River cruising with children: It can be done

By Brian Johnston
Updated January 21 2016 - 10:08am, first published January 17 2016 - 12:15am
Kids learn to make strudel on a Tauck river cruise.
Kids learn to make strudel on a Tauck river cruise.
Kids playing giant chess on the top deck of a Uniworld's river-cruise ship.
Kids playing giant chess on the top deck of a Uniworld's river-cruise ship.
Uniworld's River Countess sailing in Venice. Photo: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise C
Uniworld's River Countess sailing in Venice. Photo: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise C
Uniworld guests playing checkers on the top deck of a river-cruise ship.
Uniworld guests playing checkers on the top deck of a river-cruise ship.
Cologne on the Rhine River in Germany, one of Tauck's ports of call.
Cologne on the Rhine River in Germany, one of Tauck's ports of call.
A family cycling along the riverbanks during a Uniworld shore excursion.
A family cycling along the riverbanks during a Uniworld shore excursion.
Devin Castle in Slovenia on a Tauck shore excursion.
Devin Castle in Slovenia on a Tauck shore excursion.

For a long time, river cruising shied away from the family market, like a disapproving uncle that doesn't want to have rug-rats disturbing the peace. In fairness, it has valid reasons for its reliance on couples and retirees. River-cruise ships are compact and lack the space to accommodate the kids' clubs, waterslides and child-oriented entertainments of ocean-going vessels. And, until recently, river cruises were small-scale operations that could rely on their traditional customer base to fill cabins.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options