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With a number of cruise companies and rivers to choose from, planning a river cruise can take some time. Consulting with a travel advisor is always a good idea, and there's plenty of information available online as well. These are the major companies offering the best European river cruises along with examples of their itineraries. Some lines, however, offer excellent value—especially when you compare the price to the overall cost of a land-based vacation in Europe.
best river cruises in Europe
Good Housekeeping's seven-night itinerary sails in September, when the weather should still be balmy and dry, but the summer hordes have gone home. Enjoy cruising in your comfortable cabin complete with a private bath and shower, twin beds, and two porthole windows for views of the river. These tours may begin with travel aboard Europe's efficienthigh-speed railway system, which connects major cities and smallermetropolises. Your train vacation is filled with delights,including sightseeing at breathtaking landmarks, such as the EiffelTower or Neuschwanstein Castle. Select itineraries also featuretravel abroad Europe's scenic rail lines, including the GlacierExpress in Switzerland. The best thing about these combinationtours is that the excitement does not end when your train arrivesat its last station, instead, the journey presses on via Europeanrivers and scenic waterways, creating a vacation to remember.
See inside a new ultra-luxury river cruise line that's charging up to $59520 per person - Business Insider Africa
See inside a new ultra-luxury river cruise line that's charging up to $59520 per person.
Posted: Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Danube Classics Vienna 2024 (8 destinations)
There will be time in the fascinating cities of Berlin and Prague at the start and end of the cruise, plus the chance to discover the birthplace of the Reformation along the way. It's worth noting that because no nighttime navigation is permitted on the Douro, you don't miss out on any of the passing landscapes. Also, river ships on the Douro are smaller than those on the Rhine and Danube, creating a more intimate onboard atmosphere. Some cruise lines also offer extended two-week French itineraries with rail transfers to link a Seine cruise with sailings in Burgundy or Bordeaux. Unlike Rhine and Danube itineraries, which include long periods of cruising, French programs are generally much shorter with more time offered ashore and less ground covered during the duration of the cruise.
How much does it cost to cruise the Danube?
You're in a small floating hotel, exploring calm inland waters, gliding past castles and vineyards and scenery that changes by the hour. The intimate 96-passenger Scenic Azure winds through the port-producing Douro Valley, with its terraced vineyards, olive groves and tranquil towns and villages. This is quite a strenuous itinerary with a lot to see, so if you have mobility concerns, discuss them first with your river cruise operator. The delightful town of Meissen is renowned worldwide for its fine porcelain, and excursions include a visit to a factory to see craftsmen at work.
There are 12 Scenic all-suite vessels on Europe's waterways, each one featuring nifty innovations such as in-suite windows that slide down at the touch of a button—perfect for languid mornings gazing at picture-perfect scenery. Couples can dress up for glitzy cocktail receptions and choose from romantic dining venues, including Portobellos or L'Amour, for candlelit meals for two. Diamond Deck and Junior Suite guests can also dine at Table d'Or, where a six-course degustation menu is paired with local wines. Murano glass, Savoir beds and marble-clad bathrooms with Asprey toiletries are just some of the sumptuous features that make Uniworld high-end European river cruising at its finest. Each of the cruise line’s 12 vessels is adorned with opulent antiques, crystal chandeliers and dramatic artwork to create the feel of a lavish boutique-hotel-on-water.
They stop in places such as resurgent Dresden, heavily bombed during World War II but expertly rebuilt; the Saxon Switzerland region of Germany with its striking sandstone rock formations; and the spa town of Bad Schandau. Bordeaux serves up the opportunity to sip Medoc, Margaux, Saint-Emilion, Pomerol and Sauternes wines as you expand your wine education. If you plan your cruise for September or October, you'll be able to admire the grape harvest. 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. The seven-night river cruise takes you through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.
The 196-passenger, Danube-based AmaMagna is a standout among the cruise line’s well-equipped offerings. Limber up for a game of pickleball on the full-size court that was just added in 2023. Passengers can work out solo at the Zen Wellness Studio or join an open-air spin class, while drinking in scenic river views.
Click below to read our Travel Planning Guide on The Great Rivers of Europe
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. Mealtimes are peachy, too, with dishes such as dressed salmon and pork goulash, plus a children's buffet luring kids to the table. After a long day of exploring, parents and grandparents can relax at the spa or in the lounge.
City high spots include Cologne, famous for its landmark, a twin-towered Gothic cathedral that took 630 years to build, and Koblenz, overlooked by the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, one of the largest castles in Europe. From Koblenz, longer itineraries take in a section of the Moselle, which winds through the heart of Germany's wine-growing country. Quieter and narrower than the Rhine, the Moselle snakes past small wine towns including Cochem, with a charming old town filled with half-timbered houses.
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. 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.
Finally, France's Strasbourg introduces you to the sights and flavors of Alsace. Cruising Europe’s waterways is a great way to see more of the region in a short period of time than you might do by land, and a river cruise can be the ideal introduction to cruise holidays for first-timers. They are, by far, the most popular, doable either on one-week segments or longer itineraries that combine areas and sometimes combine rivers. Even if your cruise is only a week, don't underestimate the allure of relaxing for seven days on a river in France or on the dreamy Douro in Portugal.
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. The majority of European river cruises are a week long -- typically taking in three countries -- with some lines offering longer trips from 10 days to two weeks or more.
In Vienna, there's a cocktail party and private orchestra recital or city tour before heading to Budapest for two days. The eight-day "Saar and Moselle Fairytales" cruise boards in Cologne and cruises down the Rhine to the Moselle and its tributary, the Saar River. The ship passes the Mosel vineyards and docks in the medieval town of Cochem for a guided walking tour. The next day, guests can tour the town of Bernkastel-Kues and enjoy a wine tasting or hike to the ruins of a castle for a stunning view. After a morning tour of Saarburg, the ship cruises along the Saar River with panoramic views of its massive loop. The ship stops in Luxembourg and then continues to Koblenz, where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet, before returning to Cologne.
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