Many folks are unable to enjoy ocean cruises because they’re prone to getting seasick. Even seasoned cruisers experience this at times, though they deal with it by taking precautions like choosing a cabin location where they won’t feel much of the ship’s swaying. However, there are some who are so afraid of seasickness that they’d completely forgo going on a cruise at all. If you’re one of these people, don’t worry. There’s another way that you can still travel the world’s waterways: a river cruise like those by Avalon, Viking, and Kosher River Cruises or Kosherica for Jews. River Cruises: Will They Get You ‘Seasick’? Not really, unless you’re the extremely sensitive sort. Motion sickness on a riverboat isn’t a normal occurrence. This is because the riverboats size makes them quite stable, and traversing through calm waters don’t make it rock around that much, if at all. A handful of cruisers do feel a little ill when the boat is in transit at the lock. The lock is a system that allows ships to enter an area that is higher or lower. Think of it as an elevator for marine vessels. What Can You Do If You DO Get Motion Sickness In case you actually find yourself feeling queasy onboard the riverboat, here are a few things that you can do:
With these tips, you just might finally get to enjoy the vacation cruise that you’ve always wanted to join!
Interested in a calm, seasickness-free kosher river cruise? Get in touch with your travel agent or visit www.kosherrivercruise.com for their upcoming trips to Asia and Europe!
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If you ask a regular Joe on the street on what they think Kosher or Jewish cruises are, chances are they might tell you that it’s a cruise for Jews that take them on tours to places that are important in their history. They won’t be wrong. But they won’t be completely right either. Yes, They Do Jewish Tours Giving importance to the heritage of Jews in other countries is always a good thing — we can learn a lot from our past and be inspired by our ancestors’ accomplishments. It’s one of the highlights of many kosher trips. Take Kosher River Cruises for example. They just did a trip to Provence this November, and next year they will be having cruises to Porto and the Douro River Valley. These areas in France and Portugal, respectively, have a long, colorful history with the Jews, and there are a lot of heritage sites to show for it. Provence’s relationship with its Jewish communities have lasted nearly two thousand years, while Porto has much to thank the Jews for when it comes to its thriving wine industry. But They Take You On Other Adventures Too KRC doesn’t just have Jewish heritage tours. They will also be having a kosher river cruise to the Mekong in Southeast Asia next year. Last January 2019, they went on a trip to the Amazon. Those don’t have any Jewish sites to show you, but cruise guests have ancient temples to explore and rainforests to trek. So What Makes A Cruise Kosher? It’s not the destinations that make a cruise kosher. It’s the program, the food preparation, the rabbis, and the services. On a kosher cruise, the meals are all prepared under the mashgiach’s supervision. Everyone, even the boat, takes a break during the Shabbat. There’s a synagogue onboard where you can attend lectures and worship services. Simply put, a kosher cruise is kosher when it follows the laws G-d made for us. Keeping kosher: they always say that it’s challenging to do when you’re in an unfamiliar country. But there’s a difference between traveling as a Jew in France or Italy and traveling as a Jew in, say, Southeast Asia. For one, there are way more kosher restaurants in Europe. What About Chabad Houses? Yes, Chabad houses are great places especially if you’re staying in big cities like Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, or Phnom Penh. They can house and feed you without a hitch, or point you in the right direction. But the thing is, you’ll mostly be limited to cities with Chabad houses. Why Not Go For A Cruise? If you want to stay comfortable, have a convenient time, and -- most importantly -- keep kosher, you could go on a kosher cruise instead? These cruise lines don’t just go on Jewish tours to heritage sites in Europe. They take you to other parts of the world too -- ones that may not have any kosher establishment at all. Freshly Cooked Kosher Food, Here We Come As many seasoned jew cruise-goers may know, many big non-Jewish cruise lines offer kosher food in the form of prepackaged meals. But not on a kosher cruise! The ship’s kitchen is prepped for kosher cooking, and there’s a mashgiach to always keep an eye on things. You’ll even have the chance to try out kosher versions of Southeast Asian cuisines! Spring rolls and Pho, anyone? No Synagogues In Town? No Problem There aren’t exactly many -- or any -- synagogues to be found at riverside towns and cities along the Mekong, but that’s not a problem when you’re on a cruise. They have one onboard, and there are daily services and lectures that you can participate in when you want. So save yourself from the hassle and headaches. Kosher cruise lines like KRC can take you on a magical trip through the great Mekong river, all while catering to all your Jewish needs. And yes, the ship rests on the Shabbat too! |
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