How to Choose the Right River Cruise for You

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So you’ve read our blog posts about taking a river cruise and decided you’re ready to embark! You know that river cruises are smaller, more intimate cruises that often sail through the heart of several cities. You know that these ships offer more activities and excursions included in the price, and you know that it’s just what you’re looking for. What now?

There are dozens of river cruises in the world – how do you know which one is right for you? While we always recommend chatting with your trusted travel advisor (email us here), this little guide is a good starting place.

First: What Do You Want to See?

When you close your eyes and imagine yourself on this fabulous cruise – what do you see? It doesn’t have to be an exact location yet – just an essence. Do you want to visit fairytale towns, traditional local villages, or castles? Perhaps you light up at the idea of famous historic cities welcoming you in? When you imagine the landscape, are you picturing sailing through forests, rolling vineyards, or jungles?

Start with what kinds of things you want to see as you sail down the river.  Consider what you imagine waking up to and exploring each day. This will help you narrow it down to a general region – Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia, or South America.

Second: What Do You Want to Experience?

River Cruises are all about experiences and unique excursions. While you may not know exactly what shore excursions are offered on each cruise, thinking about how active you want to be and what kinds of things you like to see and do is a perfect starting place.

You can enjoy beautiful cultural dances and in-depth immersions with local craftsmen. Entice your palate with foodie destinations and wine or beer tastings. If you love an active vacation, you can choose a cruise with options for hiking through beautiful scenery, cycling past vineyards, or incredible walking tours. Consider if your focus is more on history, cuisine, or natural beauty.

a group of teens and kids in traditional Bulgarian dress kneel for a photo after performing a local folk dance

Third: When Do You Want to Go?

Now that you know what style of river cruise, and the general region – you can consider what time of year you want to travel. If you have specific dates you may need to start with that. For specific time-sensitive sites like Tulips, Christmas Markets, or Fall Wine Harvests, then those dates will be decided for you.

If you have a more open schedule, consider the weather and the crowds:

River Cruise season begins in March and continues through the end of December. The summer months are high season. So, along with bright, sunny days, they come with bigger crowds and higher prices. In some places, there can also be questions about water levels (a very dry summer impacts the rivers.)

The shoulder months of September & October are great times to travel with warm days, cool nights, and medium crowd sizes.

The low season months of mid-to-late March and late October – early December are cooler with a greater chance of rain. You may need an umbrella, and you might encounter water level issues (higher than normal rivers can also be a problem), but can generally count on lower prices and fewer crowds.

With all this in mind, you’re ready to choose your river!

Popular European Rivers

The Danube – combining famous cities with unusual destinations

  • Sites: Fairytale villages, iconic UNESCO sites, Vienna & Budapest, gorgeous soft landscapes
  • Experiences: Concerts, Waltzes, Biking & Beer Tasting
  • Best Time of Year: May – June & October

The Rhine – great for first-timers since it travels through six different countries

  • Sites: Famous cities like Amsterdam & Cologne. A spectacular range of scenery from hills to mountains.
  • Experiences: Centuries of history & culture, beer & wine tastings, cycling
  • Best Time of Year: April – June & September – October

The Rhone –Best if you’re short on time

  • Sites: The French countryside with vineyards and medieval cities, the Swiss Alps
  • Experiences: Food &wine pairings in the heart of French wine country
  • Best Time of Year: April & May

The Duoro –For seasoned travelers looking for something different

  • Sites: Small towns, wineries & UNESCO sites
  • Experiences: wine tastings, friendly locals
  • Best Time of Year: September & October

Popular Asian Rivers

Mekong – Visiting Vietnam & Cambodia with lots of options

  • Sites: Quaint fishing villages and bustling cities, rice paddies & mangrove forests
  • Experiences: Ancient ruins, rickshaw rides, floating farmers market, activities with local craftsman
  • Best Time of Year: August – March

Yangtze River –Perfect for exploring China

  • Sites: Shanghai, Three Gorges and Three Gorges Dam
  • Experiences: Traditional temples, pagodas & traditional dances
  • Best Time of Year: April – May & September – October

Once you’ve thought through these questions of where, when and what kind of experiences you want, we can help you choose just the right river cruise line and itinerary to match your list. There are river cruise lines that cater to more active travelers, travelers that love boutique hotels, luxury travelers, solo travelers, and even families.  Send us an email, or give us a call!

Greece Beyond the “Big Two”

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We get it — pretty much everyone has Mykonos and Santorini on their mind, and on their bucket list, when they think about Greece.

These two popular islands have done a fabulous job of capturing the hearts and minds of American travelers. But it’s starting to have some unintended repercussions in terms of crowds, prices, and overall experience.

[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures]

When we were in Santorini last April (before the tourist season had even really kicked off) the crowds in Oia, and the lines for the cable car, were already unpleasant. Flash forward to July/August, and add in a couple of giant cruise ships making a port call for the day, and it would have been a madhouse.

[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures]

With that in mind, we have some suggestions for ways to experience Greece in a more low-key, less-stressful way:

Focus on the Peloponnese Peninsula

Athens itself merits more than the quick one- or two-night stay that most Americans give it. With a longer stay, you can use Athens as a home base for day trips to places like Meteora, Delphi, and the Corinth Canal.

[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures]

And then you can discover some of the other hidden gems of the Peloponnese, and spend a few nights in a romantic seaside town like Nafplio or Monemvasia.

[Photo Credit: Mike, view from Nafplio via Shared Adventures]

Choose More Under-the Radar Islands

Mother with her two daughters overlooking a green mountain in Greece

If you want to stick to a traditional “Athens and the Islands” itinerary, you don’t have to use Mykonos and Santorini. Choose smaller, quieter islands like Naxos, Paros, or Milos for a taste of authentic Greek culture and natural beauty. Or combine Athens with a longer stay on just one island – perhaps a larger island like Crete, which offers a wide variety of experiences in one place.

[Photo Credit: Alicia & Jay via Shared Adventures – read about their family vacation to Greece Here]

Set Sail in a Smaller Yacht

Cruising the Greek islands is a magical experience, but it can be even more magical if you stay away from the big cruise ships that can only visit the bigger/busier islands.

Join a small-group sailing adventure hosted by a tour company, if you want to make some new friends along the way. Or charter a private yacht for just you and your travel companions, and you can explore (at your own pace) smaller islands with secluded beaches and laid-back beachfront restaurants.

[Photo Credit: Mary via Shared Adventures]

Rent a Private Villa

For the ultimate avoid-the-crowds hack, why not rent a private villa with its own pool, a chef to prepare local cuisine, and onsite contacts who can arrange drivers, tours/experiences, restaurant reservations, and more.  Depending on the specific location, and the number of people you’re traveling with, this option might not be as pricey as you think. And you can’t beat the experience!

[Photo Credit: Rafael via Unsplash]

Regardless of how you structure your Greek adventure, it is still a place that should be on everyone’s list. Let us help you make the smartest choices and design the most customized itinerary so that you get the most out of the experience!

A London & Paris Client Trip Report

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Sabrina and her daughter were so excited to plan their first trip across the pond. They wanted to see and do “all the things” and we knew that combining London with Paris would be the perfect adventure! Here’s how their trip went…

First and foremost I want to thank you for making our trip such an enjoyable experience. From our initial consult to using the app to navigate our day-to-day and everything in between…it was fabulous and exactly what we imagined. 

I journaled while we were gone, so below I’ve included info/observations to capture our experience but made it relative to your services! And we would adore working with you on future travel and recommending your services to others. 🙂

The Flight Across the Pond

With the long layover in Miami we went into the American Flagship Lounge which is the nicer of the two options there. They have a quiet room with chaise lounges, great food (including prime rib), coffees, cocktails and a place to shower and freshen up. Completely worth it even for a day pass. 

Landing in London and following your advice on staying up and calling it an early evening to get on London time proved successful. Our driver from the airport was lovely to chat with on the way to the hotel and gave us great tips and hidden gems to look out for. Originally from Portugal, he convinced me to consider Lisbon as our next adventure. Lol!!

London

We were also glad we had an early morning Tower of London sightseeing tour planned for the next day because it motivated us to actually keep with that goal. The tour ended up being the perfect way to get the lay of the land. It included a lot but it wasn’t overwhelming. The tour guide was incredible.We had a terrific experience. 

The London Eye, Book of Mormon and of course, the Tour of Windsor was equally as fabulous. Windsor was gorgeous and we had the opportunity to see both the changing of the guard and the Queen’s burial site at St. George’s chapel. We appreciated the guide’s history of the city as we drove out of London and him getting us on to the Palace’s grounds so we could then explore on our own. 

The Rubens Hotel

However, the star of this leg of our journey was the Rubens. They had us checked in by about noon that day because they knew we had been traveling and called us while we were out shopping. They also hand delivered scrumptious macaroons to our room upon arrival to the room.  High Tea there was incredible, which I highly recommend. Thanks to my friend Mara, we knew to request seating on the couches facing the window across from the Mews at the palace. We also caught a glimpse of blacked out carriage coming out of the palace while we were enjoying our tea. 

They treated us to a fabulous cook to order breakfast (worth about $50 per person per day). An additional $100 food and beverage credit plus a 15% discount on all other restaurant charges during our stay. In total it was an added value of $625. The breakfast was incredible and the one morning we needed to get in and out quickly because of our Windsor Tour, they prepared a yummy breakfast off menu so we could eat and walk down to the coach station in time. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how fabulous the front desk staff and doormen were. Andrew, in particular, made sure we got into our cabs safely and always made sure if we were walking we knew where we were going. And gave great suggestions on food, etc. 

Across the Chunnel to Paris

Overall it was the perfect number of days and activities for England before venturing to France via the Eurostar. The train was an experience all its own. Comfortable and efficient. Getting a taxi was easy to navigate, as you relayed, but after that, we only used a taxi one more time. After that we made a point to use Uber. The taxi drivers didn’t speak English and while the Uber drivers didn’t either, the app makes it easier to get to where you need to go. And you could choose different service levels for efficiency. 

Paris Hotel – The Legend

The Legend Hotel was equally on par with the Rubens. While it was more modern, had a much smaller staff and a less elaborate breakfast, it was absolutely fabulous. The rooms with all hardwood floors, no upholstered beds, tempurpedic mattress and pillows. As well as TONS of closet space allowed us to avoid the bed bug concerns. The room was also larger than I expected with a rain head shower, a mini fridge and a terrific view. It was overlooking the street with a tiny balcony. The staff was amazing and super helpful. It was also centrally located in a great section of town with lots of shopping and great restaurants. I would HIGHLY recommend this hotel! 

Paris Tours

Our tours and activities in Paris were equally as awesome as our experiences in London. The Eiffel Tower was great. The guide got us into the gates and to the lift then we could explore on our own, which we loved.

The Louvre was incredible. I am so glad we opted for a guide because it would have been overwhelming otherwise. He was also so insanely knowledgeable and passionate about art that it made the experience even better.  We did break away a little early from the group. But he was so sweet! And, took a few minutes to help us navigate the best way out so that we could see more. Our trip to the Catacombs was also amazing and our guide there was also terrific. The semi private option that allowed us to access areas only available to the group tours was totally worth it. 

Our final tour to Versailles was a great way to end our adventure. However, my only complaint was that the tour guide (while very knowledgeable) spent longer than necessary in stops in each room. Repeating herself but then rushing at the end. So much so that we ended up leaving the Palace area and exiting into the gardens before we could get her attention to let her know we wanted to stay in the palace so we could get more pics, visit Laduree and the gift shops. Of course, I have to take ownership of the fact we were pretty tired. And on info overload so I should have tried to speak up earlier. We were able to end our time there with amazing crepes. At a little restaurant there in town that was a hidden gem.

Again, such a minor thing that I hesitated to even mention it but it’s worth noting in case you have other clients interested in that tour. The train ride there was nice and she did do a good job initially explaining how it worked in contrast to the metro. We had to navigate the train back on our own. It was pretty easy with the help of Google Maps. Since we wanted to end up back at a station closer to our hotel. 

Heading Home

The driver who picked us up to return us to the Paris airport was early. And they came into the hotel lobby to ring our room. He was helpful in getting the luggage loaded and getting us to the right place very efficiently. It was the perfect amount of time at the Paris airport to check bags, do a little last minute shopping, and have a yummy breakfast. With the long layover on our return flight too, we bolted to the Flagship Lounge again! It was a great respite because it was a long day. A much less chaotic environment than the terminal and the perfect way to end our trip. 

Again, thank you for everything! I’ll be touching base before the end of the year to plan our next adventure!

-Sabrina

Top 6 Multi-Destination Travel Tips

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If it’s your first or second time traveling to Europe, it’s understandable to want to see it all. The flights are long and it’s difficult to choose just one destination. We always recommend creating balance in your trip and ensuring you have some days in the middle to slow down, relax, and enjoy the local experience. When you’re trying to craft the perfect multi-destination adventure, here are a few more tips to keep in mind to ensure you have the best time.

Choose Locations Which Are Close Together

If you’re going to be moving from place to place – look for destinations that are close together and easy to travel between. Take into account travel time, and find well-connected cities/towns. This will give you more time to enjoy new destinations without spending too much time in transit. Don’t forget to include travel time in your plans. If it takes 4 hours to get from one destination to the next, then that is only a half day you get to spend in the new destination.

Balance Overnight Stays with Day Trips

Moving from place to place isn’t the only way to maximize an adventure. You can stay in the same home base each night and enjoy that city in the evening while taking day trips to nearby locales — giving you the best of both worlds. Look for home bases that offer lots of fun daytrips in the surrounding area.

[Photo Credit: Kendra & Shad via Shared Adventures. Read about their adventure to Portugal here!]

buildings in Sintra Portugal

Spend At Least 3 Nights in a Destination

At least 3 days/ nights is what we recommend for almost every city, with very few exceptions. The first night you arrive is always disorienting. You’re getting used to the new destination and learning about your surroundings.

A family visiting the Acropolis in Greece

The second night is when you start to settle in. The first culture shock has worn off a little and you can enjoy the sites you’re seeing, maybe find a favorite gelato place or café. You’ll spend the day seeing the major sites and attractions – what the city is known best for.

[Photo Credit: Alicia & Jay via Shared Adventures. Read about their family trip to Greece here!]

Then comes the third day. You have a better sense of where you are and how to navigate the city. You can start to relax and enjoy where you are. Make note of the little things and find a few hidden gems. More time is always better but without three full days, you won’t get a proper taste of a city.

Pack Smart and Travel Light

Nothing’s worse than dragging a heavy suitcase from hotel to hotel through Europe. Make sure you pack light. If you have multiple destinations on your itinerary, especially with trains where you’ll need to lift your luggage up a few steps, doing your best to pack lightly will make your trip that much more enjoyable.

[Photo Credit: Liz via Shared Adventures]

Prebook The Key Attractions

To make the most of your time, make sure you pre-book skip-the-line tickets for the major sites and attractions in your destination. This way you avoid waiting in long lines and can make the most effective use of your day. If you want a good overview of the major sites of a city, booking a walking or golf-cart tour is a great way to start your stay.

Traveling Off the Beaten Path Takes Time

Finding local experiences and hidden gems of a city takes time. The longer you spend in one city the more time you have to truly understand the city and explore the unexplored. You’ll enjoy the local culture and local experiences. Although it may not seem like it, sometimes maximizing your travel means visiting a few places more profoundly.

[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures. Read about her week in Rome here!]

If you’re ready to strike the perfect balance in your multi-destination adventure – let us know! We’ll give you expert advice and help you to plan a customized itinerary that maximizes your experience!

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You provided excellent guidance for us. I appreciated that you really had us think about what was most important to us when we were selecting the right cruise – and not to totally focus on what other people had to say. THANK YOU for helping to make this a memorable trip for our family! It really was a trip of a lifetime!

– Clare and Mark (family cruise to Alaska)

The level of service we experienced was out of this world (and we did NOT make it easy on Ann). We weren’t quite sure where we wanted to go, when we would be able to go, or what “vibe” we were going for. After asking us some key questions (what we liked, didn’t like, why, etc.) Ann helped us narrow down our trip details and planned the honeymoon of our dreams. She helped book some of our excursions, answered some emergency questions while abroad and was always available/willing to help. I think it’s safe to say we won’t be using anyone else for future travel planning – Ann is a rockstar!

– Carli (Italy and Spain)