River cruise passengers tend to be well traveled, retired and with disposable income. They usually have experienced ocean cruising. However, river cruises are becoming more popular with travelers of all ages, including younger honeymooners and for family reunions.

History buffs, educators and travelers looking for a slower pace away from mega-crowds and non-stop action are prime candidates for river cruising. Travelers who love cruising but get seasickness on ocean cruises or are fearful of a ton of water should also enjoy river cruising.

Just about anywhere there’s a major river or waterway, there’s a cruise line offering itineraries – from North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and Russia.

By Land or By Sea Vacations sells river cruises that range from xx-night getaways to xx-night vacations that include a land tour and a river cruise. Most river cruises average from eight- to 14-days.

River cruises are offered most months of the year, and you often receive substantial discounts for booking far in advance. September is the most popular time to cruise but also the most expensive. You’ll find lower prices during the months of November, December, March and April.

Most river cruise lines will tell you that children under the age of eight typically are too young to fully enjoy a river cruise vacation. Also, most river cruise companies do not offer special arrangements or activities for children onboard and impose a minimum age requirement for all guests. However, some river cruise operators do offer a few sailings per year exclusively tailored for families. Check with The Vacation Guy® on specific cruise line rules and family-friendly itineraries.

Most ships have one main restaurant, and breakfast and lunch are often buffet-only (or buffet mainly, with a few items to be ordered a la carte). Dinner is full dining experience, with multiple courses and free-flowing wine to match the cuisine. A few have secondary venues such as light lunch in the lounge or bistro on the sun deck. Room service, when offered, generally incurs an additional fee.

With smaller guest ratios on river cruises, everyone is seated in the dining room at one time for dinner. Breakfast and lunch have a set time based on itinerary schedule that travelers can dine within. Generally, travelers can expect open seating during these set meal times.

All meals are prepared by accomplished chefs and consist of local food adjusted for North American tastes. The small passenger count and daily port calls mean the venues are better able to bring in fresh ingredients such as fish and produce or offer regional specialties.

Dietary restrictions: It’s important to discuss any special dietary or medical needs you have with us before booking to ensure you can be properly accommodated by the river cruise line you’re considering. In most cases, the cruise lines require additional documentation in writing, but usually they can easily accommodate requests for menu items that are low-sodium, low-cholesterol, low-fat or sugar-free.

Dress will vary on the ship and destination, but typically dress onboard and on shore is casual (daytime) to resort casual (dinner/evenings). Remember to bring comfortable walking shoes for sightseeing! There might be a Captain’s Welcome or Farewell Dinners that is dressy but not formal. On some itineraries, you may attend a ballet performance, concert or other dressier event, and for these evenings, you might like to bring more semi-formal attire.

While you won’t have any condo-size suites on a river ship, accommodations are favorable and comparable in size to those on ocean cruises. Cabins depend on the river cruise company but typically average xxx to xxx square feet, with suites ranging from xxx to 500 square feet on average. Most also have panoramic windows and/or French balconies to soak in the views.

The river cruise companies assign rooms to cabin categories, based on the cabin’s size, amenities, deck level and location on the ship. These factors also help to determine price.

In general, river cruise companies offer cabins with two twin beds that can be pushed together to form a queen bed. Most staterooms on river cruise ships are outside cabins with a river view.

River cruises are all or almost all inclusive. This means that your bottled water; wine, beer and soft drinks with meals; most or all cocktails (on luxury lines); and even shore excursions are typically included with your cruise fare. Fine dining is a highlight of most river cruises.

On a river cruise, your evening entertainment will include a resident piano player/singer or small ensemble, folk dancers or other local troupes, cabaret singers and regional historians. Some might also offer educational seminars and cooking demos.

In addition to viewing lounges and open air decks, many riverboats offer libraries, small spas and/or salons, fitness centers and whirlpools.

Most of the cruising is done at night to give you the maximum amount of time at each port, so sea days are a rarity on a river cruise. However, if relaxing on the ship is important to you, you can always forego the included excursions and stay onboard or venture out later during the day to explore on your own.

Your riverboat will tie up right in town, usually a short walk or sometimes a quick bus ride into the heart of the city.

There may be times when your ship moors next to another ship or between ships, especially in busy ports. This simply means that you may walk through other vessel’s lobby or sun deck, if your ship ties up to another ship while berths are occupied. Docking locations are determined by the local harbor authorities.

River cruises allow plenty of time to explore great towns and cities at your desired pace. At each port, you can choose an excursion offered by the river cruise company or explore on your own.

The hallmark of the river cruise shore excursion is the walking tour, where you follow an English-speaking guide and listen to details of a quaint city’s history and culture on the included headset. Most river cruise lines offer various activity levels for their excursions – from easy/slow walkers to active, with some including bicycle tours. There’s also time to explore destinations on your own – great for shopping, enjoying a local café or returning to a favorite tour spot you want to investigate more

Important Note: River cruises are port intensive, and you’ll visit a new destination each day. The ports, not the ships, are the key attractions, and you will certainly pack a lot of sightseeing into your cruise. This kind of travel can be exhilarating but also exhausting. Bring comfortable and sturdy walking shoes, and don’t be embarrassed to take a day off if you’re getting overwhelmed.

Many port towns and nearby cities in Europe have uneven cobblestone sidewalks and streets. Travelers with limited mobility may find it difficult to negotiate some of the historic sites and steep stairs. Therefore, if someone in your traveling party has mobility challenge, please discuss with our travel advisors so we can find the right itinerary for you that will allow you to experience the destinations more fully.