Do you have clients who are trying to decide between sailing in Europe and taking a river cruise in the United States? A variety of additional factors, in addition to the evident variations in destination, could influence visitors' decisions.
The differences between the boats on the Danube, Main, and Rhine rivers in Europe and those on the Mississippi, Columbia, and Snake rivers in the United States, for instance, will undoubtedly be a major factor.
Here is an idea of what travelers should be aware of and anticipate when choosing a cruise destination.
Ship Size Comparison
The size of the ships that navigate the different rivers is the most striking difference between river cruising in the United States and Europe, and this difference is primarily caused by the locks and bridges of Europe.
Most European vessels are restricted by long, narrow canal passages via rising and descending locks and short bridge clearances, with the exception of double-wide vessels like AmaWaterways' AmaMagna, which can only navigate a segment of the Danube.
Due to these restrictions, riverboats are being constructed in limousine-like dimensions, with Viking's Longships being a good example. Riverboats cannot be longer than 450 feet and wider than 40 feet. European riverboats are usually four stories high (the first level being partially below the waterline), with the restaurant and lounge in the bow and the bedrooms and suites separated by a single hallway towards the stern. Typically, a vessel may accommodate up to 200 passengers at most.
Certain boats are restricted even further on rivers such as the Douro and Seine, where they have to be considerably smaller.
In the United States, a river the size of the great Mississippi is not nearly as limiting. Yes, domestic waterways too face their share of locks and bridges, but they are not nearly as onerous.
I have recently cruised on the Viking Mississippi, which is larger than any riverboat in Europe, with five decks (all above waterline) and a breadth of 75 feet, while its length of 471 feet is equivalent to its European peers. This permits nearly twice as many passengers as before in addition to larger private suites that resemble those on ocean cruise ships. There will be additional public spaces on board these ships.
Comparing Crowds and Vessel Passenger Counts
The number of passenger boats that use European waterways as opposed to native rivers is another difference. There is a significant contrast in the experience of a place between the hundreds of riverboats that travel Europe's principal rivers and abroad and the few dozen that operate in the United States.
Domestically, it's typical to have one riverboat per port; nevertheless, in foreign waters, it's possible to have many boats docked at each berth (or multiple berths, per port). It is not unusual to witness two or more riverboats of the same size double, triple, or quadruple up, moored together at a single docking spot. This means that when boarding or disembarking from the ship, visitors occasionally have to walk through or over other ships.
Once on land, the quantity of riverboats anchored can result in larger groups of people exploring the area. The contrary is always true for domestic ports, which are calm and uncongested.
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