Has anyone been on a European river cruise

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We’ve done a few cruises with P and O and always choose to eat on our own table. We don’t want to have to make polite conversation with others. We have to build a quick rapport and trust with people every day at work and want a break from people on holiday.

My question is can we request a table for two on a river cruise, or do you have to sit with others. How involved with others do you have to be on a river cruise?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

I have been on one in Europe and another in Asia, they were both super social. I think it would be pretty much impossible to keep to yourself. I made a friend who lives in America and now we meet up in different places in the world.

You can sit on tables for two, whenever I did this people would wave us over or come and ask if we wanted to join our tables with them.

There wasn’t any assigned seating.

I guess this wouldn’t happen if you gave off non talking vibes but I didn’t see anyone do this.

I did go on small ships (one had 54 passengers and one 150). I’ve been on 20 sea cruises and not made one friend, I’ve been on 2 river cruises and unintentionally made lots of friends both times.

I travelled with Scenic where a range of excursions and experiences are included so the day times are also social as you are with fellow passengers all day. If you pick a cruise company that doesn’t include excursions so do more of your own thing then the whole experience could be less social.

I've done c.15 river cruises, & the European ones have all been "free seating", & non-bookable, apart from disabled guests.

Tables are generally for 4 or 6, but some boats have a long banquette with small tables & just one chair opposite. First come, first served.

You can mix as much as you want to - or not !

A friend and I did a French river cruise last year with Titan and there were tables for two. You could be sociable if you wanted to but we had dinner on our own every night.

Just back from a river Rhone cruise. It was lovely and you didn’t have to eat with others. There were a number of tables for two. You can be as sociable, or not, as you like.