River Cruising

• How do I get from the airport to the ship?
  1. Passengers who have provided Trafalgar with flight information will be met and transferred to the ship. The exception to this rule is if cruise only is booked and then transfers are not included and passengers have to make there own way to the ship or purchase private transfers. Upon arrival, claim your own luggage and proceed through passport control and customs. Please look for a guide holding a sign with your ship’s name, after exiting customs. The guide will advise you of the next transfer time. Luggage carts are usually available free of charge. Passengers making their own air arrangements should find their own way to the ship.
• When can I board the ship on embarkation day?
  1. On turnaround day, the entire ship must be cleaned in preparation for your arrival. The facilities of the ship, including your cabin, will not be available before 4pm. We appreciate your understanding on this matter. Should you arrive early, you may leave your bags in the Reception area and take a walk into the city, or relax in the Lounge.
• When should I leave the ship on disembarkation day?
  1. On the final day of your cruise, we ask that you vacate your cabin immediately after breakfast.
• How do I get from the ship to the airport?
  1. Passengers who have provided flight information will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight. Your Cruise Manager will advise the transfer times. For guests making their own air arrangements, the Reception staff will call taxis. All guests are requested to vacate cabins after breakfast.
• What are the meals like onboard?
  1. Dinner is a casually elegant affair, served usually between 7pm and 9pm. You always have a choice of main entrées and a dessert. Your table is set with fine crystal, linen and silver. Enjoy a wine selection more selective than on most other ships in Europe. A sumptuous buffet breakfast is usually served between 7am and 9am. Daily sightseeing typically starts at 9am, and you’ll return to the ship in time for lunch – a bounteous buffet – usually served from noon to 1:30pm. Enjoy regional specialties with an international flair. Our chefs take fresh ingredients found locally, and create dishes evocative of the countries you’ll be visiting. Chefs also accommodate the reduced sodium and lower fat needs of the American palate. While most meals are enjoyed aboard ship, there are also opportunities to enjoy dining ashore, included in the price of your vacation. Depending on your itinerary, you might savor beer and sausages in Bavaria, a typical Rhineland dinner in a German “Schloss”,
• Do I need to reserve my dining room seating and times?
  1. No. The restaurant seats all passengers at one open seating. You can change your dining companions each day as you meet new friends, or join the same group time after time. The choice is yours. With single-seating dining, service is always leisurely and relaxed. Some special diets may be catered for with advance notice. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style; dinner is served at the table. Wine is available for purchase. The restaurant is non-smoking.
• Is wine available with meals?
  1. Wine is available for purchase. Enjoy a wine selection more extensive than on most other ships in Europe.
• Can I arrange special celebrations – anniversaries, birthdays - onboard?
  1. Commemorating an anniversary? Celebrating a birthday? Let us know in advance and our chefs will be happy to prepare something special for your table or recommend a wine to mark your particular milestone. It’s a great way to share an event with new and old friends.
• Are special meals available onboard?
  1. Some special diets may be catered for with advance notice.
• Are there opportunities to dine ashore?
  1. While most meals are enjoyed aboard ship, there are also opportunities to enjoy local specialties ashore, included in the price of your vacation. Depending on your itinerary, you might enjoy beer and sausages in Bavaria, a typical Rhineland dinner in a German “Schloss”, or dinner with port wine on the terrace of a 12th century monastery in Portugal. Sample pastries in Vienna, cheese in Holland, calvados in Normandy, and much more.
• What amenities will I find in my cabin?
  1. On most ships, you’ll find the following amenities in your spacious and comfortable cabin: hotel-style beds; two panoramic windows in most cabins, and floor-to-ceiling windows on the top deck; a sitting area by the window; adequate closet and drawer space; a vanity (make-up mirror and stool); TV with satellite channels and onboard information and videos; direct-dial telephone; safe; hair dryer; terry cloth robe.
• What amenities will I find in a suite?
  1. If you expect the best, upgrade to a suite. A rare feature on other European river cruise ships, but available on our ships, our suites are extra spacious at 230 square feet. Suites feature: hotel-style beds; a sitting area, with a sofa and two chairs; three floor-to-ceiling windows; adequate closet and drawer space; TV with satellite channels and onboard information and videos; direct-dial telephone; safe; hair dryer; terry cloth robe; a luxurious extra-spacious bathroom with a shower. On the River Empress, River Countess and River Duchess, there is also a bathtub in the suites.
• What are hotel-style beds?
  1. Our beds are positioned in the middle of the room instead of being fixed to the wall like those found on other river cruise ships. Our ships do not have bunk-style or fold-out beds either. Every cabin has twin beds that can be combined into one large double bed.
• What is the electrical current onboard?
  1. The voltage is 220.
• Do I need to bring a hair dryer with me?
  1. There is a hair dryer in your cabin. There is also a hairdresser onboard. The voltage onboard is 220. You will need a European converter if you are bringing a hair dryer from Australia
• Is there entertainment onboard the ships?
  1. Gather around the piano in the Main Lounge for nightly musical entertainment. On certain evenings, local musicians and dancers will come aboard. Theme cruises add additional entertainment with organ concerts, choral music, Strauss waltzes, Bavarian “oom-pah-pah” bands, and gypsy melodies all presented ashore.
• What types of Theme Cruises are available?
  1. Several of our cruises are designated Theme Cruises. In addition to regular shore excursions, these cruises have additional theme features including: music celebrations on the great rivers of Europe and wine cruises along the Danube, and music along the Danube.
• Is smoking allowed onboard?
  1. There is no smoking permitted anywhere inside the ship. You may smoke on the Sun Deck only.
• Is smoking allowed on sightseeing tours?
  1. For the comfort of all passengers, smoking is not permitted on any sightseeing or transfer vehicle. Stops are available en route for photographs and breaks, providing opportunities for smokers. On coach tours, we ask that passengers change seats to allow everyone to sit near the front.
• Are there exercise facilities onboard?
  1. The River Princess, River Queen, River Empress, River Duchess and River Countess have one of the largest fitness center aboard any river cruise ship. There is also a sauna and a steam room.
• Is there internet access onboard?
  1. The River Empress, River Duchess and River Countess offer passengers the ability to check e-mail onboard at two workstations. (not full internet access at this time)
• What is the dress code onboard?
  1. During the day, comfortable, casual attire is appropriate. The weather in Europe can be very changeable, so take a sweater or windproof jacket and an umbrella. Comfortable walking shoes are also recommended for excursions. Evenings are a little dressier. Gentlemen may wish to wear a jacket to the Captain’s dinner. You’ll find average temperatures listed on each of the cruises on our website.
• What is the atmosphere like onboard?
  1. We pride ourselves on providing the intimate, small-ship ambiance you love. Our congenial European crew is trained to anticipate our guests’ every need, and to provide friendly and professional service. You’ll be able to mingle easily with everyone onboard. And with only 100 to 138 fellow passengers onboard, our ships offer a friendly environment large ocean-going ships can’t match.
• What language is spoken onboard and ashore?
  1. Trafalgar River Cruises will be conducted in English only.
• Is there laundry service onboard?
  1. A self-service launderette is available on the River Princess, River Queen, River Empress, River Duchess and River Countess. Limited laundry service is available on the Rhône Princess and Seine Princess. No laundry service is available on the Saxonia or Venezia (Swiss Venice).
• What do I do with valuables onboard?
  1. An in-cabin safe is available on all ships. We urge you to leave valuable jewelry at home. Trafalgar River Cruises is not responsible for any valuables left in the cabin. Please beware of pickpockets when going ashore.
• Is there medical personnel onboard?
  1. A crew member trained in first aid is always available, and medical personnel can be summoned aboard quickly in an emergency.
• What is the recommended tipping amount?
  1. Crew: Subject to your satisfaction and to show appreciation for a job well done, we recommend a gratuity of 10Euro per person, per day for the crew. This may be left at the Reception desk at the end of your cruise, and will be shared by the members of the crew. Cash or travelers cheques only. Tips cannot be paid in advance. Cruise Manager: Your cruise manager is a highly qualified, knowledgeable tour professional. He (or she) is chosen for his destination knowledge, language abilities, proven willingness to work with and for you, and cruise/tour management skills. The cruise manager does not participate in the crew’s tip pool. A separate token of your appreciation will be appreciated. We recommend 3Euro per person, per day. Local Guides/Drivers: As on all tours, if you enjoyed the services of your local guide and driver, a 1-1.50Euro tip (or the equivalent in local currency) will be appreciated.
• How do I pay for purchases onboard?
  1. Prices onboard are in American Dollars with the exception of The Cezanne, The Douro Queen and The Venezia which use Euros on board. You sign for any purchases or services throughout your cruise, and pay by credit card at the end. European ships cannot exchange currency. The easiest way to get local currency is from an ATM (automated teller machine), using your credit card and PIN number.
• Can I exchange money onboard?
  1. A: European ships cannot exchange currency. The easiest way to get local currency is from an ATM (automated teller machine), using your credit card and PIN number.
• What kind of money do I need for shopping ashore?
  1. Larger stores will accept credit cards. Market vendors and small stores will usually only accept local currency. It is a good idea to take a small amount of cash to exchange for tips, purchasing souvenirs or sundries.
• How large are the ships?
  1. Our ships accommodate between 100 and 138 guests. They are generally 360 feet long (110 meters), and 37.5 feet wide (11.4 meters). The draft is approximately 4 feet (1.2 meters). There are typically 34 crew members aboard.
• Do your ships have any exclusive features?
  1. Magnetic key cards have been introduced on the River Empress, River Countess and River Duchess. The magnetic card functions as your cabin key, your onboard charge card, and your ID card for boarding. Passengers swipe the cards as they disembark and embark, enabling our staff to keep track of everyone onboard. Our ships were the first – and are still the only – river cruise ships to offer this convenience. The River Empress, River Countess and River Duchess offer guests the convenience of checking and sending e-mails. On the River Princess, River Queen, River Empress, River Duchess and River Countess, each guest is provided with a terry cloth robe in their cabin. Our ships have one of the largest fitness center aboard any river cruise ship. There is also a sauna and a steam room on the River Princess, River Queen, River Empress, River Duchess and River Countess.
• Where does the ship dock during the cruise?
  1. Docking space is allocated by the local river authorities. The ship always docks facing upstream, against the current, on either side of the river. Views from cabins may occasionally be restricted.
• What is the difference between a barge and a river cruise ship?
  1. Generally, barges accommodate 4 to 24 passengers, and cover just 30 to 50 miles in a week. Barges move so slowly that passengers can step off the barge, walk or bike into town, and catch up with the barge again. The cuisine and local wines are usually of high quality, but entertainment is minimal. In comparison, Trafalgar River Cruise ships typically carry 100 to 138 guests, and are much more like a floating hotel with a restaurant, lounge, library, fitness center, and entertainment in the evening. River cruise ships sail at a faster speed, and call at one or several countries in a week, stopping in the heart of cities.
• Are river cruise ships wheelchair accessible?
  1. The ships are not handicapped or wheelchair accessible. There are elevators on the River Princess, River Queen, River Empress, River Duchess and River Countess. On the River Queen, the elevator does not reach all decks. Additionally, most shore excursions involve some walking. Some excursions are walking tours only, and several occur on cobblestone streets.
• What activities are available for children?
  1. Passengers who are less than 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older. Our experience is that most young children (under 8 years of age) do not enjoy or appreciate the cruise/tour experience. There are no special arrangements, activities or accommodations for children on our cruise/tour programs. Adults accompanying children are responsible for their behavior during the trip.
• Can I bring my pet with me?
  1. Pets are not permitted on Trafalgar River Cruises.