Am I too Young for River Cruising?

I’ll make it simple. The answer is No! You are probably not too young for river cruising.

I have clients who are in their 30s, 40s and even 50s who say they think river cruising sounds like fun but think they are too young to enjoy it. I am here to say that while it may not be a good fit for young people looking to party all night long, for others it might be perfect. If you are into an easy way to experience great food, history and seeing some of the most beautiful cities in the world, it is a good fit – no matter how old you are. And, in 2019 river cruises are offering much more that appeals to a younger and more active crowd.

Most, if not all river cruise lines include in their price food, wine and beer (at least during meals) and usually a daily sightseeing choices. In addition, many offer bikes onboard for exploration and ample time in ports to discover destinations on foot. They also include nights in ports in some of the most beautiful cities in Europe allowing you to experience local cuisine and nightlife.

I just returned from a Rhine River cruise on the Crystal Bach. We did the included sightseeing as well as a biking trip on our own to the countryside of Amsterdam. We also walked and walked and walked – 50 miles apparently (my husband counted our steps for the week!). And, we had the opportunity to eat and drink in cities along the way – we ate Choucroute in Strasbourg, Schnitzel in Koblenz; tried the famous Kolsh Beer of Cologne and indulged in Indonesian Ristofel in Amsterdam. While we explored, many of the over 65 crowd was happy to stay onboard and have a lovely evening of gourmet food and wine and entertainment. Everyone was happy!

Onboard was a group of 25 friends and family from Panama (we called them the “Panamaniacs” because they were singing and dancing well into every night!). The group included mostly people in their 50s and 60s but they had their 30 year old kids with them and even a couple of grandchildren. There seemed to be enough to keep just about everyone engaged – and lots of adults to take care of babies so the young couple could have a drink at the bar or eat with both hands.

Is river cruising for everyone? Probably not all but many more than you think! If this has piqued your interest, give me a call at 703-969-4311 or email info@jbj-travel.com so we can discuss whether it might be a good fit for you.