Program 110:

Cruising Europe



River cruises have become one of the hottest tourism adventures for seasoned travelers, so I decided to join them.
Cruises have become very popular...
Landlubbers can cruise down almost any river nowadays. In the United States there are trips on the Hudson, the Ohio, the Mississippi, and the Willamette. Elsewhere you can travel the Thames, the Seine, the Rhine, the Mosel, the Danube, the Elbe, the Po, the Volga, and the Moskova in Europe; the Nile in Africa; the Ganges and the Yangtze in Asia; or the Amazon in South America. Such cruises are popular because they allow visitors to unpack only once, even though they will visit several towns and cities during their water journey. The vessels used are smaller, more intimate than large oceangoing ships, with 140 passengers instead of the 1,400 or 2,800 you’d find on a typical sea cruise. There is plenty to see both on and off the river ship.
The Seasoned Traveler takes off on a cruise of Europe’s Rhine River.

There's nothing like floating down a river in style...
In this part of the world, the shores are replete with appealing towns, castles fit for a king, dramatic hills and mountains, and lush vineyards. Riverboats offer three first-class meals each day, a lounge for entertainment and conversation, a small library for quiet endeavors, and a bar (which generally charges passengers for beverages). There are several excursions off the ship and optional tours. The more fit among the crowd will cram in every shore visit and every activity. The less fit will be content to remain onboard at times, to read or play cards and games with others.
On my river cruise I meet several women who are knitters. They engage in their craft on days when the vessel is traveling from port to port, or during shore visits when they prefer not to abandon ship. This is a wonderful way to spend a week or two away from home. You really should weigh anchor and set sail.
The Rhine excursion was nearly two weeks long. Breakfast was served every morning from 7 until 9. Then passengers would leave the liner to see the sights if the ship was in port. Travelers are either brought back to the boat for lunch or a mid-day meal is arranged on land. There is one dinner setting, usually around 6:30 p.m., after which there may be entertainment in the ship's lounge. It may be a singer, a band for dancing, or a folk group, highlighting the music and customs of a certain region. There is a Welcome Reception and drink at the start of the cruise, a Captain's Welcome dinner, and a Farewell dinner near the end of the adventure. People generally dress casually but they may decide to dress up for these events. When the weather is mild, the roof of the river cruiser becomes the sun deck. In colder weather, the lounge is the best place to be.
River life is very relaxing...


There are four major companies providing river cruises in Europe. My trip is on a Grand Circle Corporation liner. For information, you may contact the company at 1-800-597-2482 or visit www.gct.com. You can also link directly to Grand Circle from this web site.