I was on a boat!

And I never thought I would be, let alone that I’d enjoy it so.

Some background: my mother and sister have been on several river cruises. Mom discovered a few years back that they’re an excellent way to see a lot of sights while only having to unpack once, all the while letting someone else organize the sightseeing.

Full disclosure: I appreciated my Mom’s love of cruising but was leery of it for myself. Given that the cruise line books all outside excursions and you stay on the boat, not on the physical lands you’re visiting, it always sounded a bit like a “canned” experience to me, sanitized and Americanized. Which isn’t bad but isn’t usually my thing: I prize “authenticity”* and being on the ground, moving among the locals with all the attendant currency, travel, food, and language challenges this implies.

But my Mom wanted to take a cruise with me, my sister, and our best friend for her 80th birthday, so her party, her rules. Besides, even a tightly controlled glimpse of Europe is better than no Europe, especially as I’d never visited any of the countries (Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary) on the itinerary. And given my recent burnout, letting someone else deal with the logistics (my sister with flight/cabin booking, the cruise line with everything else) had a ton of appeal.

Well, I was wrong about cruises.

You see a LOT. Yes, it’s a quick touchdown everywhere, but it’s more than enough to give you an idea of a region or city and if you want to see more, well, that’s an excuse for future travel. All passes and tickets are inclusive, so no waiting in line or figuring out when/if stuff is open/available. Turns out on a cruise you don’t actually spend a lot of time on the boat if you do all the activities offered.

And you see everything from a local perspective. All of our guides were from the country (and often the city) they guided us through and while knowledgable provided personal context beyond names, dates, and photo opportunities.

Mind, if you don’t want to go and do, shipboard life has its own charms. There was a small pool: not big enough for laps but warm as a bathtub which was exactly what my office-stiff and fencing-overworked self needed. The ship also kept a masseuse and hairdresser on board for those who crave a relaxing spa experience. Lounge areas offered books, newspapers, and the opportunity to just watch the world go by.

And then there’s the food.

All the clichés about abundant cruise food are true, but the food was also good and often included local specialties. One glass of wine per dinner, but the glass was constantly refilled by staff that were attentive to the point of near psychic anticipation. Breakfast and lunch were more casual, buffet deals but had just about anything one could want (smoked salmon and mackerel for breakfast! Hold your nose all you like but I love me some seafood and these paired wonderfully with scrambled eggs!)

Saying the views from the deck were “sweet” is a gross understatement.

Short version: the river cruise was a wonderful way to visit a lot of places in a short time with maximum physical convenience. I could focus on visiting with family and friends and resting, while sharing beautiful sights and interesting stories. Would I do a cruise again? Sure, if the company is good and there’s plenty to see.

Over the next few weeks my weekly posts will be about the trip, with plenty of pictures and historical context (because I took notes. And yes, for me taking notes IS vacation!)

*”Authenticity” or the lack thereof in the context of travel kicks off a whole separate discussion, which I’m willing to have if there’s sufficient interest. Having said this, everyone has their own travel preferences and standards for “real” so I won’t yuck on your yum if you won’t yuck on mine.