I Went on My First River Cruise; Way Better Than I Expected

As an avid solo traveler who’s used to exploring destinations on my own terms, I had mixed feelings when my boyfriend’s family invited me on a river cruise this summer.

Of course, I was grateful to be invited and looked forward to the memories we’d make while sailing on the Danube. But after reading the itinerary — packed with eight destinations in seven days — I wondered how it would be possible to get an adequate feel for each location. I also worried about my ability to relinquish control in the planning process.

However, since this would be my first international trip with my boyfriend and his family, I pushed those concerns aside. My biggest wish was for a week of smooth sailing, on and off the ship.

Having less than 24 hours in each destination took some getting used to, but there were unexpected benefits

As a late riser, I struggled with waking up early the first few days of the cruise and silently cursed the travel planner for scheduling such activity-filled mornings.

However, I soon came to my senses when I saw how much ground we covered each day — something that would’ve been impossible to do without an early start.

With our wired audio devices and matching water bottles, I couldn’t help feeling a little silly plodding past cathedrals and castles as part of a huge sightseeing group. But once I got over my slight embarrassment, I realized something: I was learning and seeing more than I ever had on my solo travels.

I recalled a solo trip I took to Galway, Ireland, where I had a great time listening to traditional music and sipping Guinness, but because I neglected to book tours or visit museums, I didn’t learn much. I also kept myself glued to my phone to avoid getting lost, which prevented me from being present to admire the sights around me.

On the cruise, though, I experienced the opposite: We had very limited time in each location, but every minute counted.

One of my favorite days was an excursion we took from Linz to Salzburg, Austria. The day started with a 1.5-hour guided tour, during which we saw everything from “The Sound of Music” sites to Mozart’s childhood apartment. Then, we had free time to explore.

My traveling companions and I spent our afternoon indulging in massive Wiener Schnitzel, people-watching over pints in a beer garden, and strolling Salzburg’s most famous shopping street, Getreidegasse.

I could’ve spent days there, but the four hours we had gave me the perfect introduction to the city.

By day 3, I realized I wasn’t nearly as exhausted as I’ve been on other international trips

Having the freedom to do whatever you want on vacation is great — until you’ve been out all day, your phone’s battery is at 10%, and you’re hungry, sunburned, and decision-fatigued.

Luckily, I experienced none of that on this trip, since whenever I had downtime, I actually spent it relaxing instead of planning the next day’s details.

Additionally, traveling via cruise helped ease our minds of a major stressor: food allergens. When I first looked at the itinerary, I was disappointed to see we would eat a majority of our meals on the ship. However, this ended up being great due to my gluten intolerance and my boyfriend’s nut allergy.

Every meal abroad could’ve been a stressful experience had we been in charge of choosing restaurants and ordering from non-English menus. Instead, thanks to the river cruise’s exceptional service — which provided us with daily allergen-free menus and assurance that the kitchen would take extra care when preparing our meals — we had nothing to worry about.

The three-course meals were delicious, too. From regionally inspired specialities like goulash and bratwurst to delicious barbecue and pan-Asian options, to say we ate well on our trip would be an understatement.

I would definitely go on a river cruise again

Before the trip, I prided myself on my travel preferences, exploring on my own terms with full control over my itinerary.

Although I’ll definitely continue seeking out unique solo experiences, the river cruise showed me that ease and comfort don’t discredit travel experiences — they enhance them.

Thanks to expertly timed days and helpful accommodations, I now understand the true value of river cruises: they help make traveling the world a more accessible and comfortable experience for those who might otherwise feel intimidated to venture far from home. And that’s a beautiful thing.