TAKE THE SLOW BOAT
Travel+Leisure US|November 2023
The smartest way to vacation next year might just be on a languorous river cruise.
Janice Wald Henderson
TAKE THE SLOW BOAT

EVEN IF YOU'VE never contemplated going on a river cruise before, 2024 could be your year. With long-haul airfares at elevated levels and travel disruptions a constant threat, savvy travelers are booking long trips that navigate multiple rivers and maximize the transatlantic journey.

"It's been a huge trend in 2023 and will only expand in 2024," says Samuel Spencer, a travel advisor and the owner of Ocean & River Cruises, an agency in Calgary, Alberta. Spencer notes that four different river-cruise lines-Avalon Waterways, AmaWaterways, Scenic, and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises-now offer multi-week trips through France. While some of these longer itineraries pre-date the pandemic, several lines tell T+L that they have recently surged in popularity among Americans.

It's a seismic shift for travelers, who've begrudgingly become accustomed to playing Where's-MyLuggage, navigating crowded museums, and paying enormous premiums for high-quality hotels-particularly in Western Europe. Touring by river ship, which often feels more akin to staying in a luxury hotel than cruising on a ocean liner, can address most of these challenges-all while delivering tremendous value, usually at an allinclusive, up-front price.

This story is from the November 2023 edition of Travel+Leisure US.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 2023 edition of Travel+Leisure US.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM TRAVEL+LEISURE USView All
OUR PORTUGUESE ADVENTURE
Travel+Leisure US

OUR PORTUGUESE ADVENTURE

Small plates in Lisbon, fancy soaps in Porto, sandcastles on the beaches of the Algarve... Jessamine Chan and her family fall for a country with something for everyone.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2024
Note Perfect
Travel+Leisure US

Note Perfect

For centuries, the Italian town of Cremona has been home to the great instrument makers, and its streets continue to ring with music. For Julie Orringer, a family trip becomes a master class in the power of travel.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2024
CREST of the WAVE
Travel+Leisure US

CREST of the WAVE

On France's rugged Basque Coast, old-school glamour meets shaggy surf culture-and creates an irresistible mix.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2024
Turkish Delight
Travel+Leisure US

Turkish Delight

A major waterfront revitalization project in Istanbul is giving visitors-and locals-a reason to stroll and stay awhile.

time-read
5 mins  |
June 2024
Out of the Box
Travel+Leisure US

Out of the Box

How an Austrian ski and spa town landed on the European art circuit.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2024
Breaking Away
Travel+Leisure US

Breaking Away

Finding solitude on a peaceful island in the Pacific Northwest.

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2024
Wrocław Reborn
Travel+Leisure US

Wrocław Reborn

After being decimated in World War II, this Polish city has risen from the ashes. On a quest for family roots, Laura Moser discovers a vital cultural crossroads.

time-read
5 mins  |
June 2024
It Takes a Village
Travel+Leisure US

It Takes a Village

In the canyons of northern Greece, the people of the Zagorohoria are cementing their home as a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Eleni N. Gage shares their story.

time-read
5 mins  |
June 2024
Explore One of Europe's Coolest Capitals: Tallinn
Travel+Leisure US

Explore One of Europe's Coolest Capitals: Tallinn

AFTER EMERGING FROM the intense heat of the sauna, I ran across a wooden deck and plunged into the brisk Baltic Sea. The cold pierced my skin from the soles of my feet upward, like ice water blanching a steamed vegetable. When I surfaced, my travel companions, who'd just done the same, were laughing so hard they could barely stay afloat.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2024
Restore Your Body and Mind in Kyoto
Travel+Leisure US

Restore Your Body and Mind in Kyoto

WHEN VICKY TSAI visited Kyoto for the first time in 2008, she booked what she thought would be a simple facial.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2024