Our first river cruise

𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟵 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗩𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀

I’ll admit it—while I was genuinely excited about our river cruise, I did have a few reservations. After nine ocean cruises, we knew this would be a very different experience… and I had questions. So here’s a little peek into what I was worried about—and how it all turned out.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝟭: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀?

With just 150 people onboard, it was inevitable we’d see the same faces again and again. I wondered—what if they weren’t our kind of people? Would we feel stuck?

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆:

Yes, we did bump into familiar faces often—on the ship and even while exploring ashore—but what a lovely bunch they were! We had plenty of friendly chats, shared stories from our day, and then went our separate ways. It never felt intrusive or overwhelming.

There was one guest who was a little louder than most (and quite memorable!), but it didn’t affect our enjoyment at all. By day two, we’d made friends we genuinely clicked with—lots of laughs, great company, and still plenty of time to do our own thing. Ironically, the part I was most unsure about turned out to be one of the highlights!

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝟮: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱?

We’re quite particular when it comes to food, and we’re used to ocean cruises with endless dining options, snack bars, and room service. River cruising is more structured—three meals a day, two restaurants, and a changing menu. I’d done my research, but still wasn’t sure what to expect.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆:

While the choices were more limited than we’re used to, we certainly didn’t go hungry! In fact, the emergency snacks we packed “just in case” stayed untouched.

Breakfast offered a generous buffet plus made-to-order omelettes and menu items like waffles. Lunch had a mix of buffet and table service—soups, mains, desserts, and always a pasta of the day alongside local dishes.

Dinner followed a similar format, and on Wednesday we were treated to a fabulous six-course gala meal. I skipped the starter (goat cheese and duck aren’t my thing), but the rest was delicious.

We even skipped lunch one day in Bratislava—not because of the food, but because we wanted more time to explore. That flexibility was a bonus!

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝟯: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹?

With just two bars, two restaurants, and a top-deck seating area, I worried it might feel a little cramped.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆:

After a 3am start and a long travel day, I’ll be honest—on day one, it did feel a bit crowded. But by day two, everyone had settled into their favourite spots and the atmosphere was calm and relaxed.

The compact size actually became a perk—everything was just a short walk away. No lifts, but only four floors, and most things were on deck 3. It felt more like a boutique hotel than a cruise ship, and navigating it was a breeze.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:

We’ve had a wonderful time. In just four nights, we visited three capital cities, soaked up stunning scenery, met fantastic people, enjoyed lovely food, and shared plenty of laughs.

Would we do a river cruise again? Absolutely.

Do we prefer it to ocean cruising? Not quite—our hearts still lean towards the open seas. But never say never…