5. Perhaps the biggest perk is the lack of long queues and security checkpoints to get on and off the ship – which are not only intrusive, but waste precious time when you only have a few hours at a port. River cruisers allow you to come and go as you please, and you don’t need a full body scan to get back onboard.

An added bonus: If you’re prone to seasickness, river cruising is a great option since you don’t have to deal with big waves or high seas. So you can still cruise even if you don’t have sea legs.

River cruising is growing in popularity by leaps and bounds – and it’s moving far beyond the borders of Europe, from itineraries in exotic locales such as Russia, China and Egypt, to those closer to home (such as the U.S.).

And many river cruises are tied to a theme, whether it’s the Christmas markets of Germany and Austria, tulip season in Holland or wine tastings in France – offering a chance to do a lot more than play the slots and hit the buffet.