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"Met wonderful new friends. Absolutely outstanding service and terrific food," said one fan. We’ve heard the same from other travelers and even from river cruise company owners and employees. One reason is that the landscape, cities and excursions are so good – as are the wines. See Rhone River Excursions On AmaWaterways and Getting Active + Discovering France With Avalon Waterways. On a typical seven-night river cruise between Amsterdam and Basel, you’ll visit Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg, Breisach and possibly other ports of call.
Christmas Along the Elbe
It is known as being one of the best river cruises in Europe because of its stunning scenery and enchanting castles. A highlight for nearly everyone is spending extra time in Beautiful Budapest. With so much to offer it’s no wonder that the Danube ranks among the best river cruises in Europe. In 1992 the Main-Danube Canal opened, connecting the Main (pronounced mine) and Danube rivers and allowing travel between the North Sea and Black Sea.
Danube Waltz
Paris, Monet's garden in Giverny and poignant wartime cemeteries and the Normandy landing beaches are among the unique features of a cruise on the Seine river through northern France. Passengers are transported through medieval cities such as Avignon and Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy. As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel.
Elegant Elbe
The French city of Strasbourg, with its famous Gothic cathedral and robust Alsatian culinary scene, is often a favorite stop on Rhine itineraries, with other highlights including Heidelberg, Germany, and its imposing castle. River cruising in Europe is one of those delightfully slow and easy modes of travel. You're in a small floating hotel, exploring calm inland waters, gliding past castles and vineyards and scenery that changes by the hour.
Seine Cruises
It’s safe to say river cruises are as popular as ever in 2024, so we’ve rounded up some of the best cruises and itineraries to book this year, from the iconic Danube to the mighty Nile. The itinerary for most cruise lines is the same, sailing from Paris between Rouen or Caudebec. In Rouen, the capital of the Normandy region, tours to its historic cathedral, built between the 13th and 16th centuries and landmarks relating to Joan of Arc, are a must. All Seine cruises offer full-day excursions to the Normandy Landing Beaches, including Omaha Beach, plus visits to the Point du Hoc monument and the American Cemetery.
Best European River Cruise Line for Active Travelers: Avalon Waterways
River Cruises for Young Adults: Are They Worth It? Just Back From Avalon Waterways' River Cruise on the Moselle - Cruise Critic
River Cruises for Young Adults: Are They Worth It? Just Back From Avalon Waterways' River Cruise on the Moselle.
Posted: Fri, 28 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
It’s notoriously shallow, like the Loire, but at least one operator has figure out how to navigate the river. Strasbourg-based CroisiEurope runs two paddle-wheelers on the Elbe River on trips primarily between Prague and Berlin. “Cross the cradle of Germanic culture and embark on a cruise to discover the heart of Europe,” the company’s website says. See the world in style aboard the most luxurious boats to hit waterways. Due to fluctuating water levels and narrow passages, the Elbe is a challenging river that runs 680 miles between the Czech Republic and Germany. Historically, it formed part of the border between East Germany and West Germany.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
In 1517 Martin Luther, one of the most influential figures in Christian history, nailed his thesis to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg and triggered the Protestant Reformation. If you're cruising from Lyon, you'll fly into Lyon airport, from which it's a short transfer to your vessel, and out of Marseilles, which is just over an hour by road from Arles. Some operators fly passengers in and out of Lyon, with a coach trip between Avignon and Lyon at the start or end of the cruise. 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. In addition to the major rivers of Europe, Uniworld cruises the less-traversed Po River in Italy (from Venice) and has ships on the Nile and Mekong as well as the Ganges in India.
Uniworld’s unwavering dedication to curating an unparalleled river cruise experience, plus all the highlights below solidifies its position as one of the best river cruises along Europe’s picturesque waterways. With the exception of a few river cruise lines that offer an "a la carte" shore excursion schedule, daily tours are usually included in the fare. 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.
Why Viking
If you really want to sail the Elbe, you might consider the paddlewheel ships of CroisiEurope, but be prepared for a cruise where the primary on-board language is French. Highlights of this cruise route include Berlin, Hamburg, Wittenberg (where Martin Luther started the Protestant Revolution) the palace of Sanssouci in Potsdam (Fredrick the Great’s Prussian palace) and Prague. For some, the outstanding sites to visit make this a great trip, but as they say, go with the flow if you choose this cruise—most reviewers claim the Elbe is the most cancelled or modified Europe river cruise.
Returning to Bordeaux, guests will explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site and capital of the wine world. Much of the appeal of European river cruises, especially as we emerge from the pandemic with pent-up travel demand, is the small size of the ships, casual atmosphere, and accessibility. Unlike oceangoing ships that carry as many as 5,000 passengers, most river cruise ships accommodate around 150 guests, for a more intimate experience. Balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and open-air viewing are features of most river cruise ships, and some offer pools, spas, fitness areas, and jogging tracks. Palate-pleasing gastronomy and epicurean shore excursions make new arrival Riverside Luxury Cruises a standout for foodies.
After an Oktoberfest celebration and captain's farewell dinner, the cruise ends the next day. Along the route, between Melk and Krems in Austria, you cruise through the Wachau Valley, a key wine-growing region producing rieslings and gruner veltliners, with sipping opportunities available. It's also a great place to bike, which is why it's nice to sail with lines, such as AmaWaterways, that carry bikes on board for passengers to use. Sail the Seine from Paris to Normandy aboard Tauck’s intimate 98-passenger MS Sapphire to explore destinations such as Caudebec-en-Caux, Les Andelys, Mont-St-Michel and Étretat.
Tauck’s all-inclusive European river cruises are a boon for travelers with a thirst for history. The cruise line sails all of Europe’s major rivers, offering thoughtfully crafted shore experiences that dig deep into each destination’s past. Between off-hours tours at world-renowned museums and guided walks through medieval cities, guests are also invited to join enriching lectures aboard the ships.
The ship passes through the Main-Danube Canal that connects the Black Sea and the North Sea. In Vienna, there's a cocktail party and private orchestra recital or city tour before heading to Budapest for two days. 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. A day in Salzburg ends onboard with "The Sound of Music" film and singalong.
Their award-winning European river cruises are praised for their personalized service, exclusive destination experiences, luxurious cabins and suites, fine dining, and professional, caring staff. AmaWaterways' holistic wellness program encompasses a variety of fitness classes and wellness-themed excursions, making it the leading European river cruise line for active travelers. Each ship has an onboard wellness director who hosts daily fitness classes as well as meditation and yoga. AmaWaterways was also the first river cruise operator to carry a fleet of complimentary bicycles. With balmy summertime temperatures, Portugal's sublime Douro is an idyllic river cruise destination for couples. The intimate 96-passenger Scenic Azure winds through the port-producing (and UNESCO-listed) Douro Valley, with its terraced vineyards, olive groves and tranquil towns and villages.
Many Seine river cruises operate between Paris and Rouen (or Honfleur, which only a few ships can do). Typical itineraries sail between Budapest, Hungary, and Passau or Vilshofen, Germany. Highlights of a Danube river cruise include visiting the Vienna Opera House or Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg (and doing the “Sound of Music” tour).
The most popular month for these cruises is August, which has the most tour departures. 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. I am a freelance journalist who has covered travel for over a decade and the cruise industry for several of those years. I've written about destinations ranging from the South China Sea to the Arctic and Norway. Some of my favorite cruise experiences include sailing the Rhine during fall or a transatlantic voyage on the Queen Mary 2 during summer. I adore my home city, London, the west coast of Ireland and New York, where I once spent a summer living in Brooklyn Heights on a work abroad program.
