Life can move quickly, but there’s a growing
appreciation for enjoying the things that are important to
us – including travel – more slowly and mindfully. If you’re
interested in the “slow travel” trend, you should consider cruising; and, river cruising may be
especially well suited to your slow travel dreams.
Slow travel grew out of the “slow food”
movement, which started in the
1980s and celebrates locally produced, traditionally
prepared food. Translated to travel, slow
movement is all about reducing the pace. Instead
of a whirlwind of activities that may leave you
feeling like you need another vacation, slow
travel provides time to make deeper, more memorable
connections with different places, people, and cultures.
There are several reasons why river cruising fits the slow
travel trend so well. First, most river cruise ships are small,
which serves a practical purpose – their low, narrow
profiles let them glide smoothly under old bridges and into
small, city-center docks. But, the size of river cruise ships makes
them slow-travel-worthy, too, because most are not equipped
with a huge variety of activity and
entertainment options. That can be an advantage when you
want a cruise experience that’s focused on the
places and experiences waiting to be discovered onshore. And,
on a river cruise, the onboard activities are often designed to
help you get to know the region you’re sailing through.
While many ocean-going cruises feature one or more days
entirely at sea, river cruises usually dock in a new
place each day, maximizing your opportunity to explore onshore. With a small number of passengers on board –
likely less than 200, compared to 1,000 or more on
many ocean-going ships – you can disembark quickly and begin soaking
in the local sights, sounds, and tastes. An itinerary
with overnight stays or opportunities to
venture farther inland can deliver an even more immersive
experience. And, even when your ship is in motion, you’re
likely to remain in sight of local life on the shore.
Many river ships also make an effort to
reflect local culture in their dining rooms. Staying close to
shore makes it possible to bring on fresh ingredients by day and
feature them in regional specialties that evening.
There are lots of rivers that you can
cruise in Europe, Asia, India, South America and North
America, too. To help you choose a river cruise that
will deliver on the joys of slow travel, talk with Anita,
your professional travel advisor.
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