A Doggone Good Cruise Experience

Hi, I'm Sailor, your four-legged cruisehound.  Actually, I'm part Golden Retriever and part Labrador Retriever, so I always keep my nose to the ground.  Especially when it comes to cruise tips, trips and deals.

What I really want to do with today's blog is to give you my insight on river cruising.  In a nutshell, river cruising is like traveling through Europe with your hotel in tow.  Instead of spending lots of time being bussed from one place to another by motor coach, you glide serenely  along the scenic rivers in luxury & comfort.  (Luxury & comfort?  Count me in!)  The ship stops right in the middle of some of the most fabulous cities of Europe and there are any number of walking tours and other excursions. (I like walking in places with lots of new sights, sounds and smells – especially smells.) Your boat may also make stops in quaint country villages and visit local markets so you can become more immersed in  the culture of the area.  Best of all, you'll never have to worry about getting sea sick on the river. Below are a few tips that will help you make the most of your next river cruise.

Here's one thing I'd like to put my paw on:  electricity.  Did you know that on most river cruise boats in Europe electrical outlets are the 220 volts with 2-pin kind?  Who knew?  But don't worry, hair dryers are included in most cabins.  It's a good idea  to have an adaptor though for your laptop, iPod, cell phone, or whatever else you're lugging along.  Some of the newer ships have both 110 outlets and 220 outlets.

Here’s another tip, a great many of the river cruise ships have free Wi-Fi on board, so if you want an inexpensive way to keep in touch with your family back home (two legged and four legged) while you’re traveling, download Skype, FaceTime or Google Talk to your laptop, tablet or cell phone to make local and international calls.

My Dorothy (yes, she is MY Dorothy) is making me dinner, so keep your nose to the wind and four paws on deck 'til next time!

Dorothy Flannery is an award winning cruise & travel specialist.  Check out her website at http://cruisethedanube.com for more information on Danube River cruises.