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Though ocean cruises and river cruises are both "cruises," they couldn't be further apart in vibes (generally speaking). Ocean liners are basically big floating party islands where shore excursions are fun but optional, whereas river cruises are primarily about stopping and exploring all the cool places along the way. However, river cruises also tend to attract a "senior" demographic, and that's hurt their favor a little with younger travelers who would otherwise enjoy that experience.
Travel agent Mx. Darling normally prefers the big party cruises, especially Virgin Voyages, and always thought that going on a European river cruise was "an activity for retirees." After trying a river cruise with their mom, though, they've completely turned their opinion around, and now argue that other cruisers should consider doing the same!
@mxdarlingadventures River cruising is nothing like ocean cruising, and that’s a good thing! Your ship on the river will be cozy (though luxurious), as you’re meant to spend the majority of your time out exploring. These boats can stop right in the middle of town, meaning you’ll basically step out your front door into a new city every day. Or maybe even twice a day in a few cases. Most itineraries have a mix of larger cities and small towns to give you a wide variety of experiences, another perk. So while yes, the clientele do skew much older, Avalon offers hiking and biking excursions as well as “gentle walker” groups on tours, to cater to everyone. I’ll be doing daily videos highlighting the sights, food, and more along the Rhine as well going live this week to answer questions for anyone thinking this might be a great travel option for them! #avalonexpression #rivercruise #rhinecruise #europetrip #travelinspo #rhinerivercruise #avalonwaterways #CapCut
♬ Natural Emotions - Muspace Lofi
Mx. Darling (aka @mxdarlingadventures ) fully admits that river cruising is nothing like ocean cruising - and that's a good thing! Despite feeling apprehensive about not fitting the "river cruise demographic," they compromised for the sake of taking a trip with their mom, and ultimately discovered that while, yes, their fellow cruisers did skew older, that didn't stop them from having an exciting experience. If anything, it was actually quite freeing!
Related: Cruise Experts List Common 'Sea Day' Mistakes They Wish People Would Stop Making
The pair traveled seven nights on the Avalon Expression down the Rhine River from Switzerland to Germany to France and then to the Netherlands, where they finally ended the trip in Amsterdam. Each day brought them to a new destination, and that's where the cruise's laid-back style really shined.
"One of the most unique things about river cruising is that Avalon includes multiple excursions in every place, which means you have a ton of freedom," Mx. Darling explained. In their caption, they clarified that while some of these excursions are meant for older "gentle walkers," Avalon also offers hiking and biking excursions to cater to everyone, including the younger, more energetic crowd.
And even then, river cruisers have freedom outside of the official excursions. "In most of these places, the ships are so small, they dock right in town or at most a 10-minute walk away," Mx. Darling said. With no tender boat rides to catch and no massive piers to race down, Darling and their mom had total freedom to explore, whether that meant joining an all-day excursion, exploring their destination off on their own, or doing a little bit of both! While technically you have this freedom with ocean cruises, too, this river cruise seemed way more laid-back and less rushed about it!
Popular European River Cruises
If you primarily enjoy cruising for the excitement and appeal of big cruise ships , then a river cruise probably isn't the right vibe for you. If you like the idea of exploring quaint European destinations on a more laid-back trip, though, don't let not fitting into a "typical" demographic scare you off. The focal point of a river cruise is the on-shore excursion, and you can pretty much customize that part to suit your style!
As Mx. Darling said, they traveled with Avalon Waterways , which offers a pretty wide lineup of trip itineraries, including cruises along the Danube River, trips through Portugal and the Balkans, and even a seasonal Christmas market cruise. One company I'm a bit more familiar with is Viking River Cruises , which, in addition to a vast array of European river trips, also offers river cruises on the Nile , the Mississippi, and the Mekong in Vietnam.
If you really want to branch out more, Travel + Leisure has a great guide highlighting the 15 best European river cruises - there's even a family-oriented Disney river cruise. Don't let the "retiree" stereotype discourage you- there's a right river cruise out there for everyone!
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