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A European river cruise might be a good fit if your family enjoys exploring palaces, churches, medieval history – and skipping logistics. Philadelphia Traveling Mom Sarah Ricks and her family have taken two European river cruises. With her teenagers, she cruised the Seine to visit places in Normandy, France. Without kids, she and her husband cruised the Danube to visit Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia. They loved exploring different places across a region – without the hassle of logistics.
My husband, teens, and I cruised the Seine River to visit villages and cities in Normandy, France. Without kids, my husband and I cruised the Danube River, making both city and rural stops in Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia. On both European river cruises, we enjoyed exploring while leaving the headaches of planning to others.
European River Cruise Lets Us Explore – and Skip Logistics
A European river cruise is good to explore many places in a region, without the hassle of logistics. For example, every day we got off the ship to explore a different place, usually with a guide. Every night we cruised to a new location.
On our Danube cruise, we visited European capital cities – Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava. But we also visited rural villages in Austria and Hungary that we never would have scouted out on our own. Always, the cruise handled logistics. CroisiEurope River Cruises planned itineraries, scheduled guides, hired buses, and arranged walking tours.
Similarly, on our river cruise in Normandy, France, every day we took excursions to places along the Seine. We visited grand cathedrals, a fishing village, a rural chateau. It was fun to get a taste of the whole Normandy region. And it was fun to skip the hassle of packing and unpacking, navigating, and finding the next hotel.
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Daily Excursions with Excellent Guides
My husband and I enjoyed the excellent English-speaking guides on our recent Danube cruise with CroisiEurope River Cruises. For example, a Vienna native told us stories of Austrian history during a nighttime bus and walking tour of Vienna, as the city dramatically lit its gorgeous buildings.
During our bus tour of Bratislava, a native guide sprinkled medieval and Hapsburg history with funny stories of life under the former Communist regime. Even though I’d visited Budapest before, I learned a ton from our knowledgeable guide. To simplify logistics, CroisiEurope distributed wireless guides as we boarded the ship, and we kept them the entire cruise.
Also, we enjoyed cultural excursions that pushed the envelope of what we’d sign up for on our own. In rural Hungary, we got covered in dust watching Hungarian cowboys riding bareback – while standing up! By contrast, in Vienna, we drank champagne while listening to an orchestra play Mozart. In Budapest, we thoroughly enjoyed watching traditional Hungarian folk dancing to a gypsy band.
And even though we were on the second excursion of the day, I’m glad we rallied to tour the palace rooms of Austrian Empress Sisi. She was the Princess Diana of her time. Married at 16 and quickly dissatisfied with royal restrictions, she was beautiful and restless. After she was assassinated, her celebrity grew. Today her image is a constant in Austria and Hungary.
On some excursions, we left the group to explore on our own. For example, in Budapest, my husband and I enjoyed the 2-hour bus tour in the morning. Then we peeled off to spend 5 hours exploring the city on our own. Since river cruises often dock right downtown, close to tourist attractions, it’s easy to explore independently.
View of the River Bank
An advantage of a river cruise is we were always close to the riverbank. Along the Danube, river cruising from Vienna to Budapest, we saw Baroque Austrian towns, vineyards and farmland, cities, some industry, and other boats. Surprising to me, we mostly saw woods. In our room, we kept the curtains open to enjoy the constantly changing view.
European River Cruise for Multigenerational Family Groups
A European river cruise is a good fit for a vacation with grandparents. Or with family or friends with different physical abilities. Different ages can share the adventure of exploring a new city or rural area each day.
Yet different passengers can experience excursions in their own ways. For example, on our river cruise on the Danube, my husband and I hiked up a rocky hillside to the ruins of a stone castle where an Austrian Duke imprisoned Richard the Lionhearted. While we climbed the hill, other cruise passengers stayed at the foot of the hill. Instead, they chose to explore the beautiful medieval village, Durnstein.
Similarly, each time our Danube river cruise visited a church, my husband and I tried to climb up the bell tower, if there was time. We did it for the view – and the cardio – and it felt great.
However, for my athletic teenaged son, fitting in enough daily physical activity was a challenge on our Normandy cruise, so he squeezed in runs while our ship was docked. If my athletic son is with us next time, we might look into CroisiEurope’s river cruises with biking options.
European River Cruise Means No Seasickness
One benefit of a river cruise is it let me be out on the water without the barfy feeling I get on sailboats. Even on big ocean cruises, I sometimes get seasick. But on a river, there are no big waves, no barfiness. Plus, no days at sea.
European River Cruise Works for Gourmand Kids
The main event on a European river cruise is the daily excursion. On the ship, while there were not many kids and no special activities for kids, kids are welcome. In fact, kids cruise for free on some CroisiEurope trips. My teenagers and I enjoyed unplugging with books or using the free wifi. My husband and I enjoyed relaxing on the roof deck, sipping the unlimited wine, and watching the passing scenery.
While the breakfast buffet and lunch are come as you are, passengers dressed better at dinner. CroisiEurope is a French cruise line. We enjoyed that it has mostly European passengers who are not grab-n-go eaters. Both lunch and dinner are 3-course meals, with wine.
Pampering on a European River Cruise
Pampering is good. Tailored pampering is even better. My husband liked that when he arrived for breakfast each morning, the waiter already had put a full pot of coffee on our table. The charming English couple we shared our table with enjoyed that the waiter always had their beer/lemonade mix ready at lunch.
And here’s a different European river cruise experience. During winter, my husband and I toured Christmas markets in France, and used a parked river cruise ship like a hotel, with all day excursions.
Allen says
I’ve always wanted to do a river cruise, it seems to be amazing because you can enjoy the view and relax while traveling and for what I could see you enjoyed.
Great post!
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
Exactly, the time on the boat is a pleasure because you can relax on the roof terrace or lounge and enjoy the view. But mostly we were off the boat, exploring the towns, castles, churches, and cities on the river. Such fun!
Laura Lynch says
Your experience sounds wonderful. We’re actually going on our first river cruise at the end of August. It’s actually a barge cruise through southern Burgundy. I’m really looking forward to the experience. I’ve never been on that small of a boat for so long.
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
It was wonderful! No worries about the being on a small boat for long – because a river cruise stops every day and you get off to explore. There are no “days at sea” like an ocean cruise. So you’re kind of using the boat like a floating hotel and restaurant. I wonder if a barge goes slowly enough that you could even ride a bike beside it for part of the journey?
Siddhartha Joshi says
I don’t have a family, but I am sure I will enjoy the river cruise too…especially on one of those Euro trips which are meant to be relaxing ones 🙂
No seasickness is a HUGE plus too!
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
Yes, no seasickness! That’s a big difference between ocean and river cruises. And no days at sea, because you stop every day to explore a new place, sometimes even two in one day.
Lillie says
This is very useful to read, as I’ve been considering a European river cruise in the relatively near future, but have had some concerns. The photos you got are great, and I love the point, in particular, that there’s less seasickness! Intrigued to try…
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
Yes, no seasickness is a key difference from ocean cruises or smaller boats. We especially loved the chance to get off the boat every day to explore a new place, sometimes even 2 places in one day. Hope you get to try it!
Fiona Maclean says
I do like the idea of a European river cruise. I’ve done a Nile cruise and absolutely loved it, so I am sure I’d enjoy one a bit closer to home. Glad to hear it can work with kids too…that’s not what I’d have expected
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
Yes, I think it can work with kids, depending on their ages and interests. For example, will they enjoy a sit-down lunch and dinner, will they get enough physical exercise. CroisiEurope now offers some river cruises with biking and hiking options. Or, like my husband and I did, climb to the top of each church or village we visited, and sometimes peel off from the group to walk and explore on our own. We loved it, both in France and Austria/Hungary.
Cate says
I’ve always heard about river cruises but I’ve never been on one. It’s an intriguing idea for a vacation because it seems like you get a nice balance of relaxation and sightseeing without having to pick up and move every few days. The day cruises I’ve been on (e.g., Rhein river) have been so beautiful and relaxing…so I can imagine how lovely it would be to lounge in your room by the window or on the upper deck each day!
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
That’s exactly right – relaxing time on the boat, but daily trips to explore cities along the way. Only occasionally were we on the boat during the day though. Usually by day we were out exploring, changing locations by night. Such fun! We loved it!
Jane M says
A river cruise seems to be the perfect way to travel with your family. I love the combination of being close to land (which you don’t get on an ocean cruise) and getting to stay in the same bed every night!
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
Exactly right! Your floating hotel brings you to a new location every day, and every day you’re off the boat & exploring a city or village in Europe. Such fun!
Punita Malhotra says
I’ve seen many of these river cruises while in Europe and have always been fascinated by them. You get to sail through the hearts of the towns and that must be so charming.
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
Great point that the boat is always close to the riverbank, so you see European cities and towns floating by. Best of all, our CroisiEurope boat docked right downtown, so often we could walk right off the boat into the town, if we wanted. So alternated between guided tours and exploring independently. Or combined them, like in Budapest: guided tour in the morning, 5 hours of exploring on our own in the afternoon. Easy walk back to the boat.
Myrthe says
A vacation with ‘CroisiEurope trips’ looks amazing if you’re traveling with your family. Love the fact that you don’t have to arrange anything yourselves. It’s a good thing you can’t get sick on riverboats like these,because I have a very sensitive stomach.
It’s definitely something to keep in mind to do as a family trip in the future. Thanks for the info!
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
We really enjoyed both the river cruise in along the Danube in Austria/Hungary, and the Normandy region of France. What a boon to leave the planning to others!