Travel Tips

River Cruises: Educational Travel in China, Russia & Europe

Locations in this article:  Amsterdam, Netherlands Beijing, China Budapest, Hungary Moscow, Russia Shanghai, China

River Cruises: Educational Travel in China, Russia & EuropeCruises aren’t just about over-the-top activities and lavish accommodations. Educational-themed river cruises allow travelers to drift from town to town, soaking in the history and culture of the region. Dara Bramson investigates how education, both onboard and on shore, enhanced the travel experience while sailing Yangtze River in China.

It’s no secret that the state of the economy has led people to spend their money more selectively.

But when it comes to value for your travel dollars, river cruising is an attractive option for travelers looking for a more intimate, immersive experience: onboard enrichment programs, educational seminars, and interaction with the locals go a long way in enhancing your travels.

Not sure a river cruise is for you? Check out this video on River Cruising.

On a recent Uniworld river cruise along China’s Yangtze River, aboard the Victoria Jenna, the controversy behind the construction of the Three Gorges Dam became the main theme along each and every stop.

Three Gorges Dam under constructionThe Three Gorges Dam project, the largest hydroelectric project of its kind in the world, began in 1993. Since its inception, the average depth of the Yangtze River has increased more than 500 feet. As a result, the landscapes and lifestyles of those who live near the river have changed drastically.

As we drifted below the cliffs along a stretch of the Yangtze known as Daning River, our local tour guide explained how his life has been altered as a result of the change in water level.

“Ten years ago we started building our new town,” he says, explaining that the former one square kilometer town of 30,000 people is now buried underwater. He’s proud of the growth: There are 80,000 people in the new town and he’s upgraded from a 1,000 to a 3,000-square-foot apartment.

Headed to China? Don’t miss our complete China Travel section.

The Victoria Jenna, Uniworld CruisesDaniel, the Victoria Jenna‘s river guide, also provided extensive insight into the project and its implications during onboard lectures, equipped with PowerPoint presentations displaying before and after photographs. Aside from the Three Gorges, other lecture topics included Chinese medicine with the ship’s doctor, cooking demonstrations and discussions on Chinese history.

Later, as I climbed the 365 steps leading up to White Emperor City in Baidicheng, our local guide, Betty, explained in flawless English the significance of the 1,800-year-old city. From here we could see hanging coffins, which she explained were a more respectful alternative to underground burial because they are closer to the sky. Inevitably, our earlier education on the Three Gorges Dam Project sparked a conversation with Betty, who provided yet another local perspective.

For more ideas, don’t miss our Cruising & Cruise Travel section.

Victoria Jenna's sister ship, Victoria PrinceAlthough the Victoria Jenna’s Yangtze River itinerary doesn’t have an overt culinary theme, authentic Chinese cuisine is a staple at every meal. While I couldn’t stomach eating stinky tofu first thing in the morning, this was one inherently educational aspect of the Victoria Jenna that really stood out. After all, just try finding an ocean cruise that features authentic Caribbean, Mexican or Alaskan food to enhance the cultural experience.

For culinary travels, try Asian Culinary Vacations: Noodling Around Asia.

Viking River Cruises, well-known for its Russia itineraries, has developed two specialized educational programs to enhance cruisers’ cultural experiences: Old World Highlights includes immersive activities such as cooking classes and demonstrations and even hands-on art classes in local destinations; Culture Curriculum is a series of onboard multimedia lectures, provides context for cultural experiences that might include language or history lessons.

Viking river cruiseViking also offers daily shore excursions led by English-speaking local guides. On its Russian itineraries, these include an excursion to Pushkin to stroll the scenic park-like grounds and storied rooms of Catherine’s Palace, a guided tour through St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum to explore the famed art collection and a guided tour of Moscow’s famous Kremlin, among others.

To further immerse passengers in the culture, Russia cruisers can also partake in evening ballet and opera performances, traditional Russian tea time and a cuisine workshop with tastings of regional specialties. Onboard lectures include topics such as Russian history, and in-depth looks at iconic figures such as Romanov Czars and Vladimir Putin.

Learn more with Peter’s radio show from aboard the Viking Surkov ship in St. Petersburg, Russia.

On Viking’s Egyptian itineraries along the Nile, tours include guided visits to the pyramids at Giza, Cairo and various temples throughout the country. Lectures on these sites are given throughout the cruise.

Avalon Waterways EuropeThe education theme rings true throughout Avalon Waterways, particularly on its European itineraries. This process starts with information about the sites dispersed to cruisers pre-trip and continues through the trip itself through detailed daily briefs, onboard lectures given by the cruise directors and tours with local guides at the port, many of whom are teachers, historians or have extensive backgrounds in the region.

The port lecture, which occurs just about every night before arriving at a port, is an integral part of Avalon’s education program. These lectures go in-depth about the upcoming leg of the journey and its history, allowing passengers to engage with the cruise director and understand the significance of what they will see.

Learn more about sailing European rivers with Karen Elowitt’s Cruising the Danube, Part One: Budapest & Bratislava.

One of the most popular itineraries, Romantic Rhine, sails between Amsterdam and Basel. As passengers drift past the castles that dot the shores along the Rhine Gorge, guides share stories and point out interesting facts and figures. The company also offers themed cruises focusing on wine and music, led by a cruise director who is a specialist on the topic.

Of course, all of this enrichment comes at a cost. River cruises tend to be pricier than large-scale ocean cruises—for example, a seven-night Royal Caribbean cruise through Southwest Asia (including stops in China, Japan and Korea) starts from just $519 per person, and a 14-night Asia cruise on Princess starts from $1,499 per person; meanwhile, an upcoming 12-night Uniworld tour of Beijing, Shanghai and the Yangtze River on the Victoria Jenna starts from $2,649 per person.

But consider the fact that price of a river cruise includes shore excursions, escorted tours, onboard lectures, and cultural entertainment including the Beijing Opera and Shanghai acrobats, and suddenly it seems that the higher price tag may be worth the experience.

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By Dara Bramson for PeterGreenberg.com