Can You Do Laundry on a River Cruise? What First Time Travelers Need to Know

To successfully pack light, you have to reuse clothing. But how do you handle washing your wardrobe halfway through your adventure on the European waters without resorting to the dreaded sink wash?

Depending on the river cruise line and ship, you have a few options.  Knowing the rules of your specific ship before you pack is the secret to a stress-free vacation.

Luxury Self-Serve Convenience

When I cruised onboard Riverside Mozart during my Danube River cruise I used the complimentary self-service laundry a few times. It was so incredibly convenient. Riverside provided the washer and dryers plus the laundry detergent. There was even laundry baskets, a small ironing board and iron as well.  On our ship we had 3 washers and 3 dryers and they were never full. I was able to use them anytime I wanted.   Now I could have opted to have Riverside do my laundry and press my items, but when given the choice I like to do my own.

Riverside Mozart is about twice the size of the standard river cruise ship. Its important to note that Riverside Debussy and Riverside Ravel also have self service laundry. I toured Riverside Debussy during the ASTA River Cruise Expo. Uniworld is another luxury cruise line which offers self service laundry on many of their ships.

Laundry Valet

Another option with cruise lines is to use the laundry valet. I did this while onboard Avalon View and it couldn’t have been easier. The valet system is virtually identical across all major river cruise lines. There is a paper or cloth laundry bag usually located in the closet. If you don’t see one, then ask your butler or stateroom attendant for one. Next fill out the accompanying inventory slip, marking the exact number and type of garments you want cleaned. Valet pricing is typically calculated on a per piece basis. The day your clothes come back washed and folded. I have to admit, there is something wonderful about putting on fresh laundered clothes.

	Self Service Laundry	Laundry / Dry Clean Service
Avalon	no	yes
AmaWaterways	no	yes
Celebrity	no	yes
Emerald	no	yes
Riverside	yes	no
Riviera River Cruise	no	yes
Tauck	no	yes
Scenic	no	yes
Uniworld	yes*	yes
Viking	no	yes

*Uniworld has self service laundry on some, but not all of their ships.

Getting Wrinkles Out of Your Garments

Because of the risk of fire, the river cruise lines do not allow you to bring steamers onboard to get the wrinkles out of your clothes. There are a few alternatives:

• Utilize the Self Service Laundry Room: If you are sailing on lines like Riverside or Uniword this is the easiest method.

• Send to the Laundry Valet: For lines without a self service space, like Avalon, Emerald, or AmaWaterways you can send your wrinkled items directly to the valet for a quick professional press.

• The Steamy Shower Trick: Hang the items on a hanger and put it in the bathroom when you take a steamy shower. The steam trapped helps get some of the wrinkles out

• Pack a Wrinkle Release Spray: A premium Wrinkle release sprays will also help get the wrinkles out. Bring the travel size in your toiletry kit, spray the garment lightly, and smooth out the fabric with your hands.

While knowing whether your specific ship features a self-service laundry room or relies entirely on valet service might seem like a minor detail, it is exactly these tiny nuances that separate a stressful vacation from an absolutely flawless luxury experience.

Every single river cruise line has its own distinct personality, cabin configurations, and inclusions. It one of things I love about river cruising in Europe. There are so many differences and choices. Navigating those subtle differences to find the exact match for your personal travel style takes firsthand insider expertise.

At Markwood Magic, I take the overwhelming planning friction completely off your shoulders. In addition to the cruise itself, I also help with pre/post transportation, hotels, and tours.

Let us eliminate the planning guesswork and start designing a European vacation where your only job is to pack your carry on bag and enjoy the journey.

Schedule a personalized consultation call with Markwood Magic today to pair you with your perfect European river cruise for the upcoming sailing season.

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