Excursions

Sightseeing Excursions

Daily excursions are the highlight of every cruise. These usually include guided sightseeing tours or visits to the important sites, monuments, churches, markets, museums or other points of interest in or near the port towns or cities where the boat docks. On a river ship it is typically necessary to reserve a space for these excursions. Typically passengers are whisked away in a coach for a river ship cruise and a van or mini-bus in the case of a barge cruise. There are also opportunities to independently wander into the towns or villages and explore on your own.

Health and Safety

With the exception of Peter Deilmann and many Russian river cruises, doctors or nurses are not usually included in the crew on river ships and barges. The crew and especially the captain will be trained in CPR and first-aid kits are available. It is important to take out travel insurance and ensure that your medical insurance is in effect and will cover you in the event of a medical situation or emergency.

Seasickness is unlikely as the boats are flat bottomed and obvious rocking motion is minimal, unless the route suddenly passes onto rough open water, which only occurs if the river enters into a sea. Normally if any movement is detected, it is usually during the docking procedure, but this is minimal. If you suffer from seasickness, it is best to check with your travel agent when booking to find out more about the specific itinerary of the boat of your choice.

The boats are outfitted with life preservers and usually during the embarkation process or just after check in, they are informed of standard boat safety, the location of all life preservers, and emergency procedures for fires or flooding or other hazards. Address any questions or concerns to the travel agent when booking or the reception desk or crewmember when on board.

The water on board river cruise vessels in Europe is drinkable, though it may be heavily treated with chlorine; therefore, bottled water may be preferred. In Russia and Egypt, only drink bottled water, which is available for purchase on board, and avoid ice with drinks.

Information - Where to Get It

River Ship

On a river cruise ship, the reception desk will be your information center. The desk is centrally located and can provide general passenger information and assistance for any problems. The opening hours will be posted on/near the desk and distributed in the daily schedule, which is usually delivered each evening with the itinerary for the following day.

Barge

On a barge, there is an information board upon which is posted the day’s itinerary, the scheduled excursion, the day’s menus, as well as things like crew and passenger names. The manager of the boat – which may be your personal tour guide for the week – is the person to contact should there be any questions or concerns.

Laundry and Dry Cleaning

Laundry services are offered on some river cruise vessels, but dry cleaning is not available. Sometimes in the towns along the way you will be able to find a Laundromat, if you enjoy doing it yourself while on holiday.

Money and Expenses on Board

In general, the on-board expenses are minimal, but it is necessary to have some of the local currency for the excursions. Most river cruises are full-board vacations, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and mid-morning, afternoon, and late-night snacks. Some cruises on river ships and barges include beer, wine, and soft drinks in the price of the cruise. There are, however, some barge companies, which provide half-board cruises, or Bed & Breakfast options, where one meal, usually lunch, must be secured onshore.

Expenses accumulate if you wish to purchase any items from the boutique, or bar or restaurant, which are not included in the package. It is customary to provide the reception desk with an imprint of your card upon check-in and all incurred expenses (bar, salon, spa, etc.) are settled at the end of the cruise. For any cash transactions, the money used on board will typically be that of the country or countries being visited, and many, but not all, river ships are equipped to deal with multiple currencies. Check with the travel agent to verify the currency. For tips on barges, it is necessary to have cash and gratuity is always appreciated, no matter the currency.