Judy Manning certainly was. She and her husband did an Amsterdam-to-Basel trip with Uniworld Travel

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Ask yourself if one of the following vacations sounds attractive to you: eight days taking in the castles and cathedrals that pepper the Rhine between Amsterdam and Basel; or 10 days exploring the cradle of classical music along the Danube san antonio texas river walk hotels between Vienna and Prague; or 15 days maneuvering the Mekong River from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, with a pass through breathtaking Cambodia; or a two-week trek from the onion domes of Moscow to the majestic spires of St. Petersburg along the Volga.
Judy Manning certainly was. She and her husband did an Amsterdam-to-Basel trip with Uniworld Travel three years ago and absolutely loved it. "We had been to that part of Europe on a bus tour 15 years ago," she says, "and we'd been on Mediterranean ocean cruises before, but you can't really compare them." Manning, a retired schoolteacher in Port Credit, Mississauga, says a river boat cruise offers a level of intimacy with locales and cultures that one just doesn't get with larger liners. "The big plus of a river cruise is you tie up right in the heart of your destination and you're there."
Intimacy is a big part of the appeal with these vacations. Stania Semerak, whose agency Royal Travel Tours sells river cruise packages, says the smaller vessels allow for more individualized service for passengers and greater access to ports of call along the way. She strongly recommends Tauck River Cruising , which offers award-winning all-inclusive packages. "The cruises san antonio texas river walk hotels have a very strong sense of purpose," she says. "You're taken from downtown to downtown, and you're right there to experience cultural traditions, architecture, food, wine and much more."
Zaneta Rochemont agrees. Her agency, Cruise Holidays of Clarkson , began selling river cruise packages six years ago as a way of combining European travel with her clients' passion for classical music. "These trips take you deep into the culture of these places," she says. "There's san antonio texas river walk hotels a richness of history, of music, that you're san antonio texas river walk hotels just not going to experience with other types of cruises."
The boats themselves are marvels of efficiency, compacting a maximum amount of luxury into a minimum amount of space. Passenger capacity can go from as low as just 28 people to about 300. The boats offer staterooms or suites ranging in size from 150 to 425 square feet. These come with most of the amenities you'd find in an up-market hotel room, including large beds with exquisite linens, balconies off the living area, a flat-screen TV, ample closet space, elegant decor, a bar fridge san antonio texas river walk hotels and a safe for valuables.
The ships' restaurant or restaurants—there is often more than one on board—offer local cuisine served in exquisite dining rooms. Ships typically also have a sun deck with 360-degree views, as well as a library, lounges and bars, free Internet access, laundry services and other amenities.
But of course, san antonio texas river walk hotels the real appeal is the excursions themselves. Kristi Rhodes, a manager with Carlson Wagonlit Port Credit Travel , says many of her clients book these types of vacations because they have familial roots in the tour areas and want to explore their heritage. And while travelers may come for the culture, they are often pleasantly surprised by the ease and convenience of the trips themselves. "River cruise tours are very organized," she says. "You have these guided tours that are excellent, and then most afternoons are your own. You can go exploring or come back and just enjoy the ship."
Notably, river cruises are all-inclusive: the price of airfare, meals, drinks, excursions san antonio texas river walk hotels and lectures are all built in. Prices vary depending on what you want to do; the more amenities you choose and the more cities san antonio texas river walk hotels you visit (and the more events you go to), the more you can expect to pay—maybe you want to see a Mozart concert when you're in Vienna, or tour a castle. These cruises can be intensely rewarding experiences for the art/culture/history lover, san antonio texas river walk hotels yet they're also relaxing as you move smoothly up the river.
Potential travelers should also keep in mind that everything is top-of-the-line—from the level of staff service and the comfort of the staterooms to the food and drink and the interior designs of the ships themselves. All three travel agents say that it's good value for the money, and Judy Manning agrees. "While it may seem more expensive, there isn't a big bar bill at the end," she says. "The tours are all included too. It wasn't cheap, but I did find it to be good value."
If travelers are looking san antonio texas river walk hotels at river cruises, Zaneta Rochemont recommends keeping a few things in mind. "Very important: plan a year in advance," she says. "The season is short, and things book up fast. Also, keep in mind that these cruises are very active; while they are relaxing, they are also very busy. You have to be prepared to embrace the day!"
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