7 Reasons Young Travelers Will Love River Cruising

Let’s be honest, river cruising is probably not the first thing young travelers think of when planning their next holiday. Cruising in general, both across the ocean and river, has a stigma for being slow, boring and geared more toward older travelers. And this may have been true ten years ago, but these days riving cruising has really stepped up its game. Perfect for couples, newlyweds, or groups of friends, there are plenty of things to love about river cruises for young travelers.

The Food

One of our favorite travel quotes is: “You have to taste a culture to understand it.” If you’re a total foodie traveler, you’ll love the delicious selection aboard a river cruise. Many ships have award-winning chefs onboard ready to whip up gourmet meals for guests. Menus vary, but local cuisine from wherever you’re cruising through is often featured, which means you can literally get a taste of the local flavor while enjoying the gorgeous scenery.

The Side Tours

While the river cruising price tag may be a bit daunting to budget travelers, it’s worth noting that the cost includes a wide variety of side tours! Travelers that are concerned about going stir-crazy on the ship will be stoked with the tours that are available. From chill walking tours of the city to more vigorous hikes and adventure activities, there’s something for every energy level.

Getting Off The Beaten Track

River cruising may feel like a strictly European thing, but you can actually take cruises all around the world! For those adventurous travelers that want to get off the beaten track, there are plenty of options to suit your trip. AmaWaterways offers river cruises through Myanmar as well as various destinations throughout Africa. River cruising is perfect for destinations like these that might not have a super strong tourism infrastructure. You can also explore unique destinations with the safety and support of knowledgeable guides.

Taste of Luxury

River cruising is a luxurious experience for all travelers. But if you’re a young traveler, used to the rugged lifestyle of hostel living, this will be a particularly special trip. Kick back and enjoy all the luxuries on board that make a river cruise so unique. From the staff, to the accommodations, to the food, every detail is carefully curated to make it a relaxing and memorable experience. Travelers are treated like royalty and you’ll enjoy a taste of the high life, even if only for a week.

Sip on a Complimentary Drink (or 4)

If you’re a younger traveler worried about getting stuck with a fuddy-duddy, uptight ship crew, have no fear. While a river cruise may not be the wild party scene you’ll find in Cancun or Ibiza, there are plenty of opportunities to let your hair down. Did you know that some river cruises include complimentary fine wine and beer with lunch and dinner? That means every night you can unwind with a delicious glass of local wine and reflect on your day. Or amp it up a bit and mingle with new people over some beers before a dip in the hot tub.

Chillax on the Ship

In your downtime (or on those days after drinking a few too many complimentary beers), you may feel like chilling out. River cruises will have a variety of amenities to take advantage of when you need some relax time. Most ships will have either a pool or Jacuzzi (or both!) for a relaxing dip. Other common amenities include lounges, game rooms and libraries. Perfect for swapping stories with new traveler friends or cuddling up solo with a good book.

Slow Travel

Young travelers often make the mistake of trying to cram too many places into their trip. While you may see more places, you’ll only be able to skim the surface of each destination, leaving little time to delve deep into somewhere you really love. River cruising forces you to travel a bit slower. You’ll still get to visit a fair few cities, but instead of racing around in airplanes or buses, you’ll have plenty of downtime to relax and reflect in between destinations. You’ll also get to take in the amazing landscapes and sceneries at a leisurely pace.

The Rooms

Forget the cramped window-less rooms of cruising nightmares, the rooms on river cruises are nice. More like suites, rooms often have a balcony overlooking the river and have pretty much every amenity you would need, including Wi-Fi! What’s better than making your friends back home jealous by Instagramming from your private balcony along the river Seine? #thegoodlife

Choose a Tour to Suit Your Taste

Not all river cruises are alike: in fact, many are wildly different from one another. Rest assured, you can always find one that caters to your specific tastes and interests. AmaWaterways, for example, offers wine cruises that just can’t be missed if you enjoy the odd glass. Traveling around Europe, sipping on some delicious vino? Yes please! Wine lovers will fall in love with Europe, while getting to know different destinations through the local wine selection. At each destination you’ll be stopping at historic vineyards and wine cellars, meeting with local wine experts. Not much of a wine drinker? Maybe you’d enjoy art cruises where you not only get to visit famous art destinations (like the real life setting for Monet’s lily pond paintings), but try your hand at creating some of your own art on board!

There are a million reasons you’ll love river cruising, but these are just a few of our favs. If you’re still not convinced, have a look online for some of the cruises available. There’s such a wide selection, you’re bound to find one perfect for you. And don’t forget to send us a photo as you sip wine over your private balcony!

This post has been sponsored by AmaWaterways. As always, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

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