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Cruising along on the river....


Jacqueline

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This year will be the first time we have been abroad on holiday for about 12 years. I fancy one of those river cruises where you visit cities. I am particularly interested in the Baltic cruise which includes St Petersburg.

Anyway, I have never been on a cruise before and don't know if it would be my kind of thing. You take your chances with weather and huge numbers of people using the same plumbing on a floating palace, but I am not interested in the massive cruise ships.

It all looks pleasant enough on the ads, as it would, meandering along and looking at passing sights, stopping at some of them. But what is the social etiquette, is one expected to mingle - I'm not terribly sociable! Or can one stay in one's cabin like a grumpy troll? I'm attracted by the prospect of guided, comfortable and hassle free travel. On the other hand, if I don't like it, I am trapped on a smallish boat for the duration, although I wouldn't book for longer than a week.

There is also the possibility of a train journey type holiday but the same problems might apply, just on land. Plus they seem quite expensive, although I'm rather out of touch with the cost of foreign travel.

I would be glad of some advice from anyone who has been on such cruises/holidays. I've heard you either love them or hate them! If the latter, it's an expensive mistake.

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We took our first cruise last summer, though not a river one. Our main concerns before going were if we would feel 'trapped' on a ship with limited places to eat and seeing the same people all the time. We were also not interested in the entertainments like quiz shows, bingo and the whole holiday camp atmosphere. Seasickness was the final worry.

 

We went on a Thomson ship - they are a lot smaller than most cruise lines - and loved it. Waking up in a new port every day and going exploring was lovely. On the ship itself we had no problems with food or drink and socially found you could pretty much do as you please. There were areas on the ship with plenty going on and other areas that were quiet and you could quite happily sit with a book and read in peace. We travelled as a family but I know there was a social hostess for people travelling in their own so that people could join in activities and meals if they wished. On the whole I found the cruise really relaxing and enjoyable , a lovely friendly atmosphere and would not hesitate to go again.

 

River cruises - I think the ships are smaller still and perhaps there is less chance to get away from other people and do your own thing and less choice of where to eat. I would do your research and see what ships do itineraries you are interested in and what they offer actually on board and in terms of excursions. We did our own thing in the ports (the med though) and I would not want to have to do organised excursions all the time - expense and timing.  I know Thomson Celebration is sailing out of Newcastle over the summer and doing various itineraries , which include st Peterburg, but do not know if they are 7 day or longer.  Also when you are looking at prices, check to see exactly what is included - food, drink, tips etc as different companies price things up differently and you need to compare like for like.

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I like the idea of a cruise, but I would be concerned you would have to have a different, rather expensive looking outfit for not just every day, but one for lunch then "dressing for dinner" and all that. [i love the episode of Keeping Up Appearances when they go on the QE2; such a laugh. And what DID she look like in that nautical outfit???]  Sorry I can't be of any help with your actual question though, Jacqueline.

Edited by Lisa O`Brien
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I don't know about river cruises (although I did a Nile cruise many years ago) but 2 good friends who have become inveterate cruisers assure me (when trying to persuade me that I would love one!) that you can participate as much or as little as you was want.

 

If the river cruises stop near the city centres you could explore independently.

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Lisa - I think there are some cruise lines like that - especially if you are on the likes of the QE2 - but ours wasn't. It was whatever you like during the day and smart casual in the evening. Plus of course the bonus for us was the fact that we got to watch a different show in the theatre each night and our DD was dancing in them!

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Many thanks for the info. I have looked at the Thompson Celebration cruises. The St Petersburg one looks interesting, also stopping at Stockholm and Gothenburg amongst other places and the boat size looks about right, not too big or too small. They say you dock at such and such time and have so many hours in each place. I think I would go on a morning tour and then have the rest of the time free to find my way round. I've been on some tours while on holiday and on the whole found them worthwhile, probably seeing places that would otherwise have been difficult to get to and where some advice on local customs is useful, particularly when we went to Tunisia many years ago.

I like the sound of not having to join in the on board activities. I could stay in cabin or find a quiet spot to read or admire the views. My husband is much more outgoing than I, so he could do the social rounds if he wanted to. Even if he didn't!!

I can't find a 7 day cruise of the type I am interested in, but I suppose if you take into account all the places they go and the time it must take, 7 days would be nowhere near enough to relax and take it all in. A bit like that old film about a coach tour of Europe called something like If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium?

As 2dancersmum says, I also need to look carefully at the small print, don't want any unpleasant surprises!

Edited by Jacqueline
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I like the idea of a cruise, but I would be concerned you would have to have a different, rather expensive looking outfit for not just every day, but one for lunch then "dressing for dinner" and all that. [i love the episode of Keeping Up Appearances when they go on the QE2; such a laugh. And what DID she look like in that nautical outfit???]  Sorry I can't be of any help with your actual question though, Jacqueline.

 

My parents used to love cruising, and getting dressed up in the evenings was part of the fun for them.  As my mother said, "Where else can I go now, where I won't look overdressed wearing a long dress?"  But who says you have to have a different outfit every day?  My mother took one long dress, one cocktail dress, and the rest was just ordinary clothes.  

 

I agree that if you don't want to get dressed up, then you should pick a cruise where it isn't necessary.  But I do think it is sad that those who don't like it, seem to be forcing their views on others.  On a lot of cruise lines now, the dress code is simply "smart casual."  Which doesn't really mean anything more than a clean t shirt and change of socks for lots of people. 

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I agree about the dressing up. Smart/casual is pretty meaningless and so open to interpretation. I think sometimes a little precision would be helpful as to what may and may not be acceptable dress code. I am sure the ROH used to offer some sort of advice but now you can "feel free to dress up or down" and given some of the er, outfits I have seen there, even a clean t shirt and change of socks would be a stretch! Those who do dress up seem very much in the minority.

There is a time and place and it can be fun to get dolled up sometimes. I tend to feel a bit uncomfortable though, probably because I am used to casual and comfortable clothing. On cruises of old, wasn't it considered de rigeur to be invited to sit at the Captain's table, perhaps it still is. Presumably you don't do that dressed in a tatty old top, even if it is clean. Depends who you are maybe!

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I agree 'smart casual' is quite open to interpretation, a bit of guidance was given in the travel brochure but I think it is often where the internet forums and facebook groups come into their own. I joined a facebook group for the ship we were visiting and so knew to expect one formal captains night a week and that for the waiter served restaurants it was long trousers and collared shirts for men, for example. Shorts only allowed in the self service buffet restaurants. Plus I gleaned lots of handy advice about ports of call, excursions and what was easy to do yourself or better on an organised trip.

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I've never tried cruising myself, but believe I've read somewhere that some of the cruise companies do sort of "mini try-out cruises", maybe Southampton to Santander or something, so you can get a feel for what it's like and whether it appeals.  Not sure that would apply to river cruises, though.

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We went on what may have been classed a mini cruise some years ago. An evening departure from Hull, overnight sailing and early morning arrival in Rotterdam. Then on a coach to spend a few hours in Amsterdam, then back again. It was a newspaper offer as I recall, something like a tenner each. You could upgrade but for us the purpose was going to Amsterdam for next to nothing, not being on a ship. Our cabin was the size of a postage stamp and to be found down endless identical corridors. All very claustrophobic. If I were travelling for longer, I would have to have more space and definitely a balcony and access to fresh air. I remember there were various dining options and entertainments but it was not much different to a souped up cross channel ferry.

As for the sailing part, when we lived in Sussex we used to go on the ferry to Dieppe. One time while in Dieppe, the weather took a turn for the worse during the day. When it was time to sail back to Newhaven, the sea had turned into a dark, roiling, angry cauldron. I began to feel ill almost straight away as did a lot of others. There were some still eating and joking about the waves, but they succumbed in the end. It was so rough, all deck doors were closed so there was no way of getting any fresh air. When we were about half an hour from Newhaven and salvation, the captain announced that it was too rough to get into the harbour and we would be at sea for at least another two hours. People started to cry. I know I did. When we finally docked, I have never been so thankful to get back on dry land.

Edited by Jacqueline
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I don't think those cross-channel "cruises" compare to the cruise ships that operate around the Med, Caribbean etc.  I have seen some of the larger cruise ships offering mini-cruises as tasters from time to time, usually around the UK/Ireland.  

 

Many years ago, honeymooning friends came home from NY on the QE2.  Unfortunately they caught the tail end of a hurricane and spent 4 of the 5 days in bed, sea sick!!!

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Oh, Jacqueline, you remind me of the trip from hell I did once, from Ostend back to Dover.  Turned into a force 9 once we were at sea, although there were at least bits of the deck we could still get at, and I was all right with some fresh air, which is more than I can say for others.  But we couldn't get back into the Dover Eastern (or maybe Western) Docks, and I think had to go round to the other one.

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 It was so rough, all deck doors were closed so there was no way of getting any fresh air. When we were about half an hour from Newhaven and salvation, the captain announced that it was too rough to get into the harbour and we would be at sea for at least another two hours. People started to cry. I know I did. When we finally docked, I have never been so thankful to get back on dry land.

 

I know Newhaven very well.  It is quite a narrow entrance, and if the wind is in the wrong direction, or the sea is too rough, it is too dangerous.  We were stuck outside once for what felt like an eternity in very nasty seas.  We were on a 27 foot sailing boat.  I almost kissed the ground when we finally got in.

 

I have done two of those long distance ferry trips, and thoroughly enjoyed both of them.  The first one was a return trip from Portsmouth to Bilboa, in January.  We had an inside cabin with no window, the cheapest option there was.  We didn't indulge in the evening "entertainment", apart from shuffling around the disco floor at one point.  We did have two lovely meals in the "posh" restaurant (I think it was Gary Rhodes running it at the time) which kept us occupied.  We were told on the way back that the wind got up to a force 10 at one point, and we heard people complaining they kept falling out of bed.  We slept snug as bugs, and didn't even notice.  But we are used to sailing.  

 

The second one I did was the boat from Santander to Portsmouth last year.  We were just returning from a holiday, but I wouldn't mind doing the round trip some time, if the fare is cheap enough. Again, the entertainment was ok, but we were quite happy with our books.  And Santander is a fantastic place for a short stop over - so attractive on a boat.

 

Sailing, no matter how big the ship is, is not for everyone.  Unless you pay for the state room, the berths are going to be snug, to put it mildly.  We had bunk beds on the Santander ferry, which made me feel about 8 years old again!  And unless you are paying a fortune to go on something like one of the Cunard boats, or specialist cruises run by people like the National Trust, with talks by experts in their chosen field, the entertainment is probably going to be a bit like Butlins.  

 

River cruisers look like smaller boats with bigger berths.  They are not cheap, but they do look fascinating.  

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I had a look at the National Trust cruises as I was interested to see St Kilda up close. I think it would be a good trip but very dependent on decent weather. Same with the northern lights, very disappointing and expensive to go all that way and not see them. But if you are dependent on something outside your control, like weather, it's a chance you take. Plus the lights are sometimes visible from increasingly southern parts of the UK mainland. Not round here as yet but maybe one day.

My husband did the Santander trip several times. He worked for a removal firm at the time, taking lorryloads of furniture to Spain. He also brought quite a lot of it back to England via the ferry, when folks decided they wanted to come back. He enjoyed the crossings and remembers seeing whales in the Bay of Biscay?

I need to give the whole cruise thing more thought and make the right choice.

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We went on what may have been classed a mini cruise some years ago. An evening departure from Hull, overnight sailing and early morning arrival in Rotterdam. Then on a coach to spend a few hours in Amsterdam, then back again. It was a newspaper offer as I recall, something like a tenner each. You could upgrade but for us the purpose was going to Amsterdam for next to nothing, not being on a ship. Our cabin was the size of a postage stamp and to be found down endless identical corridors. All very claustrophobic. If I were travelling for longer, I would have to have more space and definitely a balcony and access to fresh air. I remember there were various dining options and entertainments but it was not much different to a souped up cross channel ferry.

As for the sailing part, when we lived in Sussex we used to go on the ferry to Dieppe. One time while in Dieppe, the weather took a turn for the worse during the day. When it was time to sail back to Newhaven, the sea had turned into a dark, roiling, angry cauldron. I began to feel ill almost straight away as did a lot of others. There were some still eating and joking about the waves, but they succumbed in the end. It was so rough, all deck doors were closed so there was no way of getting any fresh air. When we were about half an hour from Newhaven and salvation, the captain announced that it was too rough to get into the harbour and we would be at sea for at least another two hours. People started to cry. I know I did. When we finally docked, I have never been so thankful to get back on dry land.

that is the more ferry companies trying to maintain volumes  vs   the tunnel  ( as  those on open  tunnel tickets  only wait  a few minutes before being boarded -  i don;t think even dover -calais has ever offered  4 departures an hour )

 

if you look at the ferries built for the North Sea routes  they  were definitely ferries but they had cabins  (the Harwich - Denmark , Harwich - Sweden routes were 20 -30 hours one way). 

 

The North Sea can be really quite an unpleasent operational environment 

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