I’m trying to find a European River cruise that won’t split my family of 5 into 3 separate staterooms. We’re a family with three daughters who will be 14 to 17 during the trip. I’m not sure who could stay in a third stateroom alone. It’s tricky because I don’t want any of them unsupervised.
Also, I’m hoping to keep the trip on a budget. We’re looking for an itinerary, not a luxury experience. Specifically, we’re interested in the Christmas markets. We’re open to the Rhine or Danube, and looking for trips that last between 5 and 8 days. I’d be open to smaller lines that aren’t heavily marketed to Americans. I know there are more options out there than the few that keep showing up in my Google search. If anyone has had good experiences with lesser-known cruise lines, I’d love to hear about it!
The following is a copy of the original post to record the post as it was originally written.
u/robinson217
Hi everyone,
I’m trying to find a European River cruise that won’t split my family of 5 into 3 separate staterooms. We’re a family with three daughters who will be 14 to 17 during the trip. I’m not sure who could stay in a third stateroom alone. It’s tricky because I don’t want any of them unsupervised.
Also, I’m hoping to keep the trip on a budget. We’re looking for an itinerary, not a luxury experience. Specifically, we’re interested in the Christmas markets. We’re open to the Rhine or Danube, and looking for trips that last between 5 and 8 days. I’d be open to smaller lines that aren’t heavily marketed to Americans. I know there are more options out there than the few that keep showing up in my Google search. If anyone has had good experiences with lesser-known cruise lines, I’d love to hear about it!
Thanks!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this forum if you have any questions or concerns.
River cruises generally attract an older crowd, and the staterooms tend to be pretty small. The boats are compact too, so there’s not much chance for unsupervised teens to get into trouble. We cruise with Avalon and have had a good experience, though I’ve rarely seen kids or teens on board. Maybe an adults-only cruise would work for your family?
@Cody
My kids are pretty mature and well-travelled. They recently joined us on a tour of Normandy and Paris and loved it. They’ve been on ocean cruises with us before and didn’t need kids’ clubs or other activities. I just don’t feel comfortable with a teenage girl sleeping alone on a boat full of strangers in a foreign country.
I wouldn’t recommend doing a river cruise for Christmas markets, especially if you’re on a budget. It would likely be cheaper to travel by train or car, and Europe’s public transportation is much easier to navigate than what you might expect from the US. Plus, it gives you more flexibility in choosing where to stay for longer periods.
In Germany, it’s common and legal for your kids to go out on their own in the evening, so you can enjoy a dinner without them if needed.
@Remington
I’ve been considering a train and hotel trip too. I like cruises for the ease of planning, especially when traveling with the whole family. Our recent trip to France was all self-guided, but I didn’t get to relax much. I’m open to suggestions, especially if you can recommend cities with good public transport. I’d like to avoid a repeat of our Italy trip, where a train strike almost stranded us.
Edit: And when I say ‘budget,’ I mean I’m not looking for grand suites with butlers or caviar. I know this trip will cost a lot, but I’m trying to avoid any unnecessary luxury costs.
@Zephyr
In general, all large cities in Germany are well-connected by train, and you can always rent a car as a backup. Christmas markets are found in almost every city.
You might want to consider booking connected cabins if you can’t find a cabin for three people.
River cruises are more expensive than ocean cruises, mainly because the ships are smaller and the staff has to be paid more. It’s rare to find budget-friendly options.
A friend of mine’s family did a bus tour. It involved packing up every one or two days, but the hotels and tours were all arranged.
Lennon said:
I was looking at Tui, they’re on the more budget-friendly side, but I just realized they’re adults-only.
I’m checking out Tui right now for just my wife and me. Do they have a US website? I’m only seeing the UK site. Would there be any problem booking through the UK site?
@Zephyr
Tui is a UK-based company, and as far as I know, they don’t have a US site. You could probably book through the UK site, but you’ll need to arrange your own travel to the UK. Once you’re there, the booking will include your flights to wherever the cruise departs from. You should contact them to confirm the details.
@Lennon
Flying to the UK might work for us. We’d like to revisit London, anyway. Our last trip there wasn’t great because the queen passed away while we were there, and the experience was far from ideal from a tourist’s perspective.
You might want to check out Adventures by Disney in partnership with AmaWaterways. You’d need to book as a party of 3 and a party of 2, but it’s doable.
“Parties of 3 are accommodated in 1 stateroom with 1 queen bed or 2 twin beds, plus one fold-out chair bed.”
Zephyr said: @Peyton
I never really considered Disney because of the cost. Are their river cruises as expensive as their sea cruises?
Yes, they are expensive. But if you’re willing to check it out, you might find something with AmaWaterways. Their room configurations should be similar.