A river cruise is a great way to immerse yourself in the areas you are visiting.  Be it local cuisine on board, shore excursions where you learn how to cook local cuisine, visit a family on their farm or take a bike trip on your own.  In my last post I talked about some of the river cruise lines available. In this post I will discuss a few more.  As mentioned before, most of the river cruises are all inclusive and elegant.

Emerald Cruise Line

An Emerald cruise gives you panoramic views of stunning scenery and features contemporary boutique hotel styling.  Deluxe in-suite comfort, fine dining options and exceptions service are all included in the price.  This cruise line is truly all-inclusive with airport transfers, complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, complimentary wi-fi, all tips for shore side and onboard staff, shore excursions in every port, bicycles and 24-hour complimentary tea and coffee.

It has a dual purpose area aft of the ship where it is a pool by day and a cinema at night.  The pool is heated with a retractable roof.

Bedroom windows drop half way down at the touch of a button on the Vista and Horizon decks.  Their cabins are larger that average.

Scenic Cruise Line

Scenic is a luxury cruise with five dining options.  It is also all-inclusive with a personal butler, unlimited drinks day and night, all airport transfers, wifi throughout the ship, in-suite mini bar that is restocked daily.  Nightly turndown service, tips and gratuities, laundry concierge and local guides and excursions are also included along with ebikes, self-touring devices and enrichment events.  The only extras are for the spa and hair salon.

Called space-ships, suites and staterooms are 24% larger than the competitors and 84% of the cabins have balconies. There are six dining venues, open seating, and no dress code but country club casual is recommended.  Certain itineraries offer home-hosted meals.

Free choice shore excursions offer a coach tour with local guides, electric assist bikes and walking tours.  Scenic provides tailor-made devices with docking station for two in each cabin.

UniWorld Cruise Line

This is a boutique cruise line and all-inclusive with airport transfers, all meals with unlimited beverages, hosted excursions with personalized options, wifi access, all gratuities both onboard and onshore and shore excursions.  Shore excursions include travelers choice – hiking, biking and walking.  They offer “do as locals do” excursions, “village day” where you get an up close look at rural European and Russian towns and visits to local homes and workshops.

UniWorld has themed cruises and generations cruises with spirits included in the price throughout the day. No matter what category you book 24-hour room service is available.

Viking Cruise Line

Viking Cruise Line offers both river and ocean cruises.  Their river cruises have the ability to dock in the heart of small towns.  Most have al fresco dining featuring regional cuisine and always available American classics.  On shore and on board you get an immersive experience with an included excursion in every port.  Pricing includes onboard meals, lectures, shore excursions and more with wine, bar and soda with lunch and dinner, bottled water and internet.

Onboard world-class lectures on the history and art of the areas being visited, cooking demonstrations, restaurant menus inspired by the local cuisine and other opportunities to share the region’s culture with clients are all part of the trip.

Cabins have floor to ceiling windows.  There are 7 Veranda suites that are 275 square feet with French balconies. The 2 Explorer suites are 445 square feet with separate sleeping/sitting rooms and a private wraparound veranda with a 270 degree view. There are 39 full-size Veranda staterooms and 22 staterooms with French balconies.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at:

elaine@cruiserstravel.net or 941-979-9798.  

Contact us to help you have that great vacation.

Happy traveling!

Elaine Sklom

Cruiser’s Travel LLC