Which river is the best one to go on for the first river cruise? Or should we pick a French river?

My first European river cruise was on the Rhine, from Cologne to somewhere (I can't remember where, it was 40 years ago). Though an English schoolboy travelling with the rest of the students from my year, it was an experience I will never forget - and though things will have changed, I really can't imagine anything better than a Rhine cruise.

Steve you must have loved the tour if you remember that far back. Not certain about the river cruises. Think that I could be bored.

Don't think so jenno, The scenery down the Rhine valley is second to none, and the activity on the river is mind boggling.

Well, guess I will have to add it to my ever growing list, Steve.

I'd say that the Danube is more interesting from a cultural viewpoint, in that it goes through the capital cities of no fewer than four different countries. The Rhine, however, is definitely more scenic.

River cruises are great. Their only downside, from the viewpoint of the single traveller, is that they are astronomically expensive.

One of the reasons for the higher cost of river cruises is that they include all meals, some sort of entertainement, lectures/films and also a lot of excursions, some of which on bus tours would be optional. Optionals are still available on top of that.

It wasn't so much that that I was referring to, but rather the single supplement, which is generally 50-100% of the standard tour cost. That's what makes it so hugely expensive for a single traveller who doesn't wish to share a cabin.

quote:

the single supplement, which is generally 50-100% of the standard tour

I can refer you to an excellent cruising company where the single supplement is around 18%. Still quite a lot as all food and booze is included in the price!

Hi Mid Life,
Why not do the whole thing - the Danube, the Main and the Rhine - there are several tour companies that cover these rivers in a two week period. Warning, once you try river cruising you'll be hooked. I just returned from my 4th river cruise. My favorite river cruise went from Vienna to Amsterdam.

NYJudy
What did you see on the Vienna to Amsterdam river cruise? How many stops?

MLT - There was a stop just about every day and at each syop there was a tour - I cannot remember exactly, and probably not in the right order, but here are some of the places we stopped on the trip from Vienna to Amsterdam - Melk Abby, Austria, Passau,Regensburg,Wurzberg,
Wertheim,Mainz/Rudesheim,Koblenz,
Cologne, Amsterdam, Holland. There were a couple of days of all sailing - but this trip is soooo interesting - you go through something like 66 locks on the trip. There are optionals offered at some of the stops like Heidelberg and Rothenburg. A fabulous trip!!!!!

NYJudy. Sounds good. My husband and I are tired of the big cruise lines and want to try something smaller. We saw a travel documentary on TV on river cruising and it looked interesting to us. We have a 3 week limit on traveling overseas with his job and this year we have decided to travel domestically. Next year it will be either a river cruise or take the kids to Spain. We'll see.

I too am tired of the huge mega liners with thousands on board. The river boats that I have been on carry a maximim of 140 and on the last cruise, there were only 70 people on board - now that's nice.

What are the age groups like? I imagine there are no families on the river cruises because it looks like just 2 people to a cabin.