The Biggest Mistakes Australians Make
River cruising is one of the most rewarding forms of travel but it's also a format that rewards informed booking and punishes last-minute decisions. After years of working with Australian river cruise travellers, CroisiEurope Australia has seen the same avoidable mistakes again and again. This guide is the honest, practical list.
Mistake 1: Booking Too Late for Christmas Markets
The number-one mistake. Christmas market sailings on the Danube and Rhine are the most in-demand product in the entire river cruise industry. Australians who discover them in October and try to book for December are almost always disappointed. These sailings sell out 12 18 months in advance. If Christmas markets 2027 are on your list, act now.
Mistake 2: Comparing Prices Without Accounting for Inclusions
A CroisiEurope cruise at €1,000pp looks more expensive than an alternative at €850pp until you realise the alternative doesn't include wine with meals, charges separately for shore excursions, and adds port taxes at checkout. Always compare the all-in price: cruise + wine/beer with meals + standard excursions + port taxes. On this basis, CroisiEurope consistently offers better value.
Mistake 3: Booking Return Flights to the Same City
If your cruise goes from Amsterdam to Budapest, booking return flights to Amsterdam means an unnecessary and expensive journey back from Budapest to Amsterdam (approximately €80 €120 per person by train or flight). Open-jaw tickets (fly into Amsterdam, fly home from Budapest) are usually the same price or cheaper and save a day of travel.
Mistake 4: Not Booking Travel Insurance at Time of Deposit
Travel insurance purchased at the time of deposit covers you from day one including cancellation cover, pre-existing condition waivers (check your policy), and the full financial commitment. Buying insurance at time of travel provides no cover for the intervening months. And if something happens before you travel an illness, a family emergency you need that cover from the moment you've committed financially.
Mistake 5: Choosing the Wrong Duration
First-time river cruisers sometimes choose a 3 4 day short break to 'test the water.' This is understandable but often regretted the experience is genuinely great and 3 days barely scratches the surface of what river cruising offers. The per-night cost is also higher on shorter cruises. 7 8 days is the sweet spot for a first river cruise long enough to experience the format properly, short enough to combine with a city stay.
Mistake 6: Ignoring the Pre/Post Cruise Stay
Australians fly 20+ hours to get to Europe. Landing in Vienna and immediately boarding a ship the next morning means you spend your first day on the cruise jet-lagged and disoriented. 2 3 days in Vienna (or whichever city the cruise starts in) before embarkation lets you recover, acclimatise, and arrive at the gangplank ready to enjoy every day. This is one of the best additions to any river cruise itinerary.
Mistake 7: Not Specifying Bed Configuration
River ship cabins come as either twin (two singles) or double (one queen/double). If you're a couple, specify a double-bed cabin at booking. Many ships have limited double-bed cabins they go first. If you don't specify, you may end up with twin beds.
Mistake 8: Choosing Based on Brand Alone
Viking is the best-known river cruise brand in Australia. But brand recognition doesn't equal best value. CroisiEurope offers a better-priced, equally high-quality product with the added advantage of French cuisine and wine culture at the heart of the experience. Make the decision based on what matters price, inclusions, itinerary range, food quality not advertising spend.
Book Your 2027 River Cruise with CroisiEurope Australia
CroisiEurope Australia handles all bookings for Australian travellers local support, AUD pricing, no credit card surcharges on Visa or Mastercard.
Phone: 1300 739 652 | Email: contact@croisicruises.com
Website: www.croisieuroperivercruises.com.au | Office: Tweet World Travel, 544 Magill Road, Magill SA 5072
2027 Early Booking is open now. Enquire today.
