A river cruise is a popular way to experience a multitude of exciting destinations in a relaxed and enjoyable way. Cruising the world’s waterways opens up the chance to visit many new places in one holiday. With the ability to access cities and villages that ocean cruise liners can’t, allowing for more opportunities for port stops, it’s easy to see why river cruising is a popular holiday choice.
With several river cruise lines, ships and itineraries to choose from, there is something for everyone. Whether you dream of seeing the sunset in Cambodia sailing along the Mekong or hope to visit the fairy-tale castles of Europe’s northern capitals, there is a river cruise to suit.
Once you have decided upon the river cruise of your dreams, don’t wait to make your dream a reality. Ships have a limited capacity in order to reach river ports and so can fill up quickly with savvy cruisers choosing their cabins. There are many benefits to booking your river cruise early, see just a few of these below.
The best choice of cabin
When you book early you have a bigger selection of cabins and decks to choose from. If the view is of great importance to you, we suggest going for a middle or upper deck as these cabins tend to have larger windows or even balconies, whereas lower decks tend to have portholes. You may also prefer to be away from the engine or anchor, or based in the middle of the ship for a sturdy sailing.
Low cost airfares
Most airlines tend to have lower airfares when you book in advance. This can be true of both scheduled and low cost flights. With non-direct flights, you are also likely to get better flight times for connecting flights the earlier you book. It is now possible to book up to a year in advance for some airlines.
Early bird booking offers
There is almost always a plus to being first in the queue and many river cruise lines reward early bookers with early bird offers and discounts. Take advantage of early booking benefits and relax knowing you’ve also secured the cabin and deck you dreamed of.
More departure dates to choose from
There are popular times to take a river cruise depending on where you want to sail. May, June and September are known busy times, and with limited departure dates, cruises can sell out fast. Book ahead to make sure you can cruise when you want and get the best from your destination of choice. Check out our river cruise calendar for tips on when to cruise.
Looking forward
Our favourite benefit to booking your river cruise early, having something to look forward to! A holiday on the cards is excellent motivation and the best kind of reward for all of your hard work.
Top 10 river cruise deals | What's included in your river cruise | River cruise calendar
