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River Cruise Primer.  
Because not all river cruise lines are alike.

A river cruise is a great way to see Europe. You
travel to multiple cities but, unlike an ocean cruise 
where the port may be miles away from town, a 
river vessel docks in the heart of the town. The 
water is always smooth and sea-sickness is practically 
unheard of. 

Unlike a traditional motor coach tour of Europe, 
where you have a different hotel every night, a 
river cruise is essentially a floating hotel: you 
unpack and pack only once, making for a relaxful 
trip. Another difference from ocean cruises is that, 
on a river cruise, most, if not all, of your shore 
excursions are included in the price. 

The satisfaction rate for river cruises is very high; the 
vast majority of our clients return from their river cruises 
just raving about how great the trip was and ready to plan 
their next one. 

In general, the river cruise lines fall into 1 of 3 categories:
 
Very European/Very Formal:  

This would be Peter Deilmann. The line markets to 
Europeans (mostly Germans). Smoking is, at last, no
longer permitted on board, but the food tends to be 
heavier and you will need to bring your formalwear, 
i.e. tuxedo and evening gowns. 

The crew will be multi-lingual and your fellow passengers 
may not speak English. These cruises are the top of the 
line for Europe river cruises and the prices reflect that. 
Peter Deilmann is the most expensive of all the river cruise 
lines. 
 
Very American/Very Casual:  
Uniworld, Amadeus and Avalon. 

These cruises have been designed with Americans in mind. 
The on-board language is English and the shore excursions
will be in English as well. The only place smoking is permitted, 
if it is allowed at all, will be out on deck. The food is more tailored
to American tastes; not as heavy with fewer sauces. Leave your
formal clothes at home. 
 
And, someplace in between:  
Viking River Cruises. 

A cross between the casual Americana of Uniworld, Amadeus
& Avalon and the European formality of Deilmann is Viking River 
Cruises. 

Although Viking has more in common with Uniworld, et al, 
for example, the vessels are non-smoking, the shore excursions 
are in English, your fellow passengers will speak English, the 
food is not as heavy, and so on, Viking is a bit more ‘upscale’, 
i.e. they prefer men to wear a jacket to dinner, and they are a 
bit more expensive than Uniworld, Amadeus and Avalon

River cruises are NOT designed for children. There is no kids
program like ocean cruises. In fact, most of the river cruise 
lines will not accept children under 10 or 12 years of age. As a 
result, your fellow the passengers tend to be older and well traveled. 
Uniworld experimented with accepting children on some of their
summer 2007 Rhine Cruises but have not yet decided to offer this
in 2008

Shipboard entertainment is different on a river cruise, too. Unlike 
an ocean cruise with large, Vegas-style productions, the entertainment 
on a river cruise will be very low-key: perhaps a local folk group 
or string quartet and, on a few nights, no formal entertainment at all. 

River cruise vessels will have a library and, usually, an onboard shop, 
fitness center on the newer vessels; but nothing like the floating 
shopping malls that you find on ocean cruise ships. River cruise 
vessels spend more time in port and, as a result, onboard entertainment
is not a crucial.
 
Cabin categories range from picture window cabins with windows 
that open to cabins just above the waterline with a long, window 
at the top to let in light. (Unless it is your only option, we would 
not recommend this type of cabin as you cannot see the beautiful 
scenery as you cruise unless you are standing). Some vessels have
suites but, for the most part a the size of a standard cabin ranges
from 120 sq/feet on the older vessels to 170 sq/feet on the newer
vessels.

As for prices, a river cruise is the exact opposite of an ocean 
cruise: you pay the price that is in the brochure, unless there is 
some type of special promotion or Early Booking Discount. The 
reason for this is that they don't have to discount- the river 
vessels are quite small, carrying under 200 passengers. As a result, 
they sell out and they sell out fast. 

 

Atlantis Cruises and Tours, Inc.
iRIS MESSINA

An Authorized Independent Agent of America's Vacation Center. 

8921 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 208
Los Angeles  CA  90045

Tel: (310) 665 - 0967
(800) 706-0359

E-mail: Iris.Messina@AmericasVacationCenter.com

For other cruise and vacation travel go to:
www.AVCTravel.com/IrisMessina