Do you ever think about stepping outside the box on occasion and doing something different? Maybe explore a new destination? Or experience a new activity with the person you love the most? How about combining the two by having a once in a lifetime experience on a river cruise? You can check a new destination off your list, while experiencing a new activity or going on an adventure. There are so many reasons to add a river cruise to your bucket list. Today, I am sharing some of my favorite once in a lifetime experiences on a river cruise. One of them may be exactly what you need to take your vacation to the next level.  

Once in a Lifetime Experiences on a River Cruise 

Fiction and Fairytale Storytelling 

Book lovers, storytellers, and anyone who wants to get whisked away to unknown destinations will love heading out on a fiction and fairytale storytelling river cruise. Storyteller Series cruises offer guests like yourself the chance to see the world, while also indulging in story hours in between ports of call.  

One of my favorite Storytelling Series cruises will take you along the Rhine River. You will see sights in Switzerland, France, Germany, and Holland.  

Listen to a story, as you pass by the ancient castles in the Rhine Gorge. A new story may be told on a whim about the Rock of the Lorelei. Maybe you will even be the person to craft that story.  

Don’t worry, your whole time won’t be spent on the boat listening to stories. You will have plenty of time to go out and explore all along the Rhine River.  

A few of the things you may find yourself doing include a bike tour of the Black Forest, a visit to a local winery, and a guided tour of Heidelberg Castle. Oh, and don’t skip out on the cable car ride to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.  

Outlander Story Cruise 

Another amazing Storytelling cruise is one that focuses on the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Imagine getting behind the scenes looks at how Diana crafted these stories. As well as getting little known insights no other fan will know! Talk about an incredible once in a lifetime experience.

This river cruise will have you sailing along the Danube River. You will stop in towns and villages within Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary.  

When you are not listening to this author share her secrets, you may be checking out Artstetten Castle, visiting Heroes’ Square, or hiking to Bratislava Castle.  

Cruise with Jen Hatmaker 

Jen Hatmaker is an amazing storytelling. Listening to her stories come to life while on a cruise in Holland and Belgium will be just what you need during your time away from home.  

This tour isn’t as focused on the storytelling as others in the series. So, it is an excellent way to go out and explore a few new destinations in between the celebrations held on the boat.  

Your days will be spent visiting an oyster farm, taking a graffiti tour, and taking a guided tour of Rotterdam. Oh, and don’t forget to sign up for the chocolate workshop. After all, there is nothing better than indulging on some chocolate while away from home!  

Floating Art Cruise 

Imagine spending a few days in Venice with your partner or a group of friends. There are a few Venice cruises you can choose from for this adventure. But one of the best river cruises is the Floating Art cruise.  

Time on the boat will be spent learning about the art you will see throughout this river cruise. An artist and historian will share their knowledge with you, so you can fully appreciate everything you will see during this once in a lifetime experience.  

A few places you will spend time in, or at, during your trip include Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge, and Grand Canal. The highlight of your trip though will be the glassblowing artisans of Murano. Watching them create their blown glass masterpieces will have you wanting to learn how to do it yourself.  

Rivers of the World 

One of the best once in a lifetime experiences is exploring the rivers of the world. This amazing cruise will last for fifty-five days. It takes you all the way from South America to Europe before finally dropping you off in Southeast Asia.  

This incredible adventure will take you to ten countries. Since this river cruise takes you along rivers, and these destinations are separated by oceans, you will need to fly between certain destinations. That will just add to the fun, as you check off this once in a lifetime experience from your travel bucket list!  

These are some of the best once in a lifetime experiences on a river cruise. These options should get you thinking of how you want to spend your next vacation. I highly recommend river cruising for traveling, because you get to see some of the must-see spots that are off the beaten path. And you get to avoid some of the crowds you might experience in larger cities. Want to learn more about the difference between river cruising and ocean cruising? Click here to read my thoughts on this topic! 

So, are you ready to have one of these once in a lifetime experiences on a river cruise?  

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to click here to schedule a personalized vacation planning session with me. When you click this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.  

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