Discover the Most Intelligent Way to Vacation in 2024 — and It Might Surprise You

Embrace the Slow Boat

The smartest vacation choice for next year could very well be a leisurely river cruise. By Janice Wald Henderson

Even if a river cruise has never crossed your mind, 2024 might just be the perfect time to consider it. With soaring long-haul airfares and ongoing travel disruptions, discerning travelers are planning extended journeys that traverse multiple rivers and optimize the transatlantic experience.

“This has been a major trend in 2023 and will only grow in 2024,” states Samuel Spencer, a travel advisor and owner of Ocean & River Cruises in Calgary, Alberta. He highlights that four river-cruise lines—Avalon Waterways, AmaWaterways, Scenic, and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises—now provide multi-week journeys through France. Although some of these extended itineraries existed before the pandemic, many lines report a recent spike in interest from American travelers.

This represents a significant change for travelers, who have reluctantly adjusted to playing Where’s-My-Luggage, maneuvering through packed museums, and paying exorbitant rates for top-tier hotels—especially in Western Europe. Traveling by river ship, which often resembles a stay in a luxury hotel more than a cruise on an ocean liner, can solve many of these issues while providing outstanding value, typically at an all-inclusive, upfront cost.

While river cruising is often linked to European waterways, operators are now offering similar journeys in locations worldwide. “Uniworld boasts a highly successful cruise that spans multiple continents over 55 days,” Spencer mentions. This remarkable journey includes a sail on the Amazon in Peru, followed by travels along the Rhine, Main, and Danube through Central Europe, stopping at the Rhône in France, and concluding with an adventure on the Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam.

Given that river ships tend to fill up well ahead of time—and are much smaller than ocean-going vessels—now is the perfect moment to plan for next spring and summer. Here are some remarkable 2024 river trips to consider...

...France Enthusiasts

Uniworld’s Ultimate France journey lasts 22 days, starting in Bordeaux and concluding in Arles, while exploring Burgundy, Normandy, and Provence along the way. This itinerary, divided into three segments across three vessels, features a variety of excursions, including a visit to the vineyards near Château Royal de Cazeneuve, a 13th-century fortress in Bordeaux where you can enjoy Sauternes with the descendants of its builders.

...Culinary Aficionados

Avalon Waterways emphasizes culinary experiences in its 20-day Grand France tour. This journey begins with two nights in Nice before traveling north along the Rhône and Saône rivers on the Avalon Poetry II to Dijon, renowned for its gastronomy. Guests will then take a TGV to Paris, where they’ll board the Avalon Tapestry II for a leisurely Seine cruise, stopping at cider houses and dairies in Normandy, before returning to Paris and, after a quick Eurostar trip, enjoying three nights in London.

...Unconventional Spots

Scenic offers several extended itineraries through Central Europe, including a 15-day cruise on the Danube from Budapest to Bucharest, Romania. Their river vessels, with the largest accommodating 163 passengers, are famous for their white-gloved butlers, who cater to guests' needs both onboard and on land, arranging activities like theater tickets and spa appointments. These trips visit off-the-beaten-path locations such as Serbia’s Fruška Gora National Park; the architecturally rich city of Ruse, Bulgaria, often likened to Vienna; and Sighişoara, Romania, known as the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler and designated a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999.

...Historical Enthusiasts

AmaWaterways combines the Moselle, Rhine, and Main rivers on its Europe’s Rivers & Castles tour, which begins and ends with stays in Paris and Prague. This 14-day voyage, aboard either the AmaCerto or AmaPrima, both with a capacity of 162 guests, takes travelers past cliffside castles, terraced vineyards, and charming towns like Bamberg, Germany, known for its half-timbered architecture and medieval market square.

This article was featured in the November 2023 edition of Dinogo with the title "Take the Slow Boat."