts, but I’ve tried to use the most thorough responses for the topics below. 

Research and Booking

Introduction to river cruising

Understanding the differences between river cruise operators

Know your budget limitations

Mass market vs. the rest of the operators

Choosing your first river cruise provider

Do you really need a "Deluxe" cruise?

Age of guests on various river cruise operators and why it matters

Popular river cruising routes

Searching for the best river cruise prices

Balcony types on different river cruise staterooms

Layout and room categories on the ships

Choosing a stateroom for your needs and time of year

Ship decor differences - sleek and modern or classical?

River water levels - both low and high

How does time of year affect pricing?

When do the best sale prices occur?

My recent pricing comparison

Weighing out your travel priorities

Comparison and our favourite operator (so far)

Viking vs. Gate 1 river cruise observations

Pre/post-cruise excursions - on your own or through the operator?

A review of our 2022 Emerald lower Danube cruise

Another review - 2018 Gate 1 upper Danube cruise

The Tulips n' Windmills itinerary - ports and sights

The Emerald Waterways pre-cruise gifts (discontinued)

Scenic's differences (compared with Emerald)

Trip Preparation

What type of clothing is best for river cruising?

What is appropriate dinner attire?

Packing tips (primarily mens)

Luggage choices: carry-on only? 

Choosing the right travel backpack

Just some of my travel essentials

• Items I like to have handy on the plane
• Electronics kit with stuff
• Handwashing laundry kit

Power adapters: what do I need?

Foreign currency: do you need it, and where to get it?

On Your Trip

Getting around in metropolitan cities

Google maps is your friend

Using the train in Europe

Mobile phone usage while you are away

Using an eSIM for your mobile phone

A typical day on a river cruise

• Breakfast
• Walking tours
• Lunch
• Afternoon
• Port talk and dinner
• Evening activities

Planning the activities for your day

Inclusions and extras to be aware of

Alcohol: what do you get and optional beverage packages

How do the inclusions differ by cruise operator?

Tipping: understanding the differences

Other European Travel Topics

Using vacation rentals like Airbnb or VRBO

Upgrading airline seats à la carte

Make sure you book your rental car early

Using Rick Steves Audio Europe Tours

Preparing vs. planning for your trip

Avoiding travel mistakes (two parts)

Do men need a day touring bag (or man purse)?

Is my iPhone camera all I need for travelling?

An 8-day Croatian travel itinerary 

Our Portugal trip with Air Canada Vacations

Some things I learned about travelling in France

Opinions expressed here are solely my own and are not affiliated with any travel company or website.