I have just returned from Wonders of Britain & Ireland. At least 50% of the passengers on this tour had already done or were about to do a River Cruise and the reason everyone seemed so interested was because of the easier pace and "unpacking once only". The Wonders tour was only 12 days but all agreed that it was very tiring. Most hotels were waaay out of town and on arrival at our next destination we were usually taken on a walking tour then given "free time" before being taken to the hotel. Everyone was so tired by then that the time was spent simply waiting around to be picked up again. Once at the hotel there was barely time to freshen up before either an included dinner or optional, when most people would have preferred to check in to the hotel earlier in the day. We had a great TD who went all out to make the tour memorable but the early morning starts were becoming harder every day. This was my 5th TT but the easier pace of the river cruises is looking very attractive.

There was only one way to see Egypt with ease, and that was the Nile river cruise.

While river cruises may provide the leisure of no repeat packups, the amount of shore time is much more limited than would be on a bus tour. You can always go out to wander the streets at night on a bus tour. On a river Cruise, once the time is up, it's up and returning to the ship before the gangplank goes up is a must.

Tradeoffs have to be considered carefully to meet individual expectations.

Roxy-isn't it the same when you have to meet the bus at a particular time even though you would love to stay in a place longer? On the river boat cruises that I have been on, each morning there was a tour of the place where you docked. Frequently the afternoons were free to return to the town/city or to take an optional tour.

Hi Judy, I would say the bus tour provides more land time, including the hours after dinner when you may want to go strolling or wandering the town square...unless of course the hotel is out in the boondocks.

With cruising, lots depends on the amount of time in port,the sailing time schedule when the gangplank goes up and the TD says we need to leave for the ship by 3PM since we sail at 5PM.

If sailing time is at night (say 8pm), dinner is included on board, most will be back well in advance of dinner and not go out again, so it's then whatever activity onboard the ship. I'd rather be out and around the town square, harborfront, cafes, etc. then on deck. Just my take on it, others may differ and it's whatever pleases one most.

Roxy...I agree with what you have said regarding bus tours...I have been on quite a few over the years. For the European River Boat tours that I have been on, you are basically docked right in the town and you are free, within constraints of sailing times, to come and go as you please.I love especially, for example, docking in Cologne...you're basically directly behind Cologne Cathedral and it is an easy walk into downtown Cologne from the dock. And that is pretty much the same situation in most of the ports in Europe. Chacun a son gout, as you have said (sorry about the missing accent marks and the spelling).

quote:

I have just returned from Wonders of Britain & Ireland. At least 50% of the passengers on this tour had already done or were about to do a River Cruise and the reason everyone seemed so interested was because of the easier pace and "unpacking once only". The Wonders tour was only 12 days but all agreed that it was very tiring. Most hotels were waaay out of town and

We did a similar tour a few years - it was a bit longer, but none the less very tiring. We had a lot to fit in in such a short time. I find the bus tours tiring, but when you get home you will forget about the tiredness you felt and think how fabulour your trip was.

Jenno ~ I agree with you I am over the long coach tours, I am planning a shorter coach tour by Australian standard approx 7-10 days then planning on doing Ireland independently. I am expecting the planning to be lots of fun.

I want to do Ireland independently as I am tracing my family history and a tour wont give me the flexibility to do what I want.

**completely off topic** (like a spoiler alert)

Oh Missie, that sounds like so much fun, mapping out your own "tour" based on family history thru Ireland....

Missie, I know what you mean when you say "by Australian standards". We had a couple on our Wonders tour who were really tired when it was over but early the next morning after they returned to London they were off again on a 15 day tour. They probably want to pack as much in as possible after such a long flight from Oz, but I wonder how they handled the second tour when they were already so very tired.

I just don't think some realise how very draining a coach tour can be. On one tour we did we had a newly divorced woman & her two daughter 9 & 13. At the start of the tour they had already been travelling for 5 weeks & the girls were fed up. We did a 21 day tour & then they had another 4 weeks of travel ahead of them. To say the girl's were not enjoying it is an understatement. The mother was fighting to get them out of bed each morning & there were a number of tears & tantrums.

Not pleasant & I think the girls will not have too many happy memories. The whole thing was a sad situation & I often wonder what the mother could have been thinking when she planned it all.

quote:

Originally posted by Dimpz:
I just don't think some realise how very draining a coach tour can be. On one tour we did we had a newly divorced woman & her two daughter 9 & 13. At the start of the tour they had already been travelling for 5 weeks & the girls were fed up. We did a 21 day tour & then they had another 4 weeks of travel ahead of them. To say the girl's were not enjoying it is an understatement. The mother was fighting to get them out of bed each morning & there were a number of tears & tantrums.

Not pleasant & I think the girls will not have too many happy memories. The whole thing was a sad situation & I often wonder what the mother could have been thinking when she planned it all.

Dimpz I can relate to this situation. The last 2 tours with TT our then 14yo daughter became very hard to move in the mornings. Her comment at the end was "I really don't think coach touring is for me" I put my enjoyment of coach travel onto her, we are all different & we must remember that with our children.

I will add I had warned her of the early starts etc. I think the excitement of seeing London, Paris etc made her deaf to anything I said.

Cheers
Spooks

Why hello Spooky - how lovely to see you popping in as I know how busy you have been. Please remember all work etc.

Now the story with this woman was, apparently it had been a somewhat ugly divorce during which she had a nervous breakdown. The daughters blamed Daddy & the ex-husband, feeling guilty, promised them a trip to wherever they wanted to go. The mother admitted to me, she had milked him for all he was worth as a form of revenge & had not considered the girls in any way. For which we all suffered.

quote:

Originally posted by Dimpz:
Why hello Spooky - how lovely to see you popping in as I know how busy you have been. Please remember all work etc.

Now the story with this woman was, apparently it had been a somewhat ugly divorce during which she had a nervous breakdown. The daughters blamed Daddy & the ex-husband, feeling guilty, promised them a trip to wherever they wanted to go. The mother admitted to me, she had milked him for all he was worth as a form of revenge & had not considered the girls in any way. For which we all suffered.

Why thank you Dimpz, yes work a word not to be spoken about LOL I am on leave & off for a little holiday feeling........... well relaxed.

quote:

Originally posted by Dimpz:
Why hello Spooky - how lovely to see you popping in as I know how busy you have been. Please remember all work etc.

Now the story with this woman was, apparently it had been a somewhat ugly divorce during which she had a nervous breakdown. The daughters blamed Daddy & the ex-husband, feeling guilty, promised them a trip to wherever they wanted to go. The mother admitted to me, she had milked him for all he was worth as a form of revenge & had not considered the girls in any way. For which we all suffered.

I hope I didn't scare my daughter that much