How to Choose a River Cruise Itinerary
Seven questions, in the right order, that narrow the choice before you compare lines.
Get Free Quotes on an ItineraryTwo itineraries on the same river can give you very different trips. Use these questions, in this order, to narrow the choice before you compare lines.
Seven Questions to Ask
1. How many nights can you give it?
Start with time. Seven nights suits one river; ten to fourteen suits two; fifteen or more is a grand voyage.
2. When can you travel?
Spring brings blossoms and tulips, summer brings long days and heat, autumn brings harvests and color, and December brings Christmas markets.
3. One-way or round-trip?
One-way covers more ground. Round-trip keeps flights simple and suits the Seine, Douro, Dutch waterways and Bordeaux.
4. Cities or countryside?
The Danube and Rhine are city-rich; the Douro and Moselle are about landscape and wine.
5. How busy do you want each day?
Count the ports. More stops means more variety but less downtime and less scenic sailing.
6. Is the best scenery in daylight?
Check the timetable for the Rhine Gorge, the Wachau Valley or the upper Douro. Afternoon sailing beats a night passage.
7. What about the land portion?
Decide how many hotel nights you want and whether you want them packaged. See river + land.
Reading an Itinerary Like an Advisor
- Where does the ship actually dock? In some cities the ship moors a bus ride from the center. That changes how easy it is to explore on your own.
- Is there a late stay or overnight? An evening in Vienna, Budapest or Paris is worth a lot.
- Which excursions are included? Compare the included tour in each port, not just the number of ports.
- Any coach days? Some routes include long coach excursions, for example to Salzburg from the Danube.
- What happens if the water is high or low? Ask how the line handles changes, and how often it happens on that river in that month.
Matching Season to Itinerary
| Season | Itineraries that shine | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Dutch & Belgian waterways, Danube, Rhine, Seine | Tulips, blossom, comfortable walking weather |
| Summer | Rhine, Moselle, Elbe, Columbia & Snake, Upper Mississippi | Long days; avoid the hottest southern routes in midsummer |
| Autumn | Douro, Rhône, Moselle, Bordeaux, Hudson, Upper Mississippi | Grape harvests and fall color |
| Winter | Danube and Rhine Christmas markets; Nile and Mekong | Markets and mulled wine in Europe; the cooler season in Egypt and Southeast Asia |
Common Itinerary Mistakes
- Choosing by the number of ports alone. More stops can mean shorter visits and less time to enjoy the scenery from the deck.
- Flying in on embarkation day. One delayed connection and the ship sails without you. Arrive at least a day early.
- Ignoring the direction. The same route sailed in reverse can put the best scenery at night, or give you a harder flight home.
- Underestimating the walking. Old towns mean cobblestones and hills. Ask about slower-paced tour groups if that matters.
- Booking the cabin last. On popular dates, the cabin you want may be gone long before the sailing sells out.
Want an Advisor to Shortlist Itineraries?
Answer the seven questions in your request and our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will come back with two or three itineraries that fit, with free quotes.
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