This week’s announcement that Disney is entering the river cruise market through a partnership between Adventures by Disney and AmaWaterways begs for a bit of discussion around the topic of how kid-friendly river cruises in fact are.
The truth is, there isn’t one right answer to that query. There are certain aspects of river cruising that make it very amenable to traveling with children, while other aspects might make it less so.
Let’s start with some pro-kid points. The fact that there is minimal packing and unpacking on river cruises (not counting any pre- or post-cruise travel) is as much a selling point on inland waterways as it is on the open seas; the less moving the kids around, the better. And speaking of moving kids around, river cruise ships present an intimate and safe confined space for families to be together in. But there are those who would argue that the vessels are too small to accommodate the kinds of amenities that really keep children (especially the younger-than-eight varietal) happy and occupied, such as large pools or sophisticated play areas. And it’s true, river cruise vessels are small ships that are designed to feel like sleek, floating boutique hotels, with clean and often sparse public spaces that on the surface may not exude a super kid-friendly vibe.
And maybe for some kids, river cruising would just not be for them. But a lot of this is about each individual family’s dynamic and finding the travel product that is right for them. For families with children who are more independent and don’t necessarily need over-the-top, colorful stimuli, who are avid readers for instance and would look forward to some down time to dig into a good book or play some games during a sailing afternoon, a river cruise could provide the perfect respite from their busy school lives.
Or for families that are excited about and comfortable exploring new places together, docking in a new European port each day could offer a really unique and rewarding adventure. Families that like biking could also embrace the ample cycling opportunities along Europe’s rivers.
And of course, then there are the ways the operators can enhance the experience for kids — enter Disney and AmaWaterways. Whether or not river cruising is kid-friendly will ultimately depend on how these two operators execute the product. AmaWaterways has already developed some new onboard enhancements to make the hardware itself more suitable to families, including adjoining cabins and staterooms that can accommodate up to four passengers.
And lest we forget, Adventures by Disney has been guiding families around the world for a decade now, backed by the well-oiled family travel machine that is parent company Disney. So if there were any doubts about whether river cruising is suitable for children, it’s hard to imagine that river cruising, Adventures by Disney-style, would be anything but.