Page 49 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – January 2019

photo: Viking River Cruises
There was a time when people called cruise ships “floating hotels” and now some cruise ships have been converted into real floating hotels.
But if a cruise ship is a floating hotel, then what would you call a river cruise ship? How about affordable luxury, because that’s what river cruising has become.
Cruising is great because it is all-inclusive with room, food and entertainment included in the price. But river cruising takes it to the next level by including gratuities, shipwide internet, all drinks (yes, that means alcohol, even the good stuff) and excursions in their price.
And even “the basics” of cruising are not basic on river cruising. All rooms have a window as there are no inside cabins on river cruises so natural light abounds. That also means you can watch the world go by from
By Spenser Barnes
your cabin since the ship can get much closer to land than an ocean-going vessel. You could upgrade to a French balcony cabin and you could get fresh air in your cabin or splurge and go with the suite, which offers more room and a French balcony.
The food is a significant step-up as the crew does not have to cook for thousands, just more than a hundred or so. Therefore, more time and attention is spent on quality and details. And while there is not a buffet onboard, you will find that the cruise lines use local ingredients and the menu might be relevant to the port or itinerary.
And those itineraries can include the famous rivers of Europe, such as the Rhine and Danube or Asia’s mystique-laden waterways, including the Irrawaddy and Yangtze.
Continued on page 48
River Cruising: Life in the Slow Lane
JANUARY 2019 | 47