7 Reasons to Try a European River Cruise (Even If You’re Not a Cruise Person)

7 Reasons You Should Consider a River Cruise

I’ll admit it: when you hear the word cruise, you probably have a picture in your head.

Thousands of people. Huge buffets. Crowded pools. Long lines to get on and off the ship. And shore excursions that involve following someone holding a little flag through a sea of tourists.

That’s not really my style of travel.

But in July, I sailed the Seine through France on an AmaWaterways Paris & Normandy river cruise, and I discovered that river cruising is an entirely different experience.

Our seven-night itinerary traveled roundtrip from Paris along the Seine into Normandy, visiting places like Les Andelys, Le Havre, Rouen and Vernon. It combined small French towns, incredible food, art, history and — one of the biggest highlights for me — the history of Normandy and the D-Day beaches.

If you like the idea of seeing several places in one trip but don't love the idea of a traditional cruise, here are seven reasons a river cruise deserves a spot on your travel list.

1. The Ships Are Small — Really Small

This may have been the biggest difference for me.

The AmaWaterways ships that sail this itinerary carry around 140 passengers.

Not 3,000.

Not 5,000.

About 140.

That changes the entire atmosphere.

You aren't spending your vacation navigating crowds or waiting for elevators. You start recognizing the crew and the other travelers. Meals feel more like dining in a restaurant than feeding several thousand people at once.

And because river ships are smaller, they can take you directly into towns and cities that massive ocean ships simply can't reach.

You aren't sailing near Europe.

You're sailing right through it.

2. You Unpack Once and Europe Comes to You

This might be one of river cruising's greatest selling points.

Normally, seeing this much of France would mean packing your suitcase, checking out of a hotel, getting on a train or into a car, traveling to the next destination, checking into another hotel…and repeating the whole process a few days later.

On a river cruise?

Your room travels with you.

You can spend the day exploring Normandy, come back aboard, have dinner, go to sleep and wake up somewhere completely different.

There is something wonderfully civilized about drinking coffee while watching the French countryside float past your window instead of dragging your suitcase through another train station.

3. The Food Is Actually Part of the Experience

Food can be hit or miss on large cruise ships because they're preparing meals for thousands of passengers.

With a much smaller number of guests, river cruising allows dining to feel considerably more personal.

Our meals were one of the things I enjoyed most.

The menus reflected the places we were traveling through, and meals felt much more like part of our experience in France rather than simply something we did between excursions.

That's an important distinction for me when I travel.

I don't just want to see a destination. I want to eat it, drink it and understand a little bit about what makes that region different.

On a river cruise, food becomes another way to experience the destination.

4. The Excursions Go Much Deeper Than "Here's the Famous Building"

This was probably my favorite surprise.

I love history, but I don't necessarily want someone reciting dates at me for three hours.

The best excursions make you understand what actually happened in the place where you're standing.

Normandy was the perfect example.

Visiting the D-Day beaches isn't simply sightseeing. You're standing in places that played an enormous role in world history, and having a knowledgeable guide provide the stories and context completely changes the experience.

That happened throughout the trip.

Rouen brought us into the history of Joan of Arc. Les Andelys introduced us to Château Gaillard and Richard the Lionheart. Other stops connected us with the artists, architecture and events that shaped this part of France.

Instead of checking landmarks off a list, you start understanding the destination.

For me, that's what travel should do.

5. You Have Choices in How You Explore

One misconception about organized travel is that everyone has to do exactly the same thing.

That isn't necessarily the case with river cruising.

Depending on the destination and sailing, excursions can include traditional walking tours, more active options and biking experiences.

That flexibility matters.

Maybe you want the historical tour one morning. Maybe you'd rather get on a bike the next day. Maybe you'd like to explore independently.

You get the convenience of having experiences organized for you without feeling like every minute of your vacation has been organized for you.

That's a pretty good balance.

6. You Spend More Time in the Destination and Less Time Getting There

This is one of those benefits you don't fully appreciate until you're actually doing it.

River cruises travel primarily overnight or between excursions, which means transportation isn't eating up half your vacation.

You're not constantly heading to airports, sitting on buses or spending hours moving between hotels.

And when you arrive somewhere, you're often docking incredibly close to where you actually want to be.

Step off the ship.

Explore.

Come back when you're ready.

It makes traveling through multiple destinations feel surprisingly easy.

7. It's a Great Option for People Who Don't Think They're "Cruise People"

This may be the biggest takeaway from my trip.

If you've avoided cruising because you don't want crowds, giant ships or a vacation centered around the ship itself, don't automatically rule out river cruising.

The destination is the entertainment.

You're watching castles, villages, vineyards and countryside pass by instead of staring at endless open water.

Your days revolve around exploring.

And because you're traveling with a relatively small group of passengers, the entire experience feels calmer and more intimate.

It's less about being on a cruise and more about having a really convenient way to experience a region.

Would I Take Another River Cruise?

Absolutely. And I am in March (Tulips in Amsterdam)

River cruising isn't how I'd choose to see every destination, and that's an important distinction.

But for certain parts of Europe, it makes an incredible amount of sense.

The Seine was especially well suited for it. Our AmaWaterways itinerary was seven nights, beginning and ending in Paris and traveling through Normandy with stops tied to French history, art and culture.

I got the immersive experiences I want from travel without spending half the trip figuring out transportation logistics.

And that might be the best description of river cruising:

It's slow travel without the logistical headache.

If you've always assumed cruising wasn't for you, don't write this version of it off quite yet.

You might be surprised.

I sailed AmaWaterways' seven-night Paris & Normandy itinerary along the Seine in July. The itinerary currently includes destinations such as Les Andelys, Le Havre, Rouen and Vernon, with experiences centered around Normandy's history, French culture, art and the Seine River region.