River Cruises

Our river cruises are fantastic value for money as flights, transfers, accommodation aboard the ship, meals and some guided offshore excursions are all included in the price. Drinks are not included and will have to be signed for whilst on board, along with other expenses like beauty treatments and extra excursions. A final bill for these extras will be given to you on your last evening onboard. Local wine is included with dinner with Lueftner cruises and an optional drinks package is available with Nicko cruises.

A number of excursions are included in your package and other optional tours can be booked on board at extra cost. We’ll be sure to get the most out of our ports of call as excursions are led by local guides who will give us the best insights in some of the places we visit. This usually consists of short walking tours of beautiful historical towns, full day tours and sometimes we’ll have free time to do our own exploration. The advantage of a river cruise is that your ship takes you to the heart of each destination, giving you more time to experience the attractions and enjoy your time ashore. A Travel Department Representative will be onboard for your holiday to deal with any issues that may arise. They have experienced all the places you are to visit and will be happy to make recommendations for free time activities.

Accommodation varies from ship to ship, and the style and layout of cabins will differ, depending on which deck/cabin type has been booked. Travel Department’s River Cruise holidays include a lower deck cabin as standard and upgrades to middle and upper decks are available at a supplement. Many lower deck cabins have smaller, non-opening windows, while middle and upper deck cabins generally have opening panoramic windows. Detailed information can be found in the individual holiday descriptions. All cabins have a bathroom with shower and are equipped with a hairdryer, safe and air conditioning. 

General facilities vary from ship to ship but most include a sun deck, bar/lounge area and restaurant. Wi-Fi is also available at an additional cost but please note that due to the movement of the ship and varied geographical locations, the signal can be weak. When not exploring the ports of call, it is possible to relax on the top deck or in the lounges reading or sunbathing, chatting with fellow passengers or just watching the river life pass by. 

Although each itinerary varies, on most tours much of the sailing takes place overnight, so you will wake up in a different destination and be ready to disembark and explore a new place. When the sailing is by day, there are opportunities to relax on the top deck or in the lounge and take in magnificent landscapes and scenic river views; such as castles and abbeys along the Rhine or Danube, or the villages and vine-clad hills of the Douro Valley. 

On our river cruises there is no formal dress wear for meal times but the cruise operator does ask that you dress smart-casual for dinners and special meals. All of the towns on the cruising route offer their own traditional specialties and the food on board sometimes will mirror these. Following dinner each evening entertainment is provided by the onboard musicians or local groups displaying their traditional song and dance. Quizzes and other types of evening entertainment are also sometimes provided.  

Gratuities for your river cruise crew are not included in your holiday. The amount of your tip is left to your discretion and should be seen as a reward for good service. If you would like a recommendation we suggest, as a guideline, €8 per guest per day for general staff and €2 per guest per day for the Cruise Director.

Generally, river cruise holidays are not suitable for those with reduced mobility. Many of the ships do not have lifts and often ships are moored beside other vessels which you will have to walk across to get to your own. Likewise, some guided excursions will involve periods of walking and standing, at times on uneven or cobbled surfaces. There will be steep inclines or steps to negotiate at some locations. For all our tours we have an activity level guide to help you decide which holiday suits you best. For specific advice regarding our river cruises and to discuss any special needs, please contact us directly and we will be happy to assist.

It’s usually very smooth sailing on a river cruise, unlike some ocean cruises where the seas can get rough, so there’s a much smaller chance of travel sickness. 

We have local representatives in all of our destinations who are available 24/7 as well as an emergency contact number for our offices in Ireland should you ever need it.