Our Guide to European River Cruises

Table Of Content

• Avalon Waterways
• Danube Serenade: Romantic Journey from Vienna to Bucharest (Turnu Magurele) , MS Fidelio
• Christmas on the Rhine & Moselle
• Danube river cruises: an ultimate guide to cruising Budapest and beyond
• Rhine Connoisseur: Montreux to Brussels
• Splendours of Europe (Start Amsterdam, End Budapest)
• best river cruises in Europe
• Elbe

Bikes and walking tours are available in most ports, or guests can choose a leisurely day in a comfortable lounge enjoying the passing scenery. The stellar 2022-built Viking Egdir, carrying 190 passengers, offers a ringside seat of bucolic vineyards and medieval castles on the Rhine, Main and Danube. It also takes passengers to some of Europe's blockbuster cities, including Budapest, Vienna, Cologne and Amsterdam. Passengers can sip on fine wines in the Wachau Valley, wander Regensburg's UNESCO-listed old town and marvel at Vienna's Habsburg-period architecture.

Avalon Waterways

Other highlights include visiting a truffle farm near Viviers and savoring a selection of wines at Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyard. In Lyon, guests can visit foodie heaven at Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, the city’s outstanding indoor food market filled with a vast array of produce. The line’s newest ship sails Europe’s Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle rivers, featuring a heated pool that transforms into a cinema, spacious suites and a dedicated wellness area. While Scenic isn't strictly adults-only, this elegant Australian-owned cruise line doesn't tend to draw many families, making it ideal for couples.

Danube Serenade: Romantic Journey from Vienna to Bucharest (Turnu Magurele) , MS Fidelio

For a lazy, dreamy, wonderful river cruise experience, nothing quite beats exploring the wine regions of Portugal on the Douro, one of the major rivers through the Iberian Peninsula. The home base for these river cruises is Porto, Portugal, with its historic city center, spectacular bridges and port houses. Partnering with AmaWaterways, Adventures by Disney offers cruises on the Seine, Rhine, and Danube Rivers, Disney style.

Inside Look: River Cruise Inventory Available Into 2026 - TravelAge West

Inside Look: River Cruise Inventory Available Into 2026.

Posted: Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Christmas on the Rhine & Moselle

Don't stay home for the holidays this year; there are so many incredible places to explore, and our array of Christmas and New Year's Vacations can take you there. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

City highlights include elegant Vienna, with its grand palaces such as Hofburg from which the Habsburgs ruled Austria for 700 years. You can also see the gorgeous white Lipizzaner horses at the Spanish Riding School. And that’s all without mentioning the entertainment and facilities onboard your ship. Its banks are lined with dramatic, unspoiled landscapes, postcard-perfect towns and villages, and grand, opulent cities. Take a river cruise down this majestic river and you’ll encounter some of the world’s most stunning countryside, including the UNESCO-protected Wachau Valley, along with an array of fascinating cultures. Then you find there's an overwhelming choice of boats out there, and with seemingly similar appearances, routes, amenities—even cost.

Rhine Connoisseur: Montreux to Brussels

What's on deck for river cruising in 2024? - Travel Weekly

What's on deck for river cruising in 2024?.

Posted: Wed, 27 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

They range from introductory walking and motorcoach tours of towns and cities along the route, to immersive experiences such tours of ancient castles, vineyard visits and food tastings. Some lines also offer extra fee options that are a bit more unusual, including bike tours, exclusive evening concerts, cooking classes, art lessons and even the chance to meet locals and have tea in their homes. Airport transfers to and from the ship, drinks (non-alcoholic, beer and wine) with lunch and dinner, gratuities, Wi-Fi and a plethora of shore excursions are included. There are often excellent deals to be had, too, such as free flight credit when booking early, buy-one-get-one-free offers and reduced-single supplement for solo travelers.

Unlike ocean cruises that offer "sea days" with plenty of time to relax, river cruises on European waterways include a stop each day with a busy -- albeit completely optional -- sightseeing program. So if you want to make the most of your trip, there isn't always as much time to chill out onboard as you might think. As rivers become a much sought after destination for travel, more operators are rising to the challenge of creating river cruise tour itineraries. Considering the number of river cruise lines out there, it can be a little overwhelming to shortlist your options.

The inspiration behind the famous waltz by Johann Strauss, the Danube is an enchanting river. A Danube river cruise is also a history lesson about the days when Vienna ruled an empire and, more recently, an Iron Curtain divided Europe. Weeklong cruises usually visit Rudesheim, with its bustling main Drosselgasse street, and Heidelberg, with a castle perched on a rocky hilltop. Built between the 13th and 17th centuries, it's had a turbulent past and disproves the old saying that lighting never strikes twice -- having been hit in both 1537 and 1764. The most popular Rhine cruise is a one-week sailing between Amsterdam and Basel, or vice versa, where the landscape of steep vineyard slopes, fairy-tale castles and medieval towns provide an ever-changing panorama. Experience the magic of Europe exploring the vast rail networkand relaxing down historic rivers.

Elbe

The most beautiful stretch of the river is a 62-mile passage through a gorge between the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains. With longer port calls and our destination-focused approach, Viking maximizes your discoveries in Europe. From the fairytale castles of the Middle Rhine to the natural beauty of Norwegian fjords, you will gain deep insight into the continent’s cultural and historic riches. The 280-passenger ship—the largest on the Rhine—has a kids splash pool next to a larger pool, with some sailings offering kids swimming lessons for an extra fee. This ship truly embodies the decadence of Renaissance Venice, with a playful interior featuring hand-painted Venetian masks and flamboyant custom-made fabrics by Venice-design house Fortuny.

Top-ranked Viking does all the major riverways of Europe, with ships also on the Nile and the Mekong, and, new in 2022, on the Mississippi. Readers praised the line's value proposition and shore experiences that go beyond the norm. The "Thinking Man's vacation" is the way one reader who sailed on a Viking ship on the Rhine river put it. Although there's no better way to explore Europe's great cities, castle-dotted countryside and vineyards by riverboat, situations may arise that are beyond our control. In the event we need to modify your journey for any reason, you can trust that we will make every effort to communicate with you and to preserve your experience.

Dive into our Explorer Savings Event, where we bring youexclusive savings for both 2024 and 2025 river cruises. Bordeaux river cruises are different from other water routes because you explore two short waterways — the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers — and the Gironde Estuary in Southwest France. The eight-day Danube River Cruise starts in Budapest where excursions include a horse show at an equestrian park and a goulash-making competition for Adventurers. In Bratislava, Junior Adventurers can visit a petting zoo, and in the evening, there's family karaoke. A tour of Vienna and Schönbrunn Palace, marionette show, concert, and strudel making are options the next day.

All meals and drinks, including sparkling wines and cocktails, are included, as are snacks and afternoon tea. Experience your river ship cruising in and out of charming ports from your private balcony on the Serenade Deck. Plus, your cabin is located with easy access to our reception area and the ship’s library, just down a half-flight of stairs.