Dining Options and Special Requirements

River ship dining rooms typically are large and lovely rooms with picture windows, affording a view to all passengers. The dining room layout usually has the buffet display counter in the center of the room, conveniently located closer to the back near the kitchen entrance, with tables extending out and lining the sides of the room, nearly encircling the buffet.

Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style. Breakfast usually consists of hot and cold choices, with a selection of cold meats, cheeses, eggs, yoghurt, a variety of cereals, a variety of breads or rolls and pastries, fruit, juices, coffee, tea, and chocolate.

Lunch is usually comprised of a selection of salads, as well as hot and cold starters and hearty and delicious main courses, and desserts. Coffee and tea are usually served at the end of the meal, as is the custom in Europe, Russia, and Egypt.

Dinner is usually more of a formal affair and guests are served at the table. Seating is either assigned or unassigned, most frequently at tables of four or six (tables of two are rare), so check with the travel agent or river cruise company when booking. If the seating is unassigned, you may sit in whichever section you desire. If the seating is assigned, then usually you are seated in the same section at the same table of the restaurant for each meal. If you are with a group travelling together, you may be assigned to the same section for the length of the cruise, but are able to change seats or even tables, if your group is sufficiently large enough to need several tables. Generally, the same wait staff will take care of a particular section of the dining room for the duration of the cruise, providing you with familiar faces and continuity for your dining comfort. Dinner is often followed by coffee or tea, which is typically not served with dessert, and perhaps an after-dinner drink or digestif at the table or in the bar or lounge.

Meal times are posted and provisions are frequently made for early risers, with tea and coffee and light fare available on a table prior to the official breakfast hours. There is also usually something available for night owls, in the way of snacks and hot and cold drinks at the bar, and a crew member on duty to take care of your needs.

Snacks are provided in the mid-morning, late afternoon, and late evening and may be served in the bar or lounge or even on deck.

Special Requirements

For those with special dietary requirements - vegetarian, vegan, macrobiotic, sodium-restricted, low-fat, low-cholesterol, low-calorie, food allergies - it is important to inform the travel agent or river-cruise company when booking your trip in order to ensure that the chef can accommodate your wishes.

Disabled Passengers

Generally speaking, most river cruise vessels are, unfortunately, not well adapted for travellers with disabilities. Designated disabled-access rooms are rare, as are lifts. Embarking and disembarking can be difficult, and long-walking tours might be out of the question, but some coach excursions could be possible. Many old cities in Europe are filled with steps, cobblestones, and narrow sidewalks, although adding to the old-world charm, are not easy to manoeuvre for certain types of disabilities and are not wheelchair friendly. With the popularity of river cruising increasing, the traffic on navigable waterways can be heavy during peak periods, resulting in the necessity of side-by-side mooring, especially in Egypt. In this case, passengers must cross from 1 up to 5 other boats in order to get to shore or back on the boat. In this situation if a passenger were unable to walk, then they would need to be physically carried.

However, with careful and thorough planning, it is possible for a family to travel together with a disabled family member. As the popularity of river cruises continues to increase, it is possible to find some modern vessels that are more adapted for passengers with disabilities. Additionally, there are tour operators and river ships that focus specifically on this population. It is important to speak to the travel agent or river cruise company directly concerning any disabled access and activities for the specific boat which is of interest to you.