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A river cruise is a great way to see the world.
These days, you can take a river cruise just about anyplace, and while they’re wildly different from ocean cruises, rivers cruises have plenty of unique perks. Whether you’re looking to take a European river cruise, an Amazon river cruise or anything in between, you’re sure to find an itinerary that suits your tastes. Check out these 3 reasons to take a river cruise.
Friendships
A river cruise can be quite intimate. In fact, most only carry a couple of hundred passengers at a time. Since there is no extravagant entertainment on a river cruise, you’ll have lots of time to get to know the people you’re sailing with. It’s quite likely that you’ll make new friends while onboard. Reminiscing about your daily adventures over a glass of wine or cup of coffee is a great way to cap off an evening on a river cruise. Ask around, and you’re sure to hear stories of people who have made lifelong friends while on a river cruise.
Ports
Since the ships are so much smaller, river cruises can sail into plenty of ports the big ocean liners can’t. If you want to get away from the typical big city cruise itineraries, you’ll find all sorts of alternatives on a river cruise. You can get right into the heart of France’s wine country or moor up right alongside the Christmas markets in Germany. And don’t even get me started on the sites you’ll see sailing the Mekong. It’s truly unlike anything else you’ll ever experience.
Culture
If you want to get up close and personal with the people and culture of a place, a river cruise can help you do that. Often, river cruises invite locals onboard to entertain the guests. From woodcarving in the Black Forest to classical Khmer dancing in Cambodia, you can get a glimpse into local customs and traditions that you simply won’t find anywhere else. Not to mention, the dining rooms typically offer local delicacies at every meal and serve wines, beers, and spirits from the region through the voyage.
What reasons do you have to take a river cruise? Have questions about what to expect? We’d love for you to leave a comment below.