You all are probably getting a little sick of me saying this over and over again… but I am sitting here on a river cruise, and I am loving it. ABSOLUTELY loving it.
I will explain why in a paragraph or two. But first, let me tell you what I am seeing.
All around me are people in their 70s and 80s, and they are talking about their travels. My ears are wide open, and oh, their stories. They are of a whole different generation than I am. (After a little researching, I found out the average AmaWaterways guest is 59.) They are relaxed. They are enjoying their lives. They are out here seeing the world.
…but guys. What if we don’t live that long? What if we get ill? What if we need a double knee replacement before we ever get the chance?
I get so emotional when I say this. My eyes tear up, the same way they always do when I talk about this. Because I don’t want to wait for someday. And I don’t want you to wait either.
So let me tell you why I am loving this river cruise, at 46, with my 13 year old son right beside me.
1. Boredom
There are no shows. No bumper cars. No game rooms, no concerts, no roller coasters, no arcades.
And you know what we have done instead? We have sat in the lounge together and just talked. We have borrowed board games and played and laughed. We have had our own quiet time, sitting and reading side by side.
LET THEM be bored. Let us be bored. Because it turns out the bored time is where the memories sneak in.
2. The long meals
There is one seating. There is no rush. You are almost gently forced to sit, and eat, and drink (the wine and the drinks are included, right there at the table).
It is open seating, so you can eat on your own, or pull up a chair next to a group of people you met on that morning’s tour. And the food. Everything comes out fresh and hot, because the chef is not cooking for thousands. It is more like 120 to 170 of us. You can taste the difference.
3. Tours for everyone
Every tour is included in your sailing rate. Gentle walks, hikes, food tours, history tours, and so much more. There is something for everyone, and the groups are small.
No one is rushing you off the ship by 8am to make your excursion. You move at a pace that feels human.
4. The staff
I know the staff on the bigger lines get to know you too. Your room steward, your dining team. But this is different.
On this ship there are 41 staff for 72 rooms and 174 people when we are full. EVERYONE knew us before we even stepped on board. By the second day, you know them and they know you. It stops feeling like service and starts feeling like family. Everyone kept saying, Where’s Gavin…where’s your brother? ha! Flattery – got them everywhere
5. It is all included
This might be my favorite part of all. The all inclusiveness of a river cruise is the real deal.
Beverages at breakfast, lunch and dinner, alcohol included. Drinks in the hour before dinner too. Every tour and every excursion. Bathrobes and slippers. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap AND lotion. Even a nice metal water bottle that is ours to keep and refill at the machine (I know it sounds small, but it is such a thoughtful little touch).
And depending on what you book, it can stretch so much further. Pre cruise tours and hotel stays. Post cruise tours and stays. Your arrival and departure transfers. Even your flights. There is a small gym, included. Fitness classes too, dance fitness, yoga, circuit training, body weight. All of it, included.
So who is a river cruise really for?
While it might sound like something “for the older crowd,” I am here to tell you there is so much we younger travelers can learn from it. One gentleman told me that anyone under 60 was young to him… so that is the crowd I am talking to.
You unpack one time. You get treated like a specialty guest, even if you haven’t booked the suite. You sail down a river with the most beautiful views out every single window. There are no “at sea” days, just slow afternoons of sightseeing from the water while the ship quietly moves you along. You walk right off into a town, and other times, you hop on a bus and off they sweep you, straight to where you wanted to be. No paying $100+ per person just to get bussed to your own excursion.
Yes, the sticker price up front can look like a little more than an ocean sailing. But in the end, you know exactly what you are going to get.
…but then again, maybe you don’t. Maybe you get so much more than you ever bargained for.
If a river cruise has been tugging at the back of your mind, let this be your nudge. I would love to help you find the one that fits your family. It is exactly what I do.
***If you decide to place a deposit on an Amawaterways sailing before I get off the ship on the 16th, I can offer you a reduced rate deposit of 50% making it only $200 per person instead of $400.***
Message me soon!
Want to follow along on our European adventure? Check us out at adventuresweseek.com!
Nicole
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