Why Cruise Next Year

WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE A RIVER CRUISE IN 2017

Putnam Travels offers a $300 per person shipboard credit on most AmaWaterways 2017 cruises. Contact Putnam Travels for details.

YOU'LL GET TO KNOW THE LOCALS

AmaWaterways' AmaSerena docked in Passau, Germany.

AmaWaterways' AmaSerena docked in Passau, Germany.

River cruise ships usually dock right in the heart of the city where you'll receive a warm welcome by an expert local guide who will see to your comfort and needs until you return to the ship.  All tours have individual headsets so you can easily hear and understand the guide. Or, you can opt to stroll right off the ship and explore the city on your own.

 

RIVER CRUISING IS ACTIVE 

We took the exhilarating 18-mile bike excursion to Klosterneuburg Abbey in Vienna during our AmaWaterways cruise in November.

We took the exhilarating 18-mile bike excursion to Klosterneuburg Abbey in Vienna during our AmaWaterways cruise in November.

Most shore excursions involve a bus ride into the port city and walking tour with a local guide but cruise lines now offer more active excursions like city tours by bike or hikes in the local hills for clients who prefer a little more action in their vacation. For example, AmaWaterways and Backroads have teamed up to offer river trips featuring Backroads' cycling itineraries.

 

RIVER CRUISING IS ADVENTUROUS

AmaWaterways offers private boat safaris along the Chobe riverbank.

AmaWaterways offers private boat safaris along the Chobe riverbank.

Although cruising in Africa can be luxurious it is better suited for the more adventurous traveler. You'll still travel aboard upscale ships, dine on gourmet cuisine accompanied by fine South African wines but air conditioning might be limited, dealing with bugs are part of the journey and you'll need patience at the multitude of boarding crossings.  

 

SMALL SHIPS ARE MORE INTIMATE

Most ships are usually around 400 feet in length and hold only about 150-200 passengers, depending on the cruise line. These smaller-scale vessels create a much more intimate atmosphere in which to interact with fellow passengers and crew. The public spaces are arranged for more intimate gatherings so making new friends is easy.

 

AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES AWAIT YOU

Whether it's having lunch in a private family museum, tasting beer with a local craft brewer or wine tasting in the vineyards overlooking the Douro River in Portugal, almost every cruise line offers its own unique and exclusive experiences for clients.

 

EXPERIENCE THE EXOTIC

Although cruising is most prevalent along Europe's rivers, many cruise lines offer itineraries on rivers in more remote parts of the world like the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia, the Ayeyarwady in Myanmar and the Chobe in Africa.

 

CELEBRATE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

Photo by hanker81/iStock / Getty Images

Perhaps one of the most popular cruising experiences is during the yuletide season along the Danube or Rhine rivers to visit Europe's Christmas Markets.

Temporary Update: 12/20/1026 - Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and all citizens of Berlin after the attack on the Christmas Market in the heart of the city. We've visited dozens of markets in Europe and still hope to experience the holidays in Berlin someday. Our hope is for all Berliners to find the resolve to continue to celebrate their culture and beloved holiday traditions.

 

Putnam Travels has vast knowledge of the cruise industry and has booked hundreds of passengers on all types of vessels including mega cruise ships, clipper ships, expedition ships, river cruise ships, chartered barges, yachts, catamarans and even white-water rafts. Please contact us if we can help you plan your next cruise vacation at Putnam Travels.