5 tips for choosing the perfect riverboat

The choice of river boat perfect For your vacations it is an important decision that it is better to think calmly and seek advice from people who know the boats well since it can change your experience completely.

There are many types of boats and each one has some characteristics that will make it more suitable according to the type of client (couple, friends, family, etc…) of the river destination  (weather, canal, river…) and of course depending on your budget.

Thanks to our experience of more than 10 years In advising each client personally, we have prepared two tools to help you choose.

First we have created a boat rating code, it is a code specific to Danfluvial and allows you to compare the comfort of all the boats among themselves regardless of their manufacturer, model and destination.

To do this, we have looked at the following characteristics to attribute our ratings: the age of the boat, the interior space per passenger, the number of passengers per bathroom and the "extras" (terrace and exterior piloting among others) to attribute from 1 anchor up to 5 anchors, the most modern and comfortable being the one with 5 anchors. (see all boat models)

Second, we have prepared this article in which we propose 5 tips for choosing the river boat that best suits you, your companions and what you want to do during your river vacation.

1. Style: traditional river boat or yacht type?

Shipbuilding has evolved a lot in the last 35 years, leading to the creation of boats of different styles.

The first riverboats for tourist vacations imitated transport boats in the shape of their hull and interior organization. Little by little, boats have also been created that increasingly resemble small yachts, with interiors worthy of the best luxury bungalows. Even so, there are also renovated and fully equipped classic boats, “penichettes” type with a classic appearance but fully equipped inside.

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2. Indoor life or outdoor life on the river boat

Inside

If, due to the destination, the time of year or personal preferences, you prefer to live more on the river boat, we advise you to choose boats with saloon at the front. So you stay in the living room with the cockpit furthest from the engine, its vibrations and noise.

A good solution for living indoors but outdoors are boats with retractable roofs that allow you to enjoy views of the sky and the outside air inside the saloon and cockpit.

Boats that do not have terraces (also called flybridge) usually have more space and, above all, more height inside the cabins. This is important to know for groups who want to spend the day in the cabins to play, relax or read.

Exterior

If, on the other hand, you want to enjoy the outdoors, we advise you to first choose a river boat with double cockpit (one inside and one on the flybridge). This way the person sailing will not be separated from the rest of the group during navigation.

Access to the terrace is an interesting point to study depending on whether you go with children or only adults. For children, the boats that allow access to the terrace directly from the living room without going outside will be more interesting.

As for the flybridges, some allow you to eat outside with garden tables and chairs in a very comfortable way. In summer it is recommended totally rent a river boat with a terrace to enjoy the landscape and don't forget the external cockpit so that the "driver" can enjoy it with everyone.

Only detail: if you want to rent bicycles, keep in mind that we recommend a maximum of 4-5 maximum on large boats, since although they usually have room to tie them, it will take away space from the terrace if you rent many. On some older style boats they can be stored on the flat roof of the boat above the cabins.

3. A river cruise with children?

The experience of renting a river boat is wonderful for children as they are spacious, very fun and safe boats.

On these boats it is rare to get seasick and there are no navigation dangers compared to sailing on the sea or ocean.

All boats have safety features to prevent falls into the water, even so, and always for children. the use of life jackets is recommended that they will provide you at the port of embarkation.

And for families who seek security and tranquility at night and parents prefer to sleep with their children, there are boats with double cabins and an additional bunk for children. It allows us to accommodate more people on the boat and have peace of mind knowing that if a child gets up we will notice quickly 😉

4. Use of the riverboat lounge to sleep, yes or no?

This is a much talked about topic among our clients.

Using the lounge convertible into a bed allows you to significantly reduce the budget per person.

This is why it is essential to think before choosing how all the passengers will be distributed.

Everything will depend on who you travel with and the trust between you.

It is important to highlight that the river boat is still a small space in which people who may know each other more or less depending on the groups will coexist. This factor is very important to have a pleasant coexistence and especially for stays of a week or more.

We recommend that you think about organizing the boat well so that everyone can find their moments of peace and privacy if they wish.

Sleeping in the living room means transform the living room into a bedroom every morning and night, move the cushions, and assemble the bed. something similar to a sofa bed in a house, but think that in the boats the living room is where you enter, exit, go to the terrace, and that it is open to the kitchen.

In short, it is important to think about who is going to sleep in the living room and if this person is willing to go to bed last and wake up first 😉

5. Budget for a perfect riverboat

And the last factor to take into account but not the least important is the budget.

Economy and simplicity

Keep in mind that river tourism can be affordable for everyone since if you put your mind to it you can navigate very easily and very affordably on a river boat by choosing less popular dates and taking advantage of discounts for early or last minute reservations, choosing more classic boats and getting a little tighter.

Thinking that this type of cruise makes the vacation very affordable, not only because of the price of the boat but also because of the fact that the river boat has "everything included": transportation, entertainment, hotel, kitchen, bathroom, ride.

All in one!

Also in terms of gastronomic expenses and considering that they will have a full kitchen on board, you can take a food base from home or buy at the destination in local stores and markets much more affordable than going to any restaurant.

Maximum comfort

On the contrary, if you want to enjoy a river cruise with all the comforts, you will also find adapted, more spacious and modern boats to be able to enjoy comfort worthy of a luxury bungalow.

To ensure maximum comfort we recommend:

– Choose modern boats, Let yourself be advised by our reservations team who knows the latest models well

– Choose large boats and never exceed the number of 2 guests per cabin.

– Some ships offer one bathroom per cabin, this detail is important when it comes to enjoy a cruise.

– As for the other points such as terrace or cockpit… it is a matter of taste and lifestyle on board. Direct contact with our travel advisor will allow you to clearly define how you want to experience your cruise and find the ideal river boat that best suits your search.

Ready to sail? Let's go there.

If you are clear about your river destination and want to get the best boat option, price and route, don't wait any longer and book your river boat now.
If you don't find what you're looking for contact us and we will help you.

Rocío, the reservations manager, will give you advice and budgets adjusted to your preferences.

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