My First River Cruise: Why This Ocean Cruiser is Trading Waves for Rivers
- Ericka Hamilton
- Aug 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 23
"River cruises? Those are for my parents' generation."
That's what I thought until six months ago. Now, I'm about to board my first river cruise on the Danube, and I suspect everything I thought I knew will be proven wrong.
For years, I’ve been a devoted ocean cruiser. There’s something about the rhythm of the waves, the endless horizon, and the excitement of waking up in a new place that keeps pulling me back to the sea. I've fallen in love with Mediterranean cruising. I've also explored Alaska's wild beauty, cruised New England's stunning fall foliage, and escaped to the Bahamas and Caribbean more times than I can count. Each trip has only reinforced my love for the ocean.
But then something unexpected happened...
River cruising started catching my eye. At first, I brushed it off. I had a mental image of river cruises as floating retirement homes, with quiet days and early bedtimes. It wasn't until a friend of mine who's around my mom's age, someone who's active, not your stereotypical quiet retiree, started sharing her river cruise stories that I got curious. Then two friends of my own age went and raved about their experiences.
That was the turning point.
As I launched my travel business and began learning more about different types of cruises through training, river cruising kept showing up. The more I learned, the more intrigued I became. A smaller ship? Fewer passengers? Being able to walk right off the boat and into the heart of a European city? It all sounded... honestly, magical.
And then, as if the universe was trying to tell me something, the Hallmark Channel released an entire series of river cruise-themed movies. That was it, I had to book!
If you caught my July blog series on the Celebrity Infinity, you know how much I love sharing what it’s like to cruise. This time, I’m taking you on a new journey, my very first river cruise.
As a travel advisor who specializes in cruising, I knew I needed to experience river cruising for myself, not just to better guide my clients but also to discover whether this type of travel is as special as it sounds.
Why This Cruise, Why AmaWaterways?
I chose AmaWaterways' Melodies of the Danube itinerary. To be honest, though, it wasn't the destinations that made the decision (though they look incredible!). It simply aligned with the time I could travel. Sometimes timing is everything, right?
What was intentional, though, was choosing AmaWaterways. During my travel advisor training, AMA consistently rose to the top. Their innovative ships like the AmaMagna, their "Gentle Active" philosophy offering everything from bike tours to leisurely walking excursions, and their truly inclusive approach all stood out.
What sealed the deal? When AMA says "most everything is included"—dining, wine, WiFi, and curated excursions—they actually mean it, without the constant add-on fees. It feels like they focus on creating an enriching journey, not finding ways to charge you extra. Plus, their reputation for supporting travel advisors like me made the choice even easier.
What I’m Hoping to Discover
I’m stepping onto this ship as a traveler and a guide in training for my clients. This trip isn’t just about me checking something off my bucket list. It’s about learning, observing, and exploring to serve better the people I work with.
As someone who loves having 10 dining options and late-night entertainment, I'm genuinely wondering: Will one dining room feel limiting? Will 150 passengers feel intimate or just... small? And practically, what should I pack differently for a river cruise versus the ocean?
I’ve heard so many things about how amazing the food is, how you can be as active or as relaxed as you want, and how effortlessly the ship docks right in the heart of storybook towns. But I also have real questions. Can you get motion sickness on the river? How social is the experience? Is this a good fit for my solo travelers? What about the multigenerational families I serve? Would this be the right kind of vacation for them?
And most of all, I want to know: What is it really like for a first-time river cruiser?
Because that’s what I am right now. A first-timer doing all the first-time things so I can turn around and help others do it with more confidence and less guesswork.
What’s Next: Follow the Journey
This isn’t the kind of trip I want to keep to myself. Starting in September, I’ll be sharing photos, videos, and honest reflections from my first river cruise right here on the blog and on Instagram.
From sailing through historic cities to trying regional dishes and soaking in the rhythm of life along the Danube, I’ll be capturing it all: the excitement, the surprises, and the moments that made me pause and say, “Wow.”
We’ll explore Budapest, Vienna, and Linz, with charming towns, scenic views, and cultural gems in between.
If you're curious about river cruising, or if you've been and want to share what surprised you most, let me know in the comments. I'll be looking for your questions to answer when I get back.
Ready to discover what river cruising is really about? Follow along—I have a feeling we'll both learn something new.
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