How River Cruises Work
If you've never taken a river cruise before, the concept is simple but the details matter. Understanding exactly how a river cruise works before you book means you arrive informed, with the right expectations, and ready to get the most out of every day. This is the beginner's guide for Australian travellers.
The Basic Concept: Your Hotel Travels with You
A river cruise is exactly what it sounds like: a cruise along an inland river, staying on board a purpose-built river ship. The ship is your hotel. It moves at night (or during the day) between cities, so you fall asleep in one destination and wake up in another. You unpack once at the start of the cruise and your room stays the same throughout.
The rivers in Europe the Danube, Rhine, Seine, Douro flow through the centres of their cities. So when the ship docks, you're already in the heart of Vienna, Budapest, Strasbourg, or Paris. No transfers. No taxis. Walk off the gangplank.
The Ship
European river ships are long and narrow they have to fit through locks and under low bridges. A typical CroisiEurope river ship is about 135 metres long and 11 metres wide, carrying 100 180 passengers across 3 passenger decks plus a sun deck.
Inside, you'll find: a restaurant where all meals are served (communal dining); a lounge bar; a reception desk; and your private cabin with en-suite bathroom. The sun deck is where passengers spend time when sailing watching the scenery go past, reading, socialising.
Canal barges are smaller still CroisiEurope's barges carry just 22 passengers and offer a more intimate, slower experience on France's inland canals.
The Itinerary
A typical 7-8 day river cruise has the following daily rhythm:
• Morning: Arrive at a new port. Breakfast on board. Shore excursion departs (usually included a guided walk, a coach tour, or a museum visit). Those who prefer to explore independently can do so.
• Afternoon: Free time ashore. Lunch may be on board or independently ashore. Some cruises include afternoon excursions.
• Evening: Return to the ship for dinner. The ship may move overnight to the next destination while you sleep, or it may sail during the day while you watch from the sun deck.
• Night: The ship moves to the next port, or stays moored if there are evening activities ashore (e.g. a Christmas market or a concert).
What's Included
CroisiEurope's pricing covers: all meals on board, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, drinks at the bar throughout the day, coffee and tea the day, at least one guided shore excursion per port, on-board entertainment and cultural activities, and port taxes. No hidden extras at the end.
Optional extras include: premium excursion packages, travel insurance, gratuities, and pre/post cruise hotels.
The Locks
One of the unique features of river cruising particularly on the Douro, the Main-Danube Canal, and the French canal barges is going through locks. A lock is a watertight chamber that raises or lowers the ship to match the river level on the other side of a dam. The ship enters the lock, the gates close, and the water rises or falls. On a canal barge, you can stand on the deck and touch the lock walls on both sides. It's surprisingly dramatic and always draws passengers to the deck.
How Long Are River Cruises?
CroisiEurope's river cruise itineraries range from 3-night short breaks (ideal for combining with a city stay) to 22-night Grand European voyages combining the Rhine and Danube. Most Australians opt for 7 - 12 night itineraries enough time to justify the long-haul flight and see multiple countries.
Booking from Australia
CroisiEurope Australia (Tweet World Travel, Adelaide) handles all bookings for Australian travellers. You book, pay, and manage your cruise in AUD with no credit card surcharges on Visa or Mastercard. Local support is available by phone: 1300 739 652.
Book Your 2027 River Cruise with CroisiEurope Australia
CroisiEurope Australia handles all bookings for Australian travellers local support, AUD pricing, no credit card surcharges on Visa or Mastercard.
Phone: 1300 739 652 | Email: contact@croisicruises.com
Website: www.croisieuroperivercruises.com.au | Office: Tweet World Travel, 544 Magill Road, Magill SA 5072
2027 Early Booking is open now. Enquire today.
