5 Biggest River Cruise Mistakes to Avoid

About this episode

This episode discusses common mistakes first-time river cruisers make and offers tips on how to avoid them.

River cruising sounds simple—but first-timers are often surprised once they step onboard. We’re sharing five common mistakes we see again and again, from choosing the wrong cruise line to packing the wrong items, plus a few myths that stop travelers from booking in the first place. You’ll learn how to compare top lines like Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, Uniworld, Emerald Cruises, and Riverside Luxury Cruises, why seasickness fears are usually unfounded, what not to pack, how river levels can ...

People in this episode

Hosts: Dan Woodruff, Mikkel Woodruff

Topics covered

• river cruising
• travel mistakes
• cruise lines
• packing tips
• myths about cruising

Keywords

• river cruise
• cruise mistakes
• packing
• cruise lines comparison
• travel tips

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, Uniworld, Emerald Cruises, Riverside Luxury Cruises

More episodes of Small Ship Cruise Talk

• Celebrity River Cruises: Excursion Updates · June 3, 2026 · 24 min
• All About Road Scholar Afloat: A Unique Cruise Travel Program · May 20, 2026 · 44 min
• Repeating the Same Cruise Itinerary: How to Do It Right · May 6, 2026 · 27 min
• Future of River Cruises, Expedition & Yacht Cruising from Seatrade Global Leading Cruise Industry Event · April 22, 2026 · 33 min
• Cruise Tours Audio: How We Uplevel with One Simple Tool · April 15, 2026 · 21 min
• Is it Dumb to Take a Boat Excursion During Your Cruise? Pros, Cons & Tips · April 8, 2026 · 26 min