I’ve river cruised on a 1930s barge that involved 225km of cycling, stayed in a cabin that was almost entirely underwater on a luxury Uniworld ship, and taken a budget TUI sailing that didn’t quite go to plan. River cruising covers an enormous range — in style, price and experience. Everything I’ve found out, honestly, is here.
I’ve recently disembarked a cruise where I stayed in a cabin that was almost entirely under water. The cruise line described the cabin as “elegant and nostalgic,” and I stayed there for a week with my Dad. I’m not sure … Read more
Many people dream of river cruising, but it can be expensive and out of reach for many. The “bargain” prices you see advertised are usually the lowest category of cabin, often called “water level” or “underwater” cabins. Don’t worry, you … Read more
I’ve just booked a TUI river cruise over a year in advance! That is not something I would normally do, but this time it made perfect sense. I knew that TUI were launching a new river ship, TUI Aria, in … Read more
If you’ve ever thought about visiting Egypt but don’t want to pack and unpack every other day or sit on a coach for hours, I’m happy to say that TUI River Cruises has recently launched a better way! TUI’s new … Read more
If you have ever considered taking a river cruise, you might wonder if you need to buy cruise-specific travel insurance. Some people assume that that is only necessary for ocean cruises, but that isn’t always the case. The answer depends … Read more
I’ve recently a European river cruise on an ultra-luxurious cruise line which is the most expensive trip I’ve ever booked. The average price of a cruise like this, in the cheapest room is around £500 ($650) per person per night. … Read more
I have taken two wonderful “Barge, Bike and Cruise” sailings on an ex-1930s cargo ship named Merlijn. Both involved cycling up to 50km/31 miles each day through the German countryside. They really were a test of my fitness and endurance, … Read more
I booked a luxury cruise on the Uniworld river ship, SS La Venezia, in a sale. Normally this trip would have been out of my price range, but I got a really good deal. I was so excited to find … Read more
If you enjoy Ocean Cruises, you may look at River Cruises and think they could never be as fun or enjoyable. Ocean Cruises and River Cruises offer very different experiences. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but both can offer a … Read more
River cruises are expensive, it is a fact of life. When Tui moved into the river cruise market in 2021 it opened up river cruising to a new group of travellers who may not have previously afforded them. I have … Read more
Heading off on a winter river cruise? How exciting! I’ve just got back from a river cruise in Germany. To make sure you have everything you need (and nothing you don’t.) Here is a streamlined guide to packing for your … Read more
Normally, when you’re driving to a cruise port, you’ll see the ship appear over the horizon, and it is such an exciting feeling. That isn’t what happened on my last cruise, though. When we arrived at the TUI Skyla in … Read more
I’ve just disembarked a European river cruise on a 1930s barge that took everything I thought I knew about cruising and turned it on its head. Our cruise was a week-long, and on the cruise schedule was 225km of cycling … Read more
You may have heard about cruise ships being named by a Godmother, and you may be wondering how and why they landed this wonderful job. I was, and in this post, I explain all. I recently had the opportunity … Read more
If you are considering a TUI river cruise, you may be wondering what is included. I did, and have recently returned from a river cruise on the TUI Skyla. In this post, I will tell you what is included, and … Read more
I took a European river cruise on a cruise line that cost around 1/3rd of most other river cruise lines. It was a very eventful cruise in lots of ways and a few very odd things did happen. Normally, if … Read more
If you are considering a river cruise with TUI onboard the TUI Maya, TUI Skyla, or TUI Isla, you may be wondering which cabin to pick. There is a range of cabins available, from those below the waterline to much larger … Read more
If you are taking a river cruise with TUI, you may be wondering how much the drinks cost onboard. I’ve taken two river cruises onboard the TUI Skyla, and below are menus from both the main lounge and the club … Read more
I love cruising and I love Christmas but when I booked an MSC cruise that included Christmas day onboard I didn’t know what to expect. Christmas is a big deal and the decision to spend it on a cruise was … Read more
If you are considering your first river cruise, you might be wondering what you actually get for your money. I’ve been on quite a few river cruises and I am always incredibly impressed with the value for money that they … Read more