Bottom line: On a river cruise, a balcony may offer good value when it means an upgrade to a larger suite, but not when a French balcony gives you more interior space, or when you will be spending little time in your cabin.
Are river cruises worth it? Most river cruises are not a good choice for families or for people who enjoy extensive on-board entertainment. The daily costs for these trips generally are higher than for ocean-going cruises, although that is not always the case.
Then, What can you not do on a river cruise? Here are our tips of what NOT to do on a river cruise.
- Don’t think you’re going to have a lot of downtime. …
- Don’t try to pack too much in. …
- Don’t feel the need to schedule extra excursions. …
- Don’t skip trying the food and drink in local ports. …
- Don’t ignore when the ship sails — and from where. …
- Don’t underpack.
What deck level is best on a cruise ship? The lower and more central you are in a ship, the less roll and sway you will feel. Even if you choose a balcony room, choose a low level and a room closest to the ship’s center. The higher decks and cabins at the front (forward) or back (aft) of the ship will rock and roll the most.
FAQ
Where is it best to have a cabin on a cruise ship?
Best for a Great View
Cabins at the very front or very back of a cruise ship are most likely to have the best views, as they offer the widest vistas of the ocean stretching out behind or in front of the ship — or in the case of forward cabins, your next port of call.
What is a French balcony on river cruise? A French balcony is a balcony that you cannot step out onto. It has floor to ceiling sliding doors that open to a railing, but no space for furniture. Also known as a Juliet balcony, a French balcony offers fresh air and the feel of a veranda, but with no outside space.
Are river cruises rough? You will not get motion discomfort, as river cruises are slow paced with little to none rough water. Remember, every cabin has a view—there are no inside cabins like on an ocean cruise vessel.
What is a French balcony on a cruise ship? French Balcony – typically on the top 2 decks of a rivership, a sliding glass door opens up to railing, but you cannot step outside. This is the most common type of cabin available, and the one I recommend, excepting Viking Longships. This is also known as a “Juliet” balcony.
What is a veranda on a cruise ship?
The standard verandah features an open-air balcony skirted by an acrylic wall, allowing for a full view of the horizon even while seated. The whitewall verandah offers open-air lounging with a solid wall from the deck to the railing. Most of these staterooms are located in the aft portion of the ship.
Do river cruises sail at night? Cruising from one destination to the next often takes place at night while passengers are sleeping, but sometimes the cruises will also sail during the day, giving passengers an opportunity to relax or enjoy the scenery.
What are the dirtiest cruise ships?
Top 6 Dirtiest Cruise Ships-CDC Publishes Its List
- Oceania Insignia.
- Silver Wind.
- Silver Spirit.
- Safari Endeavor.
- Norwegian Breakaway.
- Le Boreal.
Is it better to be on the left or right side of a cruise ship? Which side of a cruise ship is better? There’s nothing inherently better about either the port side or the starboard side of a cruise ship. But if you’re sailing in a balcony or veranda stateroom, you might want to choose to stay on a specific side of the ship based on the direction of your itinerary.
What is deck 1 on a cruise ship?
On some cruise ships, Deck 1 is the lowest deck on the ship. On others, it’s simply the lowest deck that’s accessible to passengers. On Carnival and Disney cruise ships, you can book a cabin on Deck 1. On other cruise ships, the lowest passenger cabins are on Deck 3 or 4.
What is the quietest part of a cruise ship?
It is critical to get a room that’s between other staterooms. And that means completed surrounded by other rooms on all sides, left and right, above and below. This is just because those rooms are most likely to be the quietest on the entire ship.
What is the point of a French balcony? Their main purpose is to provide the feel of a true balcony without the expense or upkeep. The most basic French balcony is little more than a grating or railing stretched across glass doors. There is usually a bit of clearance all around, but not any functional deck space.
Can you sit on a French balcony? 2 answers. A French balcony is a small step out your sliding doors. You can sit in your room with the doors open and feel like it is outdoors, but you cannot sit on the french balcony, it is to small. However, unless you plan to spend a great time in your room, a french balcony is just fine.
What is the best month to take a European river cruise?
The European River cruising season runs from March through December, though the best time to take a river cruise in Europe is during the late spring (April-May) or early fall (September-October).
Can you get sea sick on river cruises? Will you feel “seasick” on a river cruise? It’s highly unlikely, but if you suffer from motion sickness, install yourself in the lounge and read a good book while transiting the locks, or sit out on the Sun Deck if weather allows and you’ll do just fine!
Which is better river cruise or ocean cruise?
In contrast to the floating resorts of ocean-faring ships that sail to the major port cities of the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Baltic, and Alaska, river cruises offer a quieter, more intimate experience while sailing along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China, and the U.S. Let’s take a look at the differences between the …
Can you get sea sick on river cruise? Will you feel “seasick” on a river cruise? It’s highly unlikely, but if you suffer from motion sickness, install yourself in the lounge and read a good book while transiting the locks, or sit out on the Sun Deck if weather allows and you’ll do just fine!
Do river cruises make you seasick?
Will I get seasick on a river cruise? Your chances are much smaller of getting motion sickness on river cruises, because there’s less motion. On the rivers, you’re not dealing with ocean waves and currents. The only exception to that may be the Great Lakes.
What is an R class cruise ship? Originally launched by Renaissance Cruises, the R Class ships are a fleet of eight vessels that were launched between the late 90s to the early 2000s.
Do river cruise ships have lifeboats?
The question I hear river cruisers ask most frequently is, “Where are the lifeboats?” In most cases — speaking about European river cruising — river cruise ships don’t need physical lifeboats as such, for a variety of reasons.
Do any river cruise ships have balconies? Viking, Avalon, Uniworld, AmaWaterways, Tauck, Crystal, CroisiEurope and Vantage all offer rooms with French balconies, which are sliding doors that open to let in air. You can’t walk out on these balconies, although sometimes the cruise lines put tables and chairs in front of them so you can feel like you’re outside.
