Page 21 - AAA Now! – AAA Central Penn – January/February 2021

TRAVEL
Getting Back to European Cruising
By Sandy Fenton
If you’re anything like me, you are bursting to get back to normal and back to traveling, especially back to European river cruising.
Throughout our long months of working from home and staying put during the COVID-19 pandemic, river cruising continues to be a top vacation destination for Americans and the 2021/2022 bookings prove just that.
I have yet to meet anyone who has not thoroughly enjoyed taking a European river cruise. And why not – what’s not to love?
I’ve sailed the Danube twice with popular Viking River Cruises, and the Rhine, Moselle and Seine rivers aboard luxurious Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, and I am still gushing about all five sailings. The fairy-tale, picture-perfect experiences gliding along these great rivers in total comfort, safety and well-being is a travel memory you will never forget and continue to talk about years later.
There’s no more carefree (or worry free) way to explore Europe than on a river cruise, and now there are many more choices available for travelers on a budget needing just the basics, to completely all-inclusive, ultra-luxury, and everything in between.
”Let’s Talk Travel with AAA,” hosted by Sandy Fenton, is broadcast Saturdays 11:00 AM to noon on iHeartRadio’s WHP580. For more information, go to whp580.com and click on the link to “Let’s Talk Travel.”
River ships are not big floating cities – nor are they Disney or Las Vegas – with 24/7 onboard activities, entertainment or casinos.
Rather, river ship guests take in the complimentary daily port excursions, from active bike riding tours through the windmills and tulip fields of Amsterdam’s countryside, to private eating and walking tours with local experts living in Paris, Vienna
or Budapest, or historic motor coach visits to Normandy or Nuremberg.
Todays’ river ships are modern, comfortable and small (fewer than 200 passengers) with a friendly, like-minded atmosphere; dedicated and attentive personal service, and all the upscale amenities found in fine European hotels.
A river cruise is seamless. You pack and unpack once while enjoying the scenery of several countries as your floating hotel takes you from picturesque villages to ancient town centers. You never have to worry about long lines or crowds. You just walk right off the ship and at most stops you are only steps away from the world’s greatest cities, port towns and historic river cultures. Pretty much everything is included – accommodations, all meals, snacks, daily excursions, Wi-Fi, transfers, onboard entertainment – always a great vacation value. Some of the luxury lines such as UNIWORLD and TAUCK offer daily unlimited fine global and regional wines, locally crafted beers and top- shelf spirits, while VIKING and AMA WATERWAYS offer wine, beer and soft drinks during lunch and dinner (AMA also includes a pre-dinner cocktail hour).
You can be confident that your ship adheres to the highest standards of updated health and safety protocols – many times exceeding the new CDC regulations. The cruise lines have worked hard to ensure you have an outstanding (and healthy) experience in every way possible.
As with ocean cruising, several river cruise options exist, and you must connect with a AAA cruise expert to learn about them. All river cruises offer special AAA member sales and promotions, but buyer beware: river cruises sell out quickly. Be sure you are getting on the right river ship and itinerary for your personal tastes, lifestyle and budget. And just in case you also want to cruise America’s waterways, ask about the new Viking Mississippi river ship launching in August 2022.
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