This sounds much more like my kind of thing - I have no interest in hanging out on a floating hotel-casino for days on end. I want to see historic sites and museums.

@Milesco

2 жыл бұрын

Me too! :-)

@caeligood6607

2 жыл бұрын

I know... duh...

@pattid8729

2 жыл бұрын

Perhaps you’ve not been on the right kind of cruise. I would suggest Oceania ocean cruises. No children, no gigantic casinos, 1200 - 1500 people, very manageable. The river cruises sound very much like a bus tour. We like to manage our own activities, not to be pigeonholed into what their limited activities are.

@judeirwin2222

2 жыл бұрын

There are smaller ocean going vessels, you know, with knowledgeable lecturers and guides to historic or cultural places. Noble Caledonia springs to mind. I would never, ever take a cruise on one of those giant, ugly floating hotel things. Ugh.

@deborahsmith403

2 жыл бұрын

I'm quite introverted and have done 2 European river cruises with Avalon Waterways and can't recommend them enough. I'm a history geek and loved being able to visit so many interesting places without spending days traveling between cities. Only having 110-120 people on a ship was wonderful and the staff were brilliant - they worked out I was a quiet person and found me a nice quiet corner in the restaurant but still fussed over me to make sure I had everything I wanted. You can eat in the smaller panorama lounge if you want rather than the restaurant plus there is another lounge with all day coffee/tea/juice, fruit and snacks. I was also able to do my own thing rather than join the group tours a couple of times - the cruise director will help you plan. These cruises are for adults so there arent any loud excitable children.

The HUGE difference between a bus tour and river boat you didn't mention....no unpacking and repacking! It's awesome.

@cliffkatiecollins9975

3 ай бұрын

I didn’t think of that… That’s one of the main drawbacks for me when I’m on a regimented tour is always having to pack up and leave each day… But I don’t think I would mind the regimented schedule as much if I could just leave my stuff in my room…

@rockets4kids

Ай бұрын

Got kind of tired packing and unpacking Town to town and up and down the dial Maybe you and me were never meant to be But baby think of me once in awhile

You sold me on “no sea sickness, no entertainment and small group of people”. I’m in! I like quiet and peaceful!

My wife and I did 3 Viking river cruises. We love them. The small intimate group of pleasant people on each cruise was great. We liked the crews on each ship, the food, ease of disembarking and returning to the ship.Everything was very efficient and well organized, from the minute they greeted us at the airport when we flew in to the moment they dropped us at the airport for our return flight home. No noisy casino, no screaming children. Lots of pampering. we could learn some culture and history of the visited regions.

@larsrons7937

Жыл бұрын

Same here. I can only recommend river cruises and encourage people to do them. But all the things the narrator complained about (and I myself would enjoy) are really things I would look into before bying the ticket so I knew what to expect - or alternatively be open and appreciating whatever experience the trip would give me. I don't think I could ever do a trip and then complain, unless something was completely the opposite of what was promised in details.

@larrymartin9556

Жыл бұрын

@@larsrons7937 check out Viking you know exactly what you will be doing every day all day

@larsrons7937

Жыл бұрын

@@larrymartin9556 Viking sounds like a good experience to me. And of course you can always do something different than planned, as long as it fits within the boats schedules (that's how it is with boats).

@studentoftheword6115

Жыл бұрын

I love everything you said. Especially about the airport arrival and drop off. Woooo. Needed to know that!

@bookgirlny8511

Жыл бұрын

Sounds wonderful. Maybe one day… I’m an English teacher, but I love history

No partying! No families with children! Shock Horror, culture and architecture! Sign me Up!

@jimw.4161

14 күн бұрын

Exactly! 👍

@californianorma876

5 сағат бұрын

Sounds perfect ❤

I hope your video does not discourage people from going on a river cruise - they are great!

@davidhatton583

2 ай бұрын

No worries… it doesn’t. Just reinforces my plan to never ocean cruise Ever

@brendasoares4442

2 ай бұрын

Puts me off ocean cruise now need to do a river cruise

Absolutely loved our river cruise. So much history, entertainment, socializing and different cultures. Among meeting and making lifetime friends. Plus calm waters and spectacular scenery. So much better than any sea cruise we've been on. River cruises any time!!

People complain about going through the canal locks, that would be my favorite part!

@elizabethroessner8487

3 ай бұрын

I would love to go through a lock. As a child, I watched the boats go through the lock in Kittanning. Pa. across the river from my Grandma's house. 😊

@jzero53

2 ай бұрын

I did a Panama Canal cruise and the day going thru the locks from east to west was so much fun and amazing!

@louisehenderson5798

2 ай бұрын

@@jzero53 I agree. It was fascinating seeing how the locks worked.

I'm sorry, dear, but the very things you lambast are what attracts me to the river cruises. In the 70s and 80s, I hitched all over Europe, staying in youth hostels and tiny B n Bs, but am now widowed and somewhat disabled. An ocean cruise with 3000 drunk strangers and their unsupervised brats is my idea of Hell. I love culture and history, not gorging at 15 buffets or listening to children scream on a go-cart track. I also enjoy feeling safe, which does not happen among thousands of people confined to one floating monstrosity.

@marykay8587

2 жыл бұрын

😂 unsupervised brats....geez!

@samsdaughterdehaven9990

2 жыл бұрын

30 or 40 years ago, my sister-in-law came back from an ocean cruise with her girl friends. They laughed at how one of them had sex with an employee and it sounded like the most immoral type of vacation that I would have never have imagined. Well, you just might as well to to Sodom or Gomorrah and vacation if that's your lifestyle choice and what you find to be fun. Plus, gambling. It's an excuse for many to be completely decadent and feel like it's justified in their sight.

@felsenruh

2 жыл бұрын

? Mr. Bembridge was very, very clear about the pros and cons of river cruising. He didn't criticize or lambast; he merely pointed out differences.

@janetwhite7786

2 жыл бұрын

@@marykay8587 What, you dont recognize the words? Im totally down with her viewpoint. But then, im old as well.

@janetwhite7786

2 жыл бұрын

Totally agree with you. I love history and architecture and it sounds wonderful to my husband and me.

I’ve done 2 Viking Cruises and found it was easy to go off my own and explore. No one questioned me and it was fabulous. I definitely prefer river cruising over ocean cruising. No children was a plus!

@raew5263

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for commenting. I keep asking myself, “Do they force you to go out w/the group?” I mean, it should be an option - especially if you want some solitude w/nature etc. 🙏🏻

@hurst-cs2jh

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Beverly, how are you doing?

@terrym4840

2 жыл бұрын

River boats are great!. Viking is fantastic, the no kids part really is a plus. No gambling , its relaxing and no loud music blaring. Great service, food and options. This guy in the video likes Disney cruses I bet.

@marybusch6182

2 жыл бұрын

@@raew5263 The tours are not that long so you still have time to explore on your own. We ate at a great restaurant in Passau where the rivers meet.

@joansmith5870

2 жыл бұрын

No kid's!!! Hallelujah!

Our riverboat cruise was such a pleasure. Passengers & staff were friendly and most accommodating. Excursions and meals were organized to make the most of our eight days. We made our choices prior to sailing. The crew did all the rest. Seeing and learning about history and culture in elegant comfort made for wonderful memories.

@BarryGrove

Жыл бұрын

Dont go on them ,and stop whinging.

@ashe48

Жыл бұрын

@@BarryGrove Whining?

@rod_at_adelaide5766

Жыл бұрын

@@ashe48 I think he meant the the guy who posted this video not you, I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise 😊😊

@user-sw5fi5dw8o

10 ай бұрын

​@@ashe48winge is British/UKspeak for whining.

My husband and I enjoyed a Viking River Cruise with two other couples and thoroughly enjoyed it. We were older and the pace was just right for the 6 of us. We toured the Rhine River all the way to Switzerland, stopping in lovely towns during the day and traveling at night. The food was outstanding, the nightly entertainment great, and the villages we visited wonderful. I would HIGHLY recommend it for adults; children would not be interested.

Everything he said makes me want to try a river cruise. I did two ocean cruises, and I didn’t like the huge size of the ships, or the many hours we spent at sea with nothing to see but the sea.

@lisaluciani5676

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve been on a few river cruises. Every one of them was fabulous. I recommend them.

@ahwhite1398

Жыл бұрын

All that footage of the Donau... I miss it so. Would love to do one of those long river cruises. Used to watch those boats go by so often.

@mothmagic1

Жыл бұрын

Do it, I'm sure you won't be sorry. My wife and I have done one on the Rhein and enjoyed every minute of it. We have no interest in ocean cruises because it always looks like a floating version of the local town centre.

@karynbenson6318

Жыл бұрын

@@mothmagic1 The last few ocean cruises I have done have been on small ships for that very reason, and we have chosen cruises that are in port nearly every day. Glad to hear you enjoyed the Rhine. We are booked to go on that next year.

@hollyharris711

Жыл бұрын

I enjoyed my 2 river cruises

If I was going on a cruise, it would definitely be river. Nothing about an ocean cruise appeals to me but history, architecture and culture does.

@johnkeith2450

2 жыл бұрын

Cruise ship....A prison with an option for drowning

@lauraduplooy

2 жыл бұрын

I was thinking the same thing! I assumed they were similar to ocean cruises, which sound like torture. The active schedule, getting to know your group fairly well, lots of guided tours with historical/cultural background? Heaven! I will definitely bring my own wine and snacks though. Great video; thank you!!

@CharleneCTX

2 жыл бұрын

It depends on the ocean cruise. We're not "resort" people and I saw ocean cruises as a resort on water. But I really enjoyed our Alaska cruise. The ship moved at night and docked during the day. You could book any of several activites or not. We went zip-lining, took a helicopter to a glacier and went dogsledding, attended a salmon bake, explored several towns on our own, etc. I was contemplating a river cruise, but I'm glad I saw this video. I'd hate the coach-tour regimentation of it.

@venusreena2532

2 жыл бұрын

I agree.. RC cruise ship although new and huge left much to be desired

@hurst-cs2jh

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Michelle, how are you doing?

My wife and I did a Viking Danube cruise and really enjoyed it. Our approach: each evening we would look at the schedule for the next day, and very often that day we would eat breakfast aboard the ship, have a detailed conversation with the concierge (always knowledgeable and had city maps we could take) including subways use, etc, then we would head out on our own for the day, to be back on the ship for dinner. The only real cost was lunch out on our own in the city, plus we enjoyed finding local restaurants, and not having to rush back to eat.

Thanks for pointing out the differences. Great information! You've provided a valuable service to travelers. I'm not a "joiner" so thanks for helping me avoid an expensive mistake. As you said, neither type cruise is better, just different strokes for different folks. Smooth sailing,everyone!

I've been on seven Viking River cruises and really enjoyed them. The ship usually cruises at night and ties up at a different town each morning. You go tour the city and then return to the ship which leaves in the evening to move to the next town. It's like having your hotel always there.

@jerrygerloff1126

Жыл бұрын

An not having to pack and unpack at each new destination.

@mothmagic1

Жыл бұрын

Cruising at night defeats the object n my opinion. The whole idea is to motor sedately along enjoying watching the world go by.

@jerrygerloff4322

Жыл бұрын

@@mothmagic1 ocean cruise ship sail from port to port at night too.

@mothmagic1

Жыл бұрын

@@jerrygerloff4322 sorry I thought someone got the wrong idea about river cruises

@annebenn353

Жыл бұрын

@@mothmagic1 and the scenery.

My wife and I never cruised, then we did a Viking river cruise with friends, it was great! We have now done a total of 7 Viking river cruises, and one Viking ocean cruise. The ocean was great as well. Max is 900 people, never felt crowded. No kids, no casino. Have 3 cruises scheduled in the next year.

As Chuck said most of your "negatives'" are actually positives for many discerning cruisers. So far we've done 5 European river cruises with different operators (we choose what suits our plans) and all were what one can expect: a great holiday, enchanting cities and towns along beautiful landscapes, castles and valleys. On board excellent service, nice food and respectful and interesting fellow travelers. No more ocean cruising for us.

@bookgirlny8511

Жыл бұрын

You are really tempting me!

@inyobill

9 ай бұрын

Exactly. THe huge ships with thousands of people om board is a negative for me.

@lizziebkennedy7505

8 ай бұрын

These are all subjective judgements. Great that you enjoyed it so much, but that’s you. I wouldn’t choose one based on this, because I cannot stand to be regimented with a schedule. I also don’t want to hang out with people who feel the need to describe themselves as discerning when someone else expresses a different view. These cruises take decision making off you - how do you evolve and grow when you’re locked in like that? Restrictive environments are not my cup of tea, but you can enjoy nonetheless,

@helenabennet3997

8 ай бұрын

Took two, Rhine (favorite) and Danube Christmas time River cruises. Yup,got cold but hot GULL WINE SAVED THE DAY! Loved the souvenir mugs. The excursions were great and the guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Was scheduled for a Portuguese river cruise but COVID cancelled those plans🤬

@inyobill

8 ай бұрын

@@helenabennet3997 No dis, "Glu (pronounced approximately 'glue') wine" I make typos too. The Advent season in Germany is a ton of fun, especially the Weihnachtsmaerkte in the old castles!

We just returned from our first river cruise. We took an AMA Waterways Rhine River cruise and loved every minute of it! We enjoy small group travel so this was just perfect for us. We had no morning wake-up calls; we were free to come and go as we pleased. No one is forcing you to do any of the tours if you feel like simply staying aboard the beautiful ship - in our case, AmaSerena. The smaller group size made everything more intimate and enjoyable and that applies to the amazing staff and crew, too. They couldn't do enough for you and always with grace and a smile. Can't wait to take another river cruise! (would never go on an ocean cruise again).

@loranna1118

Жыл бұрын

Sailed on the AMAserena several years ago and loved it. Leaving soon on the AMACello burgundy and Provence. Wonderful line.

I’ve taken two Viking River Cruises and it was amazing. It’s all about experiencing a different city every day. For people who love history, architecture, culture, and food it is perfect. We filled our days with tours and explored on our own. Planning a Viking Ocean Cruise next year. The company is wonderful.

@philipnorman2861

2 жыл бұрын

G' day Rob, my beautiful wife and I have done two Scenic river cruises - South West France and Portugal. Brilliant ! Some of what the reviewer said applys, but we had much more choice. Yep, set meal times, but they were generous in length of time. So people would come and go as they pleased. Also, room service would bring you a snack or meal pretty much any time. We would sometimes enjoy breakfast in the dining area at 9:00-ish, sometimes at 11:00-ish. Whatever we felt like. Always plenty of options for guided tours most days as well. Highly recommend Scenic. Best wishes.

@1SCme

2 жыл бұрын

There isn't a lot in common between river and ocean cruising - perhaps the biggest difference is that *on an Ocean cruise the attraction most of the time is on the ship, on a river cruise the attraction is the stops and the scenery off the ship* as it cruises.

@markmiller3279

2 жыл бұрын

@@1SCme It depends a lot on the size and kind of ship you're on. There are ocean cruise ships just as small as river cruise ships, with 100-200 passengers. These are mostly luxury ships with most things included. They have minimal onboard entertainment, often nothing more than a pianist or maybe a combo in the lounge. There are often no casinos.

@1SCme

2 жыл бұрын

@@markmiller3279 Those definitely aren't the norm, I suspect have fewer stops (the attractions and entertainment on river cruises, 2 to 3 stops a day). River cruises offer entertainment beyond piano and a bar most evenings (it is cheaper, the entertainment embarks and disembarks at stops, canal gates, or they will pause at a dock without tying up). If you take an ocean cruise ship and remove the on-board entertainment, then why not just stay at a luxury resort?

@woodwaker1

Жыл бұрын

@Raymond Carver The food is great (two Viking cruises )

Most of the things you described as negative I found to be positive. On ocean cruises, the crowds of 3,000+ were overwhelming, with many of them being obnoxious drunkards. On one ocean cruise, there was one woman so drunk that as she laid out on the sun deck she urinated a huge puddle under her chair. Well after the fact a crew member came along and led her off to her room while another was relegated to cleaning her mess. The value of smaller ships is that guests get to know one another and that tends to minimize confrontations and other sour situations common to ocean cruises. I can get along well without the constant bombardment of clanging casinos and garish entertainment. Many times it is more comforting to side up to a good book. Some of us are so well-rounded that we do not need constant outside stimulus. We can create our own stimuli.

@woodwaker1

Жыл бұрын

Well explained and so true

@nsloane5384

Жыл бұрын

YES! I’ve been on 3 ocean cruises and quite often retired to my cabin to get away from the rowdy drunks, wild children and noisy casinos and “picture auctions”. I think I’ll explore river cruises this time.

@vincekerrigan8300

Жыл бұрын

Chuck D: The lack of what passes nowadays for 'entertainment', would be a big advantage as far as I am concerned.

@1SCme

Жыл бұрын

@@nsloane5384 If you do Europe, Amsterdam to Budapest, either as 1 trip or split up, is the trip that has everyone glowing about afterwards. If you want to go a step smaller in passenger size, lean more culturally than tourist sites, and get into areas you would have difficulty driving to, look into Asian river cruises as well. I haven't tried the Amazon cruises yet.

@JeanettePerezEDRN

Жыл бұрын

Totally agree. I love Disney Cruise Line and AmaWaterWays!

I loved my river cruise with Viking and will be going again for the Christmas market cruise on the Rhine.

I love the intimate size of a river cruise. I also enjoy the scheduled tours because they were included, not an extra purchase for the most part. The tours really suited my needs and interests. It never occurred to me that having scheduled meal times was an issue. I enjoyed the food and the people we ate with at dinner. Lastly, I enjoyed sitting on deck and watching the scenery. No lines, no waiting and a calmer crowd. Never had my time interfered with drunken, loud tourists. I love museums and historical sites and the insights the guides provide.

Another great video, Gary. My wife and I had been on a number of ocean cruises (Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, etc.) and we decided to go on our first river cruise in 2019. It was an Emerald cruise down the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel. It was the best cruising experience we’ve ever had. It was relaxing, fun, and educational. No cattle calls to get on/off the ship, assemble for meals, etc. There were no packed elevators and big crowds. All port tours were included in the price and you could choose from easy tours to more strenuous tours. If you didn’t want to go on a particular tour, then you simply didn’t go. All the tour guides were good. You could easily see the scenery on both sides of the ship at the same time from pretty much any part of the ship. It was so relaxing to watch cities, towns, cathedrals, castles, windmills, etc. glide by. No boring days at sea. No on-board shops. No miles to walk and multiple decks to traverse to get to your room, or to meals, or to get on/off the ship. The food was good and changed depending on the country we were going through. Our ship was nicely furnished. The only downside was that we once had to walk up and down the slippery outside stairs of another ship in the rain to get to our ship at a stop. People were easy to talk to and become acquainted with. We would go on another river cruise in a heartbeat.

@happytraveller2122

2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely true. Can't really understand people not enjoying a RC 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

@ruthwickline1000

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment, now, could you talk my husband into going on one😟…please….

@happytraveller2122

2 жыл бұрын

@@ruthwickline1000 just book it yourself. I do 😂

@barbaracronin4164

2 жыл бұрын

James: Thank you for debating point for point. I did not have the patience todo so. I have been watching/following this gentleman for some Time. I TRULY DONT know what caused him to 180 his tone, style, classy “present”, and valuable tips and hacks. I have been on 11 River cruises (actually 10 different - Viking Paris to Normandy (fan girl for Giverney et Monet) and approximately 30 ocean cruises - all lines from Virgin Atlantic to Carnival lol! I don’t like what I saw here and wont watch again

@debbiet-t.3773

2 жыл бұрын

Boring days at sea ? If you’re bored on a cruise-there’s a problem w/ you-so much to do ! Or perhaps you’re going on a cheapo cruise filled w/ screaming kids & drunks. There are many fine cruises w/ classes to take, lectures, etc. I suggest you try something other than Carnival, like Crystal Cruises, Holland America, etc

Different strokes for different folks! We loved the river boat cruise much more than the ocean cruise.

My wife and I started river cruising in our mid 30s. We absolutely love them. There is no better way to see many different places in Europe. The luxury options are amazing, the people are typically great - both staff and passengers, food is typically great, excursions are awesome and the history is endless. We have come to enjoy Scenic river cruises and look forward to enjoying their luxury yacht one day

Viking river cruises can’t be beat. Fantastic food, accommodations , and crew members, plus the number of passengers is less than 200.

Sorry mate, if I were to choose between ocean cruise and river cruise, I will definitely choose the latter. The idea of having a vacation with a few thousand people whom you don’t know on the ocean liner is simply not my way of vacationing. Who would prefer to look at the ocean everyday when compared to beautiful sceneries on a river cruise?

@jimw.4161

14 күн бұрын

👍

River cruises are one of my favorite vacations. Smaller, quieter, better class of tourists.

@susie9893

3 ай бұрын

That's a kinda snobby way to phrase it but at least you know that most of the ppl on board are there because they're interested in learning the history behind what they're seeing - stuff like that. Not there to party (which doesn't mean: not there to have a good time)

We recently returned from a SCENIC cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest. They offer snacks, sandwiches in the lounge during the afternoon. The suite rooms above the water line had a superior layout /arrangement; full motorised window on the balcony drops to waist level. Absolutely lovely. Very similar concept to other river cruise companies. The food was excellent, evening entertainment was nice; when we decided not to go on a tour nobody bothered us. It was excellent. Keep in mind that each stop is similar, historical, church, castle, abbey. If you aren’t interested in history the itinerary can be boring by day 7.

I've done both and I'll take a river cruise every time. Smaller, more intimate, quieter, and you get much closer to the venues along the way.

Appreciate your perspective here. AND: We have had nothing but exceptional experiences with our Viking River Cruises, and have made lifelong friends on the smaller boats of both Viking and Windstar. We can no longer imagine - nor desire - having the experience again of those massive Ocean Cruises of the other Cruise Lines around the world. We like the intimacy of these smaller boats, and the caliber of the guests as seasoned travelers and exclusively adults. The pace is leisurely, the Tours have been very good and immersive, and the boat’s amenities are customized to the people and tastes who are their core customers. Simply cannot go back to the Big Boats. We have been spoiled by Viking and Windstar.

@dianefalk8915

Жыл бұрын

I just returned from a Viking ocean cruise. Fabulous! Lots of amenities, excellent food and enrichment lectures. No casino, no children. 880 people so quite manageable. Excellent entertainment too. We have already signed up for another one.

Only ever river cruised on the Egyptian Nile. On our second cruise it was an older boat and reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile- fab!

@skylineuk1485

2 жыл бұрын

The Nile cruise was one of our best cruising experiences. I would suggest anyone doing it to get a personal tour guide who stays with you on the boat as it made the whole experience so much better we reckon.

@ronschlorff7089

2 жыл бұрын

Since you write this, I assume you survived!! :D

@ronschlorff7089

2 жыл бұрын

@@AScrapOfKindness We are "kindred spirits" to be sure!! I've seen all the Poirot movies, and TV shows on Masterpiece, old and new. Particularly loved Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot. And I'm a huge fan of anything ancient Egyptian; the Nile river cruise sounds fascinating to me! .....However, I'll leave my gun at home! ;D

@apgx6032

2 жыл бұрын

@@ronschlorff7089 🤣

@stuartlast8156

2 жыл бұрын

We did a 10 day cruise on the Nile on the SS Misr, several years ago, fantastic, it's like being transported back in time, very "Death on the Nile -ish" !!

I live in a place (Florida) where cruise ships are a big industry, lived here most my life, and I have never been interested in being on a cruise ship at sea, now, these river cruises, look interesting, and definitely something I would like to do, like you said these are basically tours, being done on a boat, but the idea you are in a new town/place every day, and no sea sickness, is very attractive to me.

Thanks for the excellent video. One thing to note, as I'm sure you know, is that the non-balcony rooms are *significantly* less expensive than any of the balcony rooms. On our sailing, $1500 less expensive. And because the ships are so small, it very easy to reach the deck areas in just a few steps. This makes the non-balcony rooms on a river cruise far less 'intrusive' than interior/oceanview rooms on a large ocean going vessel.

My husband and I have been on two river cruises and two ocean cruises. We far preferred the river cruises as it was so easy to disembark and see the lovely towns and sites along the river. The food was wonderful and the chance for meeting interesting people was great too.

The Mrs. and I took the Viking Rhine River cruise several years ago because of a TV add and decided to go for it. We had already been on a cruise ship and wanted to see the difference. The big differences we noticed were the cruise ships had all the 24 hour lifestyles of different things to do. My river cruise lacked the amenities the cruise ship had, but to see the sights and beauty of a country side in slow motion on a river cruise are memories you won’t soon forget. I can’t speak for other river cruises but it seemed to cater to much older folks just wanting relaxation. Loved the walking tours. Stopped at Normandy Beach during one of our stops which happened to be on Veterans Day. They had given us veterans a special salute in honor of all who served. Must admit, i had a tear or two stream from my eyes. I’d recommend a river cruise especially if you love all the beer and wine you can drink while eating. As ABBA says, Take a chance - Take a Chance.

@hurst-cs2jh

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Keith, how are you doing today?

@PreservationEnthusiast

2 жыл бұрын

River cruises are great for sheep who like being herded around like cattle.

@gayleray4535

2 жыл бұрын

@@PreservationEnthusiast 7

@michaelmullin3585

2 жыл бұрын

Relaxation, luxury, and QUIET is what I would want on a river cruise or an ocean cruise. I shudder at the thought of an ocean cruise with 5,000 other humans. Ugh!

@suzannegrenier7642

2 жыл бұрын

@@PreservationEnthusiast you obviously have never been on a river cruise. What you spend your time onshore doing is totally up to you. They have daily tours, but you are not required to participate.

Thank you for this. It confirms my suspicions that I would much prefer a river cruise. I value a very high quality experience even with limited choices over crowds, bustle, and a sort of pop-culture atmosphere. Your videos look like exactly my sort of crowd and my preferred decor, although I think I definitely want a cabin above the waterline. Who needs entertainment when you have that scenery passing by.

What a Debbie Downer. I have, as many other commenters here have, taken many river cruises and absolutely loved them all. It put me off ocean cruises, even the Viking ones, forever.

While this report is basically true, it is heavily slated. No casino--great, no shops--great. No endless food everywhere--good. You can get food at off times but gone are the days of decadent overflowing buffets. You go to historic places. If you don't want the free tour--skip it. We arranged our own outing and wandered around Bruge eating mussels and beer. We spent our free afternoons wandering the city, buying from local shops. The lectures we were offered were great, the daily tour very well organized. Maybe some folks need lots of action and distraction. We watched France, Germany, glide by while reading.

@susie9893

3 ай бұрын

👍👍👍👍

We have been on 2 European Viking River Cruises! Loved every minute! Less than 200 passengers so it was easy to meet and get to know people. We took some of the organized walking tours and walked around by ourselves in other ports. I would go again in a heartbeat!

@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042

2 жыл бұрын

Fewer than 200.

@nichtsistkostenlos6565

2 жыл бұрын

@@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042 Thanks, there's no way I would have understood what she meant. You're really doing the lord's work.

@claregrana

2 жыл бұрын

@@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042 thanks! It kills me too.

@pattiday431

2 жыл бұрын

@@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042 😆

@swise63

2 жыл бұрын

@@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042 Awesome. Let's start a whole commenting thread fighting about the differences between UK English and US English....

In my country river cruises are a popular thing (because there's a couple big rivers with all the little historical towns and small cities on them). They're often referred to as not as "cruises" at all, but "river motor ship tours". "Passenger river motor ship" is one word in Russian - "теплоход". "Teplohod" Entertainers and lecturers sometimes give a concert or a series of lectures onboard of such a ship. Those ships also cater for parties e.g. weddings. There's a whole range of local pop songs about river cruising that are typically played on board of this ships or welcome them in various ports.

@susie9893

3 ай бұрын

Thank you for this perspective bcos I'd recently looked into river cruising in Russia (b4 all this Ukraine thing blew up)

We've been on two Viking Cruises: The Upper Danube and the Rhine. For someone who wants to feel cozy, safe and cared for, they're great. And we really enjoyed being immersed in the culture. But on the other hand the regimentation made me feel like I was in overnight Girl Scout Camp. I need time to breathe and be me. And yes, as you mentioned, the other negative for me on the 2nd cruise was somehow Norovirus went thru the ship. About 20+ passengers, including me, which is a huge chunk of the passengers, were sickened. There are no trained medical personnel on board and if you really need one, they will get a taxi to take you to a doctor. But the 2nd cruise was such a bad experience I will never go again.

The advantage for me was that my husband could go off and do his walk in the quaint village while I could go off and climb the mountain. We had many options when moored and made the most of them! When I had checked out the price of us visiting all the places we wanted to along the part of the Danube ending up in Budapest, it worked out cheaper on the cruise than trying to drag our luggage along with us using public transport and hotels.

@1SCme

2 жыл бұрын

Outside the major cities with enough attractions to fill several days, river cruising is the bet way to see Europe - rather than checking in and out of hotels and catching trains or renting a car, you check into the hotel once, and the hotel goes to each city.

@jacquidavis90

Жыл бұрын

Love river cruises. Best memory was when everyone got off at Cologne and I stayed on board on the sun deck reading my book. Whole place to myself. Beautiful!

Been on several Viking river cruises, and all were excellent. Best vacations I’ve been on. I have no interest in boring ocean cruises (Casinos? You can keep them).

@Luna.3.3.3

2 жыл бұрын

I agree with your view on ocean cruises. You'd have to pay me to go on one - but this strict schedule is not for us either. My husband is Hungarian & last time we visited Budapest, his relatives told us about an overnight cruise to Vienna. That's more our style.

@anja4790

2 жыл бұрын

Who needs a casino when on vacation? Also, I can shop where I live and don't need to do this on a ship. The scenery is spectacular, not just water

@dixieinstrumental805

2 жыл бұрын

I just want a sun deck to lounge on and have a "screw the world I am comfortable attitude"

@georgedunn320

2 жыл бұрын

I guess it's like a lot of things: you'll like this if this is the sort of thing you like.

@lonniedotson7558

2 жыл бұрын

@@georgedunn320 My wife and I love casinos, but we found the ones on Ocean ships are small and not much to speak of...based upon the lack of people in there at any time I don't see folks takeing trips for the casino experaince what so ever....it's there if you want but not a big draw.....

This video is spot on the pluses and minuses. I wished I had watched it before our Russian River cruise. I wanted to knock my head up against the wall as I was going stir crazy. We only had a few hours off the boat each day. I think there will come a point in time in our lives that this mode of travel will be desirable. But if you’re fit and mobile, river cruising has too much downtime to be enjoyable.

I have been on 8 ocean cruises but never on river cruises. This video is very informative. So if I decide to go on a river cruise, I’d know exactly what to expect. These are escorted tours with the ship as your hotel, so no need to change hotel every night. Thank you Gary! Love this video and all the others. And congrats on the 100M views! Please keep up the great work, much appreciated and God bless your team!

@Jane-ws7dd

8 ай бұрын

Don't believe most of what he says

I went on a cruise on the Mekong River and ended up in Angkor Wat. At night the boat would move and we'd wake up in a different location. We visited schools and projects the cruise company supported, as well as museums and the killing Fields (tough visit, but must never be forgotten). We managed to visit places that by land would have been difficult. I highly recommend it. I'm not great at getting up early, but everyday was awe inspiring, and I've never eaten so much fruit, amazing flavours!!!

@annemorris505

Жыл бұрын

I suppose it depends on what you're looking for. I did two small (very small) cruises, one down the Danube from Munich to Vienna and one from Amsterdam to Bruges. Both were delightful. The passengers were lovely - I think you meet a more seasoned traveler on these. At every port we had optional activities or could just take off on the bikes they provided and explore on our own. It felt like a gathering of friends rather than a crowd of strangers stuck in a mall. It's definitely riverboat cruises for me.

@war-painter

Күн бұрын

I did it from Chang Rai (Thailand) down the Mekong through Laos, stopping overnight in a little Laotian village and watching local dancers- - then on to the Buddha Caves outside Luang Prabang before ending there at the capital Luang Prabang which is one of the most beautiful places on earth, hands down. Exquisite river, now I want to go back, but I don’t think any riverboat can go over those waterfalls in the 4,000 Islands area of Laos on the border of Cambodia, very treacherous and amazing. Rivers are glorious!

Frequent long duration ocean cruiser here. Took the American Queen on the Mississippi River, USA. it was superb. Had the opportunity to meet many fellow passengers at the hotel prior to beginning the cruise. Excellent food, served by the same personnel each day. Great entertainment every day and also educational lectures throughout the cruise. Wonderful excursions offered. Elegant furnishings and great veranda stateroom. While I like ocean cruising this river cruise was so much nicer. You really got to know your fellow passengers, the crew was attentive and the food and entertainment were A+. I would do more river cruising in the USA.

@brendad3570

2 жыл бұрын

I've often thought I would like to do Mississippi cruise

@HunterPeale

2 жыл бұрын

if you liked learning about the history of and on the Mississippi River, read "Minn of the Mississippi" by Holling Clancy Holling. it's about the great river as seen through the eyes of a 3 legged snapping turtle as she traverses the entire river in her lifetime.

@WISOTT

2 жыл бұрын

@@waitwhat9412 As Sartre would have said: 'hell is other people - and an ocean cruise'

@wendytravis6427

2 жыл бұрын

Did you have to wake when they said wake?

@edl617

2 жыл бұрын

The American Queen is a beauty.

I know two couples that went on a river cruise, both couples experienced problems. The boat broke down in both cases and they had to take a buss. They also had food and drink problems, they both said “never again”

Gary, thank you for all your videos! We really enjoy and appreciate your insight. We recently sailed on our first river cruise - Uniworld Christmas Markets on the Main river - and you had properly prepared us for the unique things to expect and helped us enjoy our trip more. A couple of things that we noticed was first that most of the passengers on the ship seemed to want to stay in the "American bubble" and not immerse in the culture of the region, which was a bit disappointing as immersion is something we appreciate. All the tours seemed focused on telling you what to observe from the comfort of the American tour group without experiencing things in more detail. In this regard, we found or few days in Nuremburg before joining the ship much more immersive and enjoyable. Second, we were taken aback by how loud the ship passengers were, primarily in the dining room where it was impossible to have a conversation at a normal volume due to the other passengers. The ship staff told us that sort of loud dining room was normal. Has that been your experience? I guess we were just expecting a bit more of a relaxed atmosphere on the ship. Well, thanks again for all your videos!

Bring binoculars. As you are traveling up/down the river, you may want to see the coastline up close.

@suzannegrenier7642

2 жыл бұрын

I've been on 5 viking river cruises...never needed binoculars to see the shore or the hillsides. If I needed a closer view, my camera/phone telephoto option was enough.

@elizabethroessner8487

3 ай бұрын

Great Tip!!! I wouldn't have thought to bring any!

I enjoyed my river cruises on Viking. being on a river you always have sight of land, so there is always something to see throughout the passing landscape, unlike an ocen cruise where you may be at sea for two days (with a view of the ocean) till your next destination . guided excursions were included, but you may venture on your own. it's all a persional choice. best river cruise ever, Moscow to St. Petersburg.

@Bethi4WFH

2 жыл бұрын

I have read through many of the comments below. Nobody seems to have had the reaction I had on my one and only cruise liner. We had two separate full days at sea, going from the UK to Genoa. I thought I would happily lie on a lounger, reading a book, but in fact it was so depressing that It shocked my husband to the core to find me staring at the steely blue line of the horizon with tears rolling down my face! Not a green leaf, blade of grass or village to be seen......I now know it will be river cruises for me, all the way!

@hurst-cs2jh

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Barbara, how are you doing?

@susie9893

3 ай бұрын

Good to know. Not a choice right now tho I wouldn't think

Well, everything you said about the river cruise makes me prefer it over an ocean cruise. I've never been interested in an ocean cruise, except maybe the one up to Alaska. But I think I could do a river cruise.

River cruises sound very promising to me! Never been a fan of partying, gambling, or drinking, but I love the intimate and curated manner of the tour. Scheduled being discussed in person, meals all together, and being able to get to know each other all sound perfect. (Plus no motion sickness sounds amazing!)

@RoxanneJ

Жыл бұрын

Omg yes I agree! Sounds perfect!

We went on Grand Circle from Amsterdam to Vienna. It was WONDERFUL!! Smaller ships than Viking, which we MUCH prefer!! The intimacy was lovely.

@pushoverparente4947

2 жыл бұрын

We went on a Grand Central tour from Vienna to New Amsterdam. Absolutely loved everything. Plenty to do IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO. Loved smaller ship and getting to know everyone. Food was delicious, plenty to do on board as Grand Central made absolutely sure you were happy. We had plenty of free time. Accommodations lovely. Tour guides extremely knowledgeable and fun. Just note when reading what the true includes. Some cruises had more trips where you were Spending time on bus rides to certain destinations. YES, we will take more smaller cruises!

@hurst-cs2jh

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Diane, how are you doing?

Having taken many ocean cruises on many different cruise lines I finally took a 16 day river cruise. I loved every minute! I’m planning my next river cruise & can’t wait to go again.

@1SCme

2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like the Amsterdam to Budapest trip, which is hard to beat, and well worth spending a few days in the departure and destination cities. I also did a Paris to Normandy, but it didn't add as much to what it would be like travelling the traditional way. I get the feeling that the Amsterdam to Budapest is the best trip by far. *Consider going a different route - Asian river cruises.* The boat is a lot smaller (10 to 60 berths but typically around 30, which are never close to being completely filled) making it more intimate and the staff goes out of their way.

My friends travel a lot and said one of the things they did not like was constantly being asked to tip and pay for services. This river cruise seems like it cuts out a lot of that because everything is already taken care of. I find this very appealing.

Sounds much more my cuppa tea. Been on a big cruise liner......never again!

We've done 3 river cruises and we skip a lot of their tours and basically use the boat to get to the next port and then we head off to see what we can see.

@hurst-cs2jh

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Janet, how are you doing?

I have traveled extensively since I was a small child, but have avoided ocean cruises like the plague. It's my idea of hell. To me the joy of traveling is blending in with the locals, seeing the sites and learning about their culture. If I want to be surrounded by hundreds of my fellow Americans, gambling, shopping and attending shows, I can go to Las Vegas. Now, this video made me want to try a river cruise. That's more my speed. 🙂

@MrOccyc

2 жыл бұрын

Totally agree with you. I want to see something. Not being docked next to the souvenir and t shirt shops .

@run4cmt

2 жыл бұрын

I totally agree. Most Americans like to travel in a protected bubble.

@LS-rf9co

2 жыл бұрын

1 ocean cruise was enough for me. Absolutely hated it. This slow pace looks very relaxed.

@danielsnook5029

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed. I travel to get away from my fellow Americans.

@inspectorgadget346

2 жыл бұрын

I went in December 3 2003 and it was gods waiting room. Actually, know that I think about it with your idea of hell, it may have been hell. Guess there’s lots of old people going to hell. No wonder there were people sitting in the dining halls all day eating 15000 calories. No wonder they have casinos as well. I mean if your going to hell, the devil doesn’t care about money. I think it’s God that wants all the money. Isn’t that why God loves you and he needs money (George Carlin).

I've been to both kinds of cruises, both at five-star level. I personally enjoy the cozier atmosphere of river cruises where you get to meet other passengers and actually see them again during the cruise. Captain, cruise manager and hospitality manager in river cruises are always within reach for any information and often remember who you are. Forget that with an ocean cruise. In ocean cruises people crowd around the most attractive areas of the ship (the pool or the barr, for instance) notwithstanding the huge size, which is baffling and frustrating. On rivers, while navigating in any moment you can enjoy the scenery and sailing by towns and cities, which is hardly the case in an ocean liner that needs to cross a stretch of sea for hours to get to the next port. Ports in rivers are small, often charming, human scale areas as opposed to sea ports that can be overwhelming and challenging (there's no strolling off the sea cruise on foot to see the town on your own as the walk to any place of interest could be exhausting. I would say that a river cruise is 70% about the place you are visiting and 30% about the ship, while an ocean cruise is 70% about the ship and 30% about the places it stops in. This video in any case is helpful to understand the differences and help make a decision on which kind of cruise is right for you.

@susie9893

3 ай бұрын

Yes, there are very few occasions I could be persuaded to do an ocean cruise but I can definitely see the advantages for young families

Recently returned from our second European River cruise with Scenic, and just booked our third yesterday! We have travelled extensively and have found the river cruise experience to suit us very well! We are in our late 50’s, remain active, and have personal and professional interests in cultural and historical tourism. We appreciate that river cruises focus on history, culture, art, and architecture. River cruises are learning experiences. We really appreciate how the smaller ships create better opportunities for getting to know your fellow travellers and for higher quality personalized service. The river cruise experience seems so much more relaxed and personalized than the larger mega ships. No lines, no noise, easy on and off the ship (just swipe your identification card and walk off), the staff knows you personally by name. Like you, I like to workout. As you noted, the gym facilities are very basic on river cruise ships. The workout on a river cruise is all the walking you do on your daily tours. You were right to note that the entertainment options at night are far more limited than on a larger vessel. But, we found that after spending our entire days enjoying the historical and cultural excursions, we were pretty tired after dinner and wanted to get some rest to be ready for the next day’s experiences. So, we didn’t really need much in the way of entertainment. Food options,as you mentioned, might seem more limited on a river cruise because there is only one restaurant on board, but they do provide many options. The food is excellent! They often offer regional specialties. The staff are very keen to accommodate special dietary needs, which the smaller number of passengers makes it easier for them to do. We have been pleased and impressed by the quality of the food we are served on river cruises. I think it is fair to say that the river cruise experience is a different travel experience than the larger cruise ships. You should be clear about what you want out of a travel experience before you book. River cruises are smaller groups, personalized service, and focused on cultural and historical learning experiences. If that is what you seek, then river cruising is for you! Salute to Scenic who we have cruised with twice (soon to be three times) they have provided exemplary service and their ship board staff have always been polite, courteous, friendly, and professional.

I have been on many ocean cruises, but the best cruise I have been on was the river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest..I loved the size, never having to put my hand in my pocket to pay for drinks and the fact all of our excursions were included in the price. I loved the courtesy, our butler service .

@davidsutherland4280

2 жыл бұрын

Totally agree. The only difference was we went the opposite direction and I think I would prefer the direction you did. Why you may ask? Simple, the pace of everything is more frenetic the nearer you get to Amsterdam whereas we found the Budapest end much more relaxed. So as a holiday starting at the busy end and moving to the chilled end fits more with the detuning process that goes with a holiday. We finished with a week in Berlin - awesome. However we loved every minute of it.

@mjkirk12

2 жыл бұрын

How many days was this cruise? You switched ships from Rhine to Danube - at which cities?

@sandranorris8538

2 жыл бұрын

@@mjkirk12 the cruise I think was 16 days, but because of heavy rain in the previous month the lock was broken in Vienna. Whilst they changed our boat they put us up in the Hilton in Vienna. All of our things were transferred to the boat on the other side of the lock. We went from the Scenic Ruby to the Scenic Pearl. We had nothing extra to pay. It was really hard staying in Vienna 😂😂😂loved every minute of it. Best holiday ever.

@mjkirk12

2 жыл бұрын

@@sandranorris8538 Thanks for this info. I searched and read there is a Rhine-Main-Danube canal (with 16 locks) that interconnect the 2 rivers. Completed in 1992. You can cruise from Amsterdam to the Black Sea.

@1SCme

2 жыл бұрын

I get the feeling that the Amsterdam to Budapest is by far the best (and definitely want to spend some time at the departure and arrival city). I did a Paris to Normandy which wasn't a big a gain over seeing the same things travelling by other means. *After Amsterdam to Budapest, consider changing continents* - Asian river cruises are a completely different experience.

My mom did a ton of the river cruises and enjoyed them more than the big ships. I think Hungary was her favorite with the old architecture.

@tempestsonata1102

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much! I'm from Hungary and I used to work as a guide.

@collins5038

2 жыл бұрын

I too loved Budapest. That is one place I would have visited again.

Thank you for the review! I was blessed to have been an officer on the big lines and now enjoying being a passenger. We were JUST shopping for a river cruise but your honest review of how this is likened to a “bus-cruise” meant booking on another mega ship. We just like to be left alone and be free to enjoy our deserved vacation. We can always over-schedule ourselves if we want but we want the FREEDOM!

We took a 3 day cruise down the Danube on Avalon. It was great. We didn’t take the winery tour but instead choose to walk around durnstein on our own. Same at Bratislava. No pressure. We had drinks on the sun deck as we cruised through the wachau valley. We woke up early to see the arrival into Budapest. It was fantastic. I would recommend to anyone that wants to take it a bit slower.

After going on 2 ocean cruises (one Bahama’s and one Key West/Mexico, I realized they weren’t for me. I don’t like sunbathing and would rather spend my time visiting locations and learn the history. River cruises sound EXACTLY what I’m looking for! Thanks for sharing the differences between the two, along with an explanation of what to expect on a River cruise.

@dancalmpeaceful3903

2 жыл бұрын

Be assured.a river cruise IS what you want. On an ocean cruise, they are ALL trying to sell you something the whole time. It's like going on a floating "timeshare"...... We did the Rhine - it was relaxing, historical , and fun. It wasn't crowded EITHER. Great scenery passing by with EXPLANATIONS in various languages!

@JTA1961

2 жыл бұрын

Well put👍

@hurst-cs2jh

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Darlene, how are you doing?

@carolhagon2653

2 жыл бұрын

Ocean cruising is what you make it, where you go, not just about sunbathing. Our first two cruises were Northern European, first Iceland, Scotland and Norway, second the Baltic including 2 days in Russia. No sunbathing. Then we did Alaska, beautiful scenery, history and wildlife.

@elouise5593

2 жыл бұрын

Unless you can afford it, don't do a Viking cruise! Yikes! Those fares are sky high! I don't know about the other river cruise lines.

Gary I found your dismal description of River Cruises to be a great disservice to what is a grand and elegant way to see several great cities and wonder scenery from your floating semi-private boat. I took a Danube cruise with Uniworld. This was my initial cruise. I loved the idea of traveling with only 158 other individuals rather than 5000 of the masses. First, and most importantly, there were no children. No one running around, no screaming, no temper tantrums and no audible whining. Though the average age of my fellow travelers was in the upper 60's,there were a few travelers in their 40's which was a nice for a single male travelers who enjoyed something more than dining and going to bed. We were each treated so nicely and respectfully by our mostly Easter European staff. The food was extremely good and tasty. I enjoyed sleeping in each morning and catching the last 20 minutes of breakfast. As I did not participate in any of the side tours, I was able to wander through all the towns and cities at my own pace. I ended up visit more museums, more quaint shops and local quesine than any of my fellow passengers. I never felt limited in what I was able to do when in port. As far as when we were under water, I spent most of my time on the open upper deck enjoying the panoramic views of castles, vineyards and villages. You sold this experience very short. I would recommend it to anyone over 50. No herds to tolerate and plenty of privacy outside of your room if you take a tour and look for it.

@maggi0310

Жыл бұрын

Do they expect you to get off and do land tours ..sometimes might want to get off other i might not wamt to..

@bradfordpatterson9887

Жыл бұрын

@@maggi0310 I didn't personally go on most of the tours. I would wander into the towns/cities myself and often pass by the tour groups being led by someone who has a specific agenda to keep the group moving which doesn't allow for a stop where you might think is more interesting than the 2 minutes the tour allows. You can decide to stop into a interesting shop or down an colorful street and not miss anything.

7 years ago a friend and I went on a river cruise on the Amazon river. There were maybe 14 of us, small boat, very peaceful and a highlight of my life.

I am a solo traveler and find that river cruises provide me with more opportunity to meet people. I have now traveled with Avalon many times. Each time I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. You don't have to take the shore excursions if you don't want, but they are included. I have repeated a Danube cruise, and since Avalon offered different options, I was able to find different adventures on the second time.

@dking1362

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for your post. I am a 61-yr-old newly retired woman who is debating a river cruise by myself. I have traveled little - so I am both nervous and thinking, "If not now, when?" I'm trying to pick up hints, tips, and recommendations!

I went on Scenic Basel to Amsterdam and I could get a snack any time of the day or night and I often had a whisky in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep any more. I was never woken up and sometimes didn’t bother with the escorted tours. They were great as was the food. OK there’s no kids running around, no big theatre featuring gormless entertainments and the staggerers seem to confine themselves to cruise ships. If your thing is to be late and make people wait for you and have a five course meal and then play the poker machines for”fun”? ; then stick to the ocean liners. But you quite liked your river cruise, if i remember Gary.

@mkim269

2 жыл бұрын

I went on the same river cruise but the other way with amawater way at the Christmas market over thanksgiving and it was very nice and I love how they accommodate how the people can fast walkers one group medium the second group and pink walk that was me the slow walkers I will hope to do it again 🥰🥰😍

@aluckyman2668

2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like a floating nursing home to me personally. 😏 But hey if that's your thing nor power to ya. Just not for me.

@theresaakins2317

2 жыл бұрын

@@aluckyman2668 just because some of us over 50's don't want to slam beers down our gullet until we barf but rather have a nice flavorful alcoholic drink to be savored, nor do we want to stay up all night and sleep until noon etc doesn't mean we have one foot 8n the grave. We like to drink, dance and have fun but in a reasonable manner.

@susie9893

3 ай бұрын

​@@mkim269I'm not yet 50 and I've NEVER been attracted to the idea of ocean cruising 🤢 When I was younger I was heavily into backpacking, now that I'm getting older I'm still backpacking but at a slower (and more discerning) pace and starting to love the idea of a river cruise thrown in there as a little bit of a break in the pace. And ppl who think that nursing home residents would be capable of the walking tours most river criuses offer have no comprehension of why ppl have to go into nursing homes

I love river cruising. You do not have to follow the whole schedule. I love it being small and intimate. We ate lunch in town often. There were free snacks, hot chocolate, coffee, etc all day long on board. We went on GCT. The staff actually helped us make plans to go to a town that my brother lived in when he was in Germany for five years. We met some nice people. And we could sit wherever we wanted for breakfast and dinner. We never had someone starring back at us from another boat. Ocean cruises are too big for me.

I’ve been on a river cruise on the Columbia River through Washington and Oregon states, and up the Nile in Egypt. Conversely, I’ve been on 5 or 6 huge cruise ships in the Caribbean. I agree with his assessment of river cruising vs cruising on large bodies of water. I love both types of cruises, and will go on one or the other depending on the type of vacation I’m looking for.

We did a Viking Rhine cruise in 2019. It suited us perfectly. So few decisions, so much to experience! Yes, we are a couple in our 50s.

It's basically an organized tour where your room follows you, so you don't have to be constantly packing and repacking, plus the ride is more scenic, and you aren't confined to a bus seat while travelling.. I will say that I was a little underwhelmed with the food (Viking). It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't great. Of course, on an organized bus tour you will dine at preselected venues, which are also likely to be "averagey".

@RockandRollWoman

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly. You get a lot more time to do things, because you aren't spending all of your time checking in and out of hotels. The only time I had a problem going off on my own was in China. The Chinese didn't take kindly to my idea of going off on my own on up the Yangtze before the three gorges dam was fully flooded. 🤫

@lynnleipold2617

2 жыл бұрын

We just came back from a Viking cruise on the Douro in Portugal. I will agree that I was also underwhelmed with the food. There were some notable exceptions to that though. The service was also a little hit and miss. Our cruise director was drunk some of the time. When I booked I thought I booked a balcony cabin. I was shocked when they told us that we were in a below water cabin. They did update us to a balcony cabin at no upcharge. Several people were also sickened with stomach ailments including my husband and me on different days. I missed quite amfew tours becaause of this. That being said, I would give them another try. We met many lovely people and generally had a very good time. We have done two ocean cruises with Viking that were great. The food was much better on the ocean cruises!

@susie9893

3 ай бұрын

Interesting feedback on the food on Viking here. Not what I've heard other places so it's good to get a different perspective

Sandra Westley uk, we did a Viking cruise down the Danube and we found it really lovely, very active, you need to limit your activities to one a day otherwise it was too much for us, we didn’t always go on the trip and did exactly what we wanted, and the Americans we met had made arrangements to visit some Museums independently. In between meals which we found to be very filling wanting for nothing excellent, there was always coffee and tea and the most delicious cookies and home biscuits, and I’m not normal a person that likes biscuits. It’s certainly not a restful holiday, but it’s a wonderful way to see other places. We have done loads of ocean cruises and now the ships are so big it’s not for us. But this was truly lovely and going into Budapest at 10pm at night was just a highlight of the holiday with all the bridges lit up. Also very moving to see all the shoes of the Jewish people who were taken to the river and shot, there shoes made of cast iron are along a long stretch of the river, it brings tears and great sorrow to your heart to see man’s inhumanity to man. Very moving.

@happytraveller2122

2 жыл бұрын

Your comments on Budapest were true. Absolutely stunning at night. And those shoes! I still cry when I remember them. We'll be back on Emerald Sky next year to do it all again.

I find it interesting that you present as a negative on a rivercruise everything we don't like about "cruising" with the big boats. My next choice will be the simplicity and service on a predicted schedule. "older, calm crowd" much preferred to no memories hectic.

Oh my, that sounds like hell on Earth to me. I just spent three months in Mexico, by myself, and loved every minute of it

@julietgover2832

2 жыл бұрын

I'm not a party animal, either. Prefer to do it solo.

@Yellow-Rose

2 жыл бұрын

A lot of people aren't savvy travelers or have a backpacker's mentality. I'm seriously considering a river cruise with me and my parents bc everything is so planned out and well organized, and I didn't have to do it. Also the slower pace sounds really nice. I don't like noise, screaming children, obscene and disrespectful young people, huge crowds or trying to keep up.

@marykay8587

2 жыл бұрын

I'm flexible, I like being with people and chat someone up but I also love my own space and can read or explore alone for hours

My first river cruise was on the Rhine, on Viking Lofn. I really enjoyed it, and would love to do a river cruise again. I liked how much quieter it was than the ocean cruises I've been on (with NCL), and I could actually relax and enjoy the scenery without tons of loud people around. I liked the better service we got, because there were simply fewer passengers. I didn't miss nightly shows/entertainment/parties because that stuff just wears me out - I'm an asocial introvert :D

@deborah5303

2 жыл бұрын

I agree with you. I loved the Rhine River cruise. I did Avalon. It’s not a party boat but we did have a good time in the lounge at night with new ppl. We made our own fun. We did have a dj almost every night. He looked like Elton John. We would sit around have our wine and make our own fun. I will do it again if I don’t have to be vaccinated.

@dancalmpeaceful3903

2 жыл бұрын

We did the Rhine too.....and yes, I agree with you completely. I'd do it again. Too much weird stuff on ocean cruises and TOO crowded.....always having to fight for a damn deck chair. - NO THANKS.

@joytimes4

2 жыл бұрын

I also took Viking Lofn on the Rhine & I absolutely loved it. Would pick it over a ocean cruise every time!

@fauziahosein5834

2 жыл бұрын

I did a river cruise to the Amazon via Peru..it was fantastic! Try it next time.

@karenstrycharz1499

2 жыл бұрын

@@dancalmpeaceful3903 How right you are dancalm & I couldn’t agree with you more! I too hate the “daily fight” ( search) for the ever elusive 🤣 deck chairs! People run out early plopping their towels on chairs( returning to their rooms, to shop, the buffet I learned) to secure chairs for not only them but friends as well. I talked to a group such as that, who told me to come out early as they do, put a couple “personal items on chairs”, a crumbled towel & then I would have a chair waiting for me. Naturally we didn’t do that so consequently, it was a maddening search each day for chairs, on some ships, a fruitless search! It is why we discovered that no matter what time we would come out, chairs are “seemingly all taken!” The cruise 🚢 lines keep saying, in the news, that they are going to implement rules of “no saving chairs” on deck, but we have yet to see it! I doubt that rule will ever be implemented! I so agree with you dancalm, that having to hunt for a deck chair daily( fruitlessly usually) leaves a unpleasant memory, for ocean cruises! Might I also add that on our Oceania cruise line( smaller ship) we had no problem finding deck chairs! Wowwwww! We couldn’t believe it! 😂

Keep in mind, if you want to stay on the boat, or go your own way in a town, you can do that. You're not required to go on the guided tours.

One further comment...on our (Travelmarvel) river cruise, as I'm an early riser, I would go up to the lounge and make myself a cup of tea sit down and relax by myself and there were pastries for early risers from 0600......absolute bliss as I was often the only one up and about and had the space to myself....Oh take me back there!!!

@susie9893

3 ай бұрын

You sound like how I do holidays. I'm NOT an early riser but I love sunrises (amateur photographer) so I will always make sure I'm up and taking advantage of a scenic location at dawn and dusk for that beautiful light. The only downside is that I couldn't take my camera out and wander the city at dawn in the quiet, with the best light, on a river cruise

We loved our cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg - amazing country that I would not attempt any other way.

@sharonduke5718

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Patti. What cruise line did you go on? We have been on Emerald Waterways but wondered about other cruise lines.

@patti1044

2 жыл бұрын

@@sharonduke5718 We sailed with Viking - lovely! Different than European river cruises but an excellent trip. I love local foods so enjoyed trying the daily offerings of Russian cuisine. We did our own pre-cruise in Amsterdam and flew in to Moscow to join the cruise. Next time I would plan time on our own at each end to really explore these very different cities - Moscow and St Petersburg.

@susie9893

3 ай бұрын

I had much the same thinking. However, all thoughts in that direction are on permanent pause for now

This is a fabulous video - honest and clear about what to expect. I like the analogy of a bus tour on the river. We are going on our first Viking Danube cruise in June 2022 and from your description it will suit me perfectly. I’m all about castles, cathedrals and old cities.

@bamarrone

2 жыл бұрын

It’s so much more fabulous than he says! It’s no where near a bus tour and you don’t have to do what everyone else does. The staff will help you find something you would find interesting to do.

@tipsfortravellers

2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@pamelagoodson9034

2 жыл бұрын

I loved our Tauck Rhine/Moselle cruise!

@happytraveller2122

2 жыл бұрын

@@bamarrone totally agree. Best holidays ever. Far better than the many ocean cruises that we've been on. You do what you want, when you want. As much as you want or as little as you want. Had no problem with food times.

@XtreamBrands

2 жыл бұрын

I lived my viking Danube cruise. Very relaxing for me but we met friends for life and enjoyed the tours and food

Like many others here, every feature of a river cruise you point out are the exactly why river cruising is so enjoyable. My wife and I have taken two Viking cruises and enjoyed both of them very much. We were by far the youngest couple on the ships, which was quite enjoyable as well. I suppose I could be considered a lazy traveler, in that I don’t enjoy making plans. On both cruises, I had no idea what the excursions were prior to the cruise so it was as if every one was a pleasant surprise. I found there was plenty of time for quiet relaxation on deck observing the beautiful sights.

Very helpful to have a much better idea of what to expect. I like ocean cruises and think I might like a river cruise. But I had no idea they are so very different. Now if I do river cruising I won't be disappointed that it is so different from the cruises I have done.

I have been on many river cruises and loved them all. I have never ever felt regimented, and why would you not want your meals at normal meal times? I lov’e watching the world go by, and I love being able to get to know some of the other passengers. I’m more than happy with one restaurant and one bar. I would hate to be on one of those enormous soulless floating hotels on an ocean. Give me river cruising every time!

@vizzini2510

2 жыл бұрын

@Marion Field Regarding regimented meal times, keep in mind that passengers may come from time zones that differ from yours by 12+ hours. Even at home, I often eat meals at "odd" times. If I am paying huge sums of money for a charter, then I expect food to be available when I want it, not when MARION thinks it is "normal."

@marionrfield

2 жыл бұрын

@@vizzini2510 your opinion pal. Bad idea to go straight from a twelve hour time difference to a European river cruise. If you want to see three or four cities in two weeks, stay in three or four hotels and have meals brought to your room in the middle of the night if you want. As I said, I love river cruises, and the meals are, obviously, at the times about 138 of the 140 passengers want. The other two have to adjust, or book hotels instead. There is, of course, the option of ocean cruises, where you can eat all day and night if you want in thirty-four different restaurants among four or five thousand people. No thanks. Have a nice holiday.

@kevinmccarthy8746

2 жыл бұрын

The history is amazing, and I am sure the people are very nice people.

@nursecathy123cat

2 жыл бұрын

I like ocean cruising but the river cruise experience looks lovely. It’s now on my Wish List.

@marionrfield

2 жыл бұрын

@@nursecathy123cat both the Rhine and the Danube are superb for cruising. Some of the information on the video is incorrect. I don’t think there is any river cruise ship big enough to hold two hundred passengers. They usually take around one hundred and forty. Never in all the many cruises I have enjoyed has there been a ‘wake up call,’ and never have I felt regimented. You are not obliged to do any of the tours if you don’t want to. I have been a few times with a friend who chose not to get off the boat at all during the cruise. Get yourselves booked on a river cruise and enjoy it. Personally, I wouldn’t go with Viking. Their Mekong cruise is wonderful and extremely reasonable, but their European cruises are well overpriced, and another reader on this site has said the Viking food was average. On the river cruises I have experienced with other companies, the food has been superb, easily up to at least four star hotel standard.

I have done a dozen ocean cruises. My only river cruise was on the Yangtze river in China. We were the last cruise ship to go through the Three Gorges Dam before they closed it off and started filling the dam. It was a fantastic cruise. Loved it.

@haya14goor

Жыл бұрын

We did the same river cruise in China. The ship wasn't impressive, but the day trips were amazing, places you can't get there without a ship.

Walking tour, cathedral, bus tour, cathedral, walking tour, stay with the group! , cathedral, more busses, follow the paddle sign, stay with the group! No time to stop and smell the roses. Stay with the group! I did Danube & Normandy. Two is enough. I love ocean cruises - more options, more freedom and better views.

Thank you so much for the pros and cons. Well balanced. Other people’s videos usually just show the “good”. It helps with planning so all families are satisfied

Well stated. Ocean cruises are all about the onboard experience. It's like a well-equipped resort that floats, and the shore tours are incidental. River cruises are all about the shore tours and experiencing the countries you pass through, and the onboard experience is incidental. As you point out, it's like a bus tour that floats. I've been on one Caribbean cruise and would never go again, but I've enjoyed many river cruises.

We did a one week rhone cruise and in the week after just took a rental car and explored the same area on our own. And this combination of a one week cruise and a second week just on our own with in depth exploring is something, that i really enjoy.

@mc-nw1rk

Жыл бұрын

@Helmut Klarn..Good thinking 99!!!

@ellap8231

Жыл бұрын

That’s a clever idea! Thanks

Sounds like a great way to experience Europe: smaller groups/tour guide, lack of sea sickness, always stuff to see on shoreline versus being at sea and only seeing ocean, structured. Not a casino goer, don’t need to party it up (sounds loud and annoying), love history/culture. As someone who hasn’t traveled a lot and definitely not internationally, I’m enticed, thank you! Thank you for explaining why the prices seemed a lot higher when I was looking at brochures for river or ocean

@skooshy621

Ай бұрын

The over-abundance of cruise liners and riverboats is polluting the docks and waterways of Europe. In the case of Venice, the very foundations of the city are at risk due to the cruise liners' damage. The Italian government had to ban them from the lagoon in 2021, it was so bad. Cruise passengers contribute very little 'on-shore' as most of them eat, drink, and are entertained back on board and, of course, all of them sleep there.

Thank you for spreading this very important message. By the way, it works the other way around as well. Coming from river cruising, you are overwhelmed by the check-in lines and find yourself starring at the ocean, wondering if something will come up...

You didn't explain why people choose river cruising. I guess you started off negative. For example my husband and I have cruised on 28 ocean cruises. We decided to try a river cruise because of the intimacy and personal attention we received. It was like being on our personal yacht. You get to stop at places where ocean cruises can't go. It's a great change not to have to be bothered with selecting dinning, excursions. Or be around big crowds dealing with casinos or being pressured to shop. It's a personal choice and one should do their homework on choosing river or ocean. We love both.

@Pookasita

2 жыл бұрын

Well said

@anthonyofarrell513

2 жыл бұрын

Yes he did explain why you would like it

@Pookasita

2 жыл бұрын

@@anthonyofarrell513 apparently he didn't since so many other posters got that same impression.

@julieme7927

2 жыл бұрын

@@Pookasita he did in a way. People are used to being spoon-fed opinions by media. He gave all the details of what it's like. It's up to each person to decide if what he describes sounds like something they would enjoy or not.

We've done 2 river cruises, both with Uniworld and had a fabulous time both trips. My husband and I just went with adult friends and family and it was really great. This last time, we took our 12 year old, and I was a little hesitant that our kiddo would be bored or lonely, but honestly it was the opposite. I wouldn't recommend Uniworld for young children, but our preteen was old enough to appreciate the excursions - art, culture, history, etc and they love food so it was exciting to get to try local cuisine. The thing about river cruising that I really enjoy is that you get to really know the people you're cruising with, and the staff onboard as well as the tour guides. We found that the bartenders on our cruise rarely get kids, so they made a game or of creating the most unique, tasty virgin cocktails they possibly could at each cocktail hour and meal for our kiddo. We also did a private dining experience one night where the executive chef and sommelier put together a menu and wine pairing. Our kiddo wanted to come because they love trying different foods and love cooking, and the sommelier chose a special non alcoholic wine or drink to pair with each course especially for them so they felt included. I feel like river cruising can give you that rockstar, special treatment you can't get on ocean cruising without paying for the exclusive perks.

@1SCme

2 жыл бұрын

To go to the next level on most of what you spoke about, look into Asian river cruises (Pandaw is the largest operator).

One's negatives are another's positives! We never relished the thought of an ocean cruise but recently did a river/bicycle cruise through France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. We loved it and would it again. And yes, you always see land.

Excellent video. This helped me understand things I never knew before about the differences between ocean and river cruises. Thank you!

I thoroughly enjoy river cruising. Especially around the christmas period.

@JTA1961

2 жыл бұрын

Ba~Hamburg