It’s always a good idea to use a travel advisor like me who specializes in river cruises to help with your trip because I make sure you avoid the most common mistakes. Here are the top mistakes I see travelers make, and my advice about how to avoid them:
- Missing out on airfare deals
- Selecting the wrong cruise line
- Booking the wrong type of cabin
- Not booking activities before boarding
- Not knowing what is included with your cruise
- Forgetting the online check in
- Not arriving at least a day before embarkation
MISSING OUT ON AIRFARE DEALS
It’s important to always evaluate whether to purchase airfare through the cruise line. Some offer great service and options, but others DO NOT. I recently got clients free airfare on a river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel. Their flights were canceled 2 days before the trip as is common right now, but I got it fixed it in plenty of time. I know which lines you should book air with, and which you shouldn’t.
SELECTING THE WRONG CRUISE LINE
Some of the best river cruise lines are AmaWaterways, Viking, Uniworld, Scenic and Tauck, but there are many others too and they are all totally different. Which one you should choose depends on what you want. I help my clients figure out which river cruise line is best for them. Some of the differences:
- quality of the food
- how many excursions are included per port, if any
- quality of the tours and activities
- whether kids are allowed on board
- types of excursions offered (and weather there are different walking paces on the tours depending on each guest’s ability, or all tours are the same pace)
- whether active excursions are offered (hiking, biking, etc.)
- how much alcohol is included, if any, what type (premium spirits or not) and when (all day or only at certain times)
- whether there is a spa
- if there is a gym or fitness classes
- how meals are served (buffet style, table service or a combination)
- whether gratuities are included
- if there is room service
- whether you will have a butler
- if there is a pool or hot tub
The level of importance my clients place on the factors above varies a lot depending on the person. So, I find out what each client wants and help match them to the cruise line that is right for them.
BOOKING THE WRONG TYPE OF CABIN
Generally, the smallest staterooms on a river ship are smaller than hotel rooms. But, there are ships that offer larger staterooms with additional space.
Other things to think about when choosing cabin are:
- view
- proximity to the engines
- weather there is anything above you that will be disruptive
- weather it is worth it to pay more to be on a higher deck
I offer opinions and advice on all of this to my clients so we get the best stateroom for them.
I also share a lot of information including dimensions of rooms and photos I take on the ships of the different types of rooms.
If you are traveling with friends or a group, I can also get you cabins near each other.
NOT BOOKING ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO BOARDING
Shore excursions are one of the best parts of a river cruise. Most river cruise lines include at least one excursion per port in your fare (and some include them all).
But on some lines the excursions fill up before the cruise departs. I track my clients’ dates for booking excursions and remind them when they can choose so they don’t miss out. I also book the excursions for them if they don’t have time.
It can also be nice to reserve private experiences and tours with other companies (not the cruise line) and I help my clients decide what suits them better, and with choosing the right experiences for them.
NOT KNOWING WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH YOUR CRUISE
River cruises are more inclusive than ocean cruises, but each river cruise line differs from the next.
Here are some of the things I explain to my clients when we are discussing which river cruise line is best for them:
- how many excursions are included per port, if any
- how much alcohol is included, if any
- whether airfare is included
- if gratuities are included
- whether you will have a butler or not
- if transportation from the airport and back is included
- whether there are bicycles on board for your use included
- if there is a daily happy hour included
- whether there is a wellness instructor on board, and included classes
FORGETTING THE ONLINE CHECK-IN
I always remind my clients to check-in online at home before they leave. The deadline to do this varies by cruise line, but it is an important step to ease your departure.
NOT ARRIVING AT LEAST A DAY BEFORE EMBARKATION
You should arrive at least one day before your river cruise embarks just in case your flight is delayed or cancelled.
This is even more important if weather could affect your travel. The ship won’t wait for you, so if you don’t make it on time you are out of luck.
Similarly, on the day you disembark the ship, it is best not to schedule an early morning flight in order to avoid problems getting to the airport on time (the airport is often not close to the port where the ship docks).
CONTACT ME TO PLAN YOUR NEXT RIVER CRUISE
As a travel advisor, river cruises are one of my specialities. Contact me to plan your next river cruise and I will work with you to make sure you get the best experience for you, and the best value.
Daria Dimitroff
Journeys of a Lifetime
415.939.5773
