River Cruises: Why They Attract Mature Travellers

In the past 20 years or so, river cruises have become the vacation of choice for many Canadians over the age of 50, and it’s easy to see why it’s a bucket list favourite.

For one, the size of a river cruise ship enables passengers to access more remote and exotic locations, such as the Volga in Russia and the Yangtze in Asia. The ship’s size also means the number of passengers sharing in the experience is a lot less – around 150 vs. 3,000 on an ocean cruise.

River cruises also offer a more upscale and all-inclusive yet exclusive experience.

Special touches often not found on larger vessels can include gourmet multi-course meals prepared with ingredients local to the port of call, destination experts that host information and education sessions that complement and enhance a traveller’s cultural experience and more specialized amenities such as open-air dining and rooms with wrap-around terraces.

The type of adventure that river cruises tend to offer is another factor that attracts mature travellers. River cruises spend more time in port than at sea and focus more on shore activities. This allows passengers time to explore more of their surroundings over a longer period of time at a more relaxed pace.

While river cruises can offer the perfect combination of journey plus destination, many of the reasons why they hold so much appeal with mature travellers are also why travel insurance is a must.

River cruises can cost significantly more than ocean excursions. In addition, depending on the destination and the itinerary, along with a longer time spent on shore, each stage of the trip can increase the chance of encountering the unexpected such as a sprained ankle or missed connection, and travellers need to be prepared.

For protection that covers many types of medical and trip-related travel emergencies, an All-inclusive Plan is ideal. Combining the comprehensive benefits of Emergency Hospital & Medical insurance with Trip Cancellation & Interruption coverage can help protect travellers, their investment and their once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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