Two weeks on a river cruise: the ultimate getaway, or too much of a good thing?
Think of it this way…Endless charming towns, historic landmarks and the beauty of Europe’s waterways rolling by as you sip wine on a sunny deck. That’s what I knew I was signing up for when I was invited on a 15-day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest with Avalon Waterways. But many people who haven’t river cruised before often wonder about the perfect itinerary length. Is two weeks too long?
The Rhythm Of Life Onboard
River cruises are typically shorter, with 7- to 10-day itineraries being the most common. But longer itineraries, like Avalon’s Magnificent Europe, are appealing to river cruise veterans and first-timers alike. The two week journey also brought people from further stretches of the globe looking to travel for longer periods of time. Our group was a lively mix of nationalities: 27 Canadians, 19 Australians, 24 Kiwis, 3 Brits and 41 Americans. We all became friends and exchanged stories, laughs and a collective excitement about the destinations we were visiting.
One of the joys of a long cruise is how easily you slip into the onboard routine. Mornings began with guided excursions or leisurely breakfasts in the main dining room. Avalon also offers complimentary room service for breakfast, which is a nice touch. Afternoons brought a mix of onboard activities. We even had a cornhole tournament one day. Epic! Evenings often ended with entertainment in the Panorama Lounge or quiet moments in the Club Lounge.
The Midway Point
During the first few days, the evenings were a bit quieter, as everyone was still getting comfortable. But after a few days, things shift. You stop worrying about what day it is. You trust your cruise director and the daily itinerary to guide you, freeing yourself to fully enjoy the experience. You form friendships. At this point, the energy onboard is (usually) immaculate.
Where I thought I might burn out was with the repetitive routine. Nothing was really repetitive, though. The daily pattern of guided excursions was easy to customize, with more active options like bike rides along the Danube or hikes in the vineyards of Rüdesheim to keep things fresh, alongside classic city tours. Avalon’s culinary offerings added to the variety – dinner and lunch menus changed nightly (with some of our favorites brought back later in the trip) and we even had a choice of dining venues for each meal.
Between the rotating menus, themed activities and diverse excursions, there was always something new to experience. And while the days were dynamic, one thing remained wonderfully consistent: nightly happy hours with friends. Evenings of laughter and conversation became a highlight of the trip, reinforcing the sense of camaraderie that made this cruise so special. Avalon did an excellent job ensuring no two days felt the same, while still maintaining the comforting familiarity of life onboard.
The Perks Of Longer Journeys
The appeal of a 15-day itinerary is easy to understand: the chance to travel through four (for some of us, five) countries, sail down three major rivers – the Rhine, Main and Danube – and visit cities like Amsterdam, Vienna and Budapest is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most. Longer cruises give you time to truly savor each destination.
Instead of rushing from one must-see site to another, I could enjoy leisurely afternoons at a cafe in Würzburg after visiting the Residenz palace. (One of my favorite days ever, by the way.) By the time we reached Vienna, I was grateful for how much I had experienced. A shorter cruise wouldn’t have allowed for this level of immersion. Plus, those charming ports of call along the Main aren’t offered on many other cruises and they were some of the highlights for me.
As the second week began, I realized the biggest perk of a longer cruise: the relationships you form with fellow travelers. On shorter cruises, you still make new friends, but you barely get to know people before it’s time to say goodbye. With 15 days together, we had time to truly connect – sharing meals, going on tours and unwinding at every happy hour. We laughed together, sang together (at karaoke), explored and toured together and became more than just acquaintances.
By the time we docked in Budapest, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. After doing this job for as long as I have, parting ways has gotten easier, but I cried as I hugged my new friends for the last time.
Is It Too Much of a Good Thing?
So, is 15 days too long for a river cruise? The answer depends entirely on the kind of traveler you are. For some, two weeks of structured days, no matter how well-designed, can feel like a lot. The constant unpacking of history, culture and architecture can become overwhelming. But if you love unpacking once, diving deep into history and culture, and truly savoring your surroundings, a 15-day itinerary can be magical.
For me, this journey was both a gift and a lesson. The gift was two weeks of indulgence: gorgeous scenery, seamless travel and friendships I’ll cherish forever. The lesson? That sometimes, slowing down isn’t just enjoyable, it’s a contrast to our typically busy and hurried lives. Avalon Waterways made it easy to immerse myself in the experience with wonderful service, superb accommodations and a variety of well-crafted excursions. For that, I am so grateful.
Would I do a 15-day cruise again? Absolutely. But next time, I’ll be ready with more tissues for those goodbyes.
5 Responses
I recently booked Viking’s Grand European Tour, Amsterdam to Budapest, for the third time! I wish there were more 15 day river cruises. We have met some people who chose this for their first ever river cruise and were disappointed for one reason or another. I recommend choosing a shorter cruise for a first river experience, then if you like it book the longer ones. Thank you, Britton, for your excellent review.
Thanks for answering, Britton,
I am still not sure whether cruisers who sign up for a two week itinerary can always expect to be with the same crew and passengers on both weeks. Do the companies advertise the possibility of doing two cruises back to back openly and then book the passengers on two separate trips consecutively or do some companies (maybe the person who told me they was surprised to be on 2 separate weeks was referring to Ama waterways or Viking here?) just add them to the bookings for a 15 day vacation?
It would be important to know about this, I feel.
I did this itenerary with Viking . It was the best, perfect amount of time, perfect crew, and wonderful travel companions. I agree with your experiences and cannot wait to do my 17th cruise. I’ve been to Yangeze, Amazon ,and Mekong, all amazing adventures and wonderful people along the way.
Hey Dia,
Ours was a two week itinerary, so the same passengers stayed on the whole time. There are some cruise companies that offer back to back cruises combining two itineraries, but this one was just a single itinerary.
Thanks for the infos, Britton. I have heard that some two-week cruises are actually two one-week ones, put back to back. People who are on the 15 day trip say that most passengers only do one of the two halves so they have to get to know new cruisers and even some new staff after the first week. On the other hand some things are offered twice, once in each week, such as a special Captain’s dinner. The cruisers say they ought to have been told in advance that this is how things would go.
Am I right in thinking that this is not the Avalon way and the cruisers I heard traveled with another company? It sounds as if your ship only had people doing both weeks, or were you just lucky?