River cruising is a LOVELY way to experience Europe! It has become extremely popular over the last decade and even more so in the last five years. Things have changed quite a lot in that time as well. Some aspects have presented challenges. However, most change have been great for the industry and for travel enthusiasts!

Recent changes include innovations in ship design, amenities and unique product offerings. But the biggest change is simply the unprecedented growth of the market. Demand has increased significantly and in response to the demand, the cruise lines are building new ships each year. As an example, a single company arguably flooded the market by releasing 12 new ships into the European river cruise market in 2015.

The positive result of increased product supply and competition is better service, amenities and sightseeing options for the travelers. This requires the cruise lines to handle challenges with ingenuity, innovation and stellar management strategies. Behind the scenes staff and management have been forced to adapt to larger operations. Most of this is good news for the guests enjoying the rivers!

Here is some insider info, tips, what to expect & ways to maximize your European river cruise experience:

• River water levels: There is a lot of information out there about water levels and how they affect river cruises. Too low or too high river levels can effect the operation of a cruise. Sometimes the cruise lines have to operate the trip via motorcoach and use hotels in some instances. The cruise lines are not required to report exactly how many sailings are altered due to unnavigable rivers. Some cruise lines are more transparent than others. A good estimate is less than 5% of river cruise sailings result in alterations. Keep in mind there are risks of interruption with ANY vacation anywhere in the world! Weather, hurricanes, civil unrest, strikes, etc! I am on team 'no fear' when it comes to traveling. There are always risks when you travel but the benefits of travel FAR outweigh the risks!
  
• Time of year to go: There are pros & cons to the different times of year to cruise the waterways of Europe.
  
  • Spring pros: budding flowers, less crowds both on the ground and ships on the rivers, & lower prices. Cons: weather can be variable and a little chillier than summer and early fall. Sometimes its challenging to plan spring trips right after the Holidays.
    
  • Summer pros: lower cruise prices, great weather, and a lot of times easy for people to get away in the summer. Cons: crowds! Weather can be hot. High airfares!
    
  • Fall pros: less crowds than summer but still busier than spring, weather is usually excellent, in general it is a good time to travel for a lot of people. Cons: fall cruises sell out fast, book early! The discounts on fall cruises tend to end quicker as well.
    
  • Winter: obviously the weather is the biggest drawback. But, the prices are usually great and the Christmas markets are a lovely experience!
    
• Lots of ships on the waterways: Back to my comment about all the cruise companies and ships navigating the rivers. No matter the time of year but more so during the busier seasons – parallel docking is a reality of cruising. Again, because of the increase in traffic and nature of the tiny ports, the ships often must dock paralell to one another which means that you must walk through a ship or two to disembark. This also means that if you're up against another ship, your stateroom might be inches away from another guest's stateroom on another ship. Mostly this is a non-issue as this happens while you're out and about sightseeing or at night but please be aware that if you paid for a balcony, you might not always be able to use it.
  
• Your river cruise vessel is essentially a floating hotel. This is a big difference from ocean cruising where your ship is a destination in and of itself. Your highlights are the ports of call and excursions on land; all enjoyed comfortably via mobile accommodations!
  
• Cabin types: be sure to carefully compare the different cabin choices aboard your vessel and enlist an experienced travel professional to help you make the best choice. Some travelers are perfectly happy to have a smaller cabin on a lower deck without a balcony in order to save money and splurge elsewhere like excursions and pre & post cruise extensions. However, many travelers absolutely relish the extra space and ability to get fresh air and gorgeous cruising views from the comfort of their own stateroom.
  
• A notable trend in river cruising recently has been more active and experiential options for cruisers. Most cruise lines are offering bicycling, hiking, canoeing, fitness classes, more spa amenities and experiences like wine tasting and cooking. If you're interested in staying active on your cruise and having some unique and enriching experiences, be sure to ask your travel consultant about what is available!
  

River cruising is a fabulous way to see Europe and I hope this information has helped you understand more about this unique product. Choosing the right cruise line, itinerary, and stateroom maximizes your experience and travel investment dividend. Managing expectations and understanding that sometimes you must 'go with the flow' when traveling sets you up to have the vacation of a lifetime!

Thanks for reading! HAPPY CRUISING!