Gate 1 Travel | ShermansTravel

by Laura Motta

Deal Expert / Travel Blogger

After years of privately chartering ships to sail on the world’s rivers, ubiquitous vacation packager Gate 1 Travel has gone a big step further — building and owning its own ship. The Monarch Empress debuted in 2016 when it joined its three chartered sister ships — the Monarch Queen, the Monarch Princess, and the Monarch Baroness — in the company’s fleet. Now, with these four ships sailing in Europe and plans to add a fifth in 2019, Gate 1 Travel is making a strong case for affordable, unpretentious river cruising. The company also sails a number of chartered ships in Asia.

What We Love

It’s Affordable: Coming in at about two-thirds the cost of its major competitors, Gate 1 Travel’s river cruises — which take you to all the same ports and offer similar tours — are a bargain. In fact, air-inclusive prices with Gate 1 Travel tend to cost less than just the cruise on other lines.

It’s Laid-back: There are no formal nights, no didactic dress codes, and the staff is refreshingly personable. They're much more likely to share a joke or a personal anecdote than to fuss over the placement of your napkin.

You’re in Familiar Company: With a loyal following in the United States, the vast majority of cruisers on Gate 1 Travel’s ships are American.

Best Known For

The Classics: Gate 1 Travel's bread-and-butter Europe itineraries on the Rhine, the Danube, the Main, and the rivers of Holland and Belgium offer a comfortable, stress-free way to get acquainted with river cruising.

A Deep Connection to Land Touring: Gate 1 Travel has more than 35 years of experience booking packaged land vacations. Want to add a weeklong guided land tour of Eastern Europe after your river cruise? You can book it seamlessly here. You’ll also notice that, thanks to this history, all of Gate 1 Travel’s in-port programming runs like clockwork. Buses and tours depart exactly on time or even early, and optional excursions (which can be booked for an extra fee) almost always have a worthwhile, free-to-join guided tour as an alternative.

Seasonal and Last-Minute Deals: Gate 1 Travel offers some amazing discounts on its already well-priced cruises. Signing up for the email list is a good way to keep up with these.

Who It's Best For

Older Couples: Retired couples from across the United States are sure to find like-minded companions onboard.

Newbies: If you’re just getting your feet wet with river cruising, Gate 1 Travel's ships are a good place to start. You’ll find that many cruisers onboard have transitioned to river cruising after years of joining Gate 1’s guided land tours.

Don't Say We Didn't Warn You

There's Less Downtime Than You'd Expect: Though a river cruise sounds leisurely, remember that Gate 1 Travel specializes in guided tours. The opportunities to join them on its river cruises are many; sometimes there are multiple offered in a single day. If you crave some independent wandering time, you’ll have to work — and curb your FOMO (fear of missing out) — to find it for yourself.

You'll Cruise in Comfort, Not Luxury: These cruises offer excellent value for the money, but if you're in search of cutting edge design, Michelin-star cuisine, or white-glove service, you may be disappointed here.

Laura Motta

Deal Expert / Travel Blogger

Laura Motta has been with ShermansTravel since 2011 and has served as its Director of Publishing since 2014. Follow her travels on Instagram at @lauramariamotta.