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Five Tips To Improve Your River Cruise

Ralph Grizzle

If you’re new to the European river cruising scene, the sheer amount of cities, towns and villages visited within a single weeklong itinerary can seem rather daunting. Travellers want to know how to maximize their time — and what to see. If you only have a day in Vienna, do you go to the theatre, take in a museum, or spend some time doing relatively little in one of the city’s many cafes?

Opera and architecture buffs alike will want to head to the stunning Hungarian Opera on Andrássy Ave. 22. Photo © Aaron Saunders
What should you do in Budapest? Opera and architecture buffs alike will want to head to the stunning Hungarian Opera on Andrássy Ave. 22. Knowing that before you go, however, can save you time and money. Photo © Aaron Saunders

Fortunately, when we travel to Europe, there are five things we always try to do that improve our experience — and can improve yours on your next river cruise, making those choices a little easier.

1. Read & Research

The Hungarian Parliament, as seen on Google Street View. An invaluable resource!
The Hungarian Parliament, as seen on Google Street View. An invaluable resource!

The first reason seems basic, but we do it before every trip: Read about and research every single port of call on our river cruise itinerary. This doesn’t have to be the sort of tedious research that people used to have to do on a microfiche in a library. Instead, launch your browser — the internet has made research a lot of fun.

Take Google Earth, for instance. You can use it to locate your hotel, river cruise ship dock, or any other location and virtually “walk” through almost any city before you get there. We always do this before visiting a new city; it’s amazing how quickly you can get your bearings when you’re there in real life after having “been there” before.

It’s also worthwhile to look up some of the cities and towns along your way. Find out what makes them tick, or what makes them special. This can help you get a better idea of how you want to spend your time when you’re actually there; leaving you more time to enjoy and less time to worry.

2. Watch Movies

Arles, France features prominently in the 1997 Robert de Niro movie, Ronin. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia / Creative Commons
Arles, France features prominently in the 1997 Robert de Niro movie, Ronin. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia / Creative Commons

It sounds like an odd thing to do (particularly as so many movies aren’t actually filmed in the cities they’re set in), but watching a movie can help get you excited about seeing a particular place. A few even do a great job at highlighting the city itself, like the 2008 dark comedy In Bruges; or the 1997 drama Ronin, which was filmed in Paris, Arles and Nice.

3. Lose Yourself

Overlooking Stift Durnstein from Durnstein Castle. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Overlooking Stift Durnstein from Durnstein Castle. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders

This applies particularly for the small towns you’ll visit along the way: Throw away the map and instead just wander the streets. This goes for towns like Durnstein, Austria, where you can never really get lost, even though there are numerous streets, paths and trails. Explore and discover. The fact that you set off with no plan can make exploring these small towns and villages all the more fun.

4. Eat Ashore

Mmm...Bratwurst mit Sauerkraut at the Wurstkuchl in Regensburg, Germany. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Mmm … Bratwurst mit Sauerkraut at the Wurstkuchl in Regensburg, Germany. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders

Possibly the most important advice we can give is to make sure to sample the local specialties. Have a stroopwaffel in Amsterdam, or a glass of lager in Bavaria. Get the bratwurst mit sauerkraut in Passau, or relax with a café melange in Vienna. Your tastebuds will thank you.

5. Disconnect

River cruising is noteworthy for its friendly, inviting atmosphere. Your fellow travellers will feel likewise! Photo courtesy of Avalon Waterways
River cruising presents an excellent way to relax and disconnect from the rush of everyday life. Photo courtesy of Avalon Waterways

We can’t do disconnect  because when we cruise we’re working. But you can. Unfortunately, we see too many other people who are also working when they should be enjoying what they paid for, a vacation. They’re glued to their iPhones, iPads and computers. Our advice: Turn everything off and enjoy the brilliant silence of sailing down Europe’s waterways. Except, perhaps for the iPhone – it’s always nice to post a photo or two of you enjoying your way along the river.

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River Cruises

Comments

  1. Judy says

    June 19, 2013 at 11:24 am

    Loved River Cruising!!!

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maggie Blehert

Her ideal travel day: venturing to a new place, learning something interesting and sharing a smile.
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Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys.
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Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser. Well-traveled and insightful. Helping you make informed cruise decisions.
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