Aerial view of the Old Bridge over the Neckar in Heidelberg

Test Any River Cruise Special

Five steps from headline to honest comparison.

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Here is a five-step test you can apply to any river cruise special. It takes a few minutes with a notepad, and it turns a headline into a real comparison.

The Five Steps

Step	What to do
1. Fix the trip	Write down the river, month, number of nights and cabin type you actually want.
2. Price the special	Get the total fare with the special applied, including taxes and port charges.
3. Add what is not included	Flights, transfers, gratuities, drinks, paid excursions, pre- and post-cruise hotels.
4. Price the best alternative	The same trip on another line, or on another date without the special, with the same additions.
5. Compare the totals and the terms	Lowest total wins — unless the deposit, cancellation or change rules make it riskier.

Boat on the Vltava below Charles Bridge in Prague at dusk — Compare the totals for the same trip, not the size of the headline saving.

Common Traps

Comparing different rivers. A Rhine special against a Douro fare tells you about rivers, not deals.
Forgetting the extras. An inclusive fare can beat a cheaper one once drinks and tips are counted.
Counting air you would not use. Included flights from the wrong airport have little value.
Ignoring the terms. A non-refundable special is worth less if your plans might change.

Want us to run the test for you? Paste the offer into the quote form and our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will do it free.

Putting It Into Practice

Suppose you are weighing a 2-for-1 offer on one line against an airfare-included offer on another, both for the same river in the same month. Step one fixes the trip: the river, the month, eight nights, a cabin with a French balcony. Step two prices the 2-for-1 for two people with taxes. Step three adds the flights you would have to buy, plus drinks and tips if that line does not include them. Step four prices the air-inclusive fare for two with the same extras. Step five compares the two totals and the cancellation rules. It is not glamorous, but it is the difference between a headline and a deal.

When the two totals come out close, let the softer factors decide: the ship, the cabin, the excursion style and the reviews of fellow travelers. Our sister site Best River Cruising explains how to weigh those.

Your Worksheet Headings

Item	Special	Alternative
Cruise fare for all travelers, with taxes and port charges	Write it here	Write it here
Flights and airport transfers	Included or your cost	Included or your cost
Drinks and gratuities	Included or estimate	Included or estimate
Paid excursions you want	Your choice	Your choice
Hotels before or after	Nights needed	Nights needed
Deposit, cancellation and change terms	Note them	Note them

Let Us Run the Test

Send us the special and the dates. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare it with the alternatives and send free quotes.

Run the Test Free