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The best river cruises blend refined onboard accommodations with exciting itineraries along some of the world’s most memorable waterways. Another immensely popular themed river cruise in Europe is a voyage to take in the Netherlands and Belgium’s famous tulips. These are often called “Dutch Waterways” cruises, since ships go through a network of small rivers, inland seas and canals which are referred to as the Dutch Waterways. These mid-spring trips typically start and end in Amsterdam, and travel to Antwerp, Arnhem, Ghent, Rotterdam.
Night Tulips & The RhineDetails
Cruises include numerous excursions to must-visit sites like the Normandy beaches and the Eiffel Tower, with delicious meals and plenty of French wine. I recommend taking this trip in the summer so that you can enjoy your evenings as much as your days. This is great news for tourists, as there is so much to see along the Seine, from the World War II landing beaches of Normandy to the great cultural wonders of Paris. You can experience all of that good stuff on this tip-top 8-day round-trip Seine river cruise from Paris. Here, however, it’s less about any blockbuster sights than the pastoral landscapes, pocked by plenty of quintas (Portuguese for wineries) and verdant vineyards—many of which fall within the UNESCO-recognized Douro River Valley.
The Best New River Cruise Ships and Sailings of 2024 - AFAR - AFAR Media
The Best New River Cruise Ships and Sailings of 2024 - AFAR.
Posted: Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Popular Viking River Cruises
While aboard guests can enjoy relaxing with Uniworld’s spa services, swimming pools and all-inclusive local wine and beer options. Guests can also indulge in tasting regional cuisine and participating in art auctions between stops. Best for unique sailingsThe Vltava is shallow enough in places to wade across, so it’s understandably not an option for the ships of most river cruise lines. But the lightest vessels can sail here, heading deep into the countryside of the Czech Republic. There’s time in Prague itself, too, to see the Charles Bridge, the castle and the atmospheric old town. 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.
How to Choose the Right European River Cruise for You
Started as a New England motor coach tour company, Tauck is a family-owned global travel firm offering tours and cruises to a wide range of destinations around the world. 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. 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.
Best European River Cruises
For those looking for a longer experience, Uniworld cleverly combines a Po cruise with luxury rail journeys to places like Istanbul, Switzerland and beyond. You'll also be able to take in the lavender fields, haystacks and other scenes that inspired painters like Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh. 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. Ships visit such cultural hubs as Vienna, with its opera and art museums and elaborate royal palaces, and Budapest, Hungary, with its magnificent architecture and modern vibe. If your ship passes the Hungarian Parliament building at night, you're in for a treat; magnificently lit, it's one of the most photographed sights on the river. You're in a small floating hotel, exploring calm inland waters, gliding past castles and vineyards and scenery that changes by the hour.
Onboard cuisine features a variety of menus including Avalon Fresh which showcases mainly vegetarian dishes. Among the companies offering cruises along the Danube are A-ROSA Cruises, with whom we have partnered to bring you our remarkable river cruise. A-ROSA has 20-plus years of experience in sailing couples, families, groups and solo travellers along some of Europe’s loveliest rivers in laidback style, giving you lots of freedom to explore port stops at your own pace. You’ll also pass by boatbuilding sites and rowing courses while enjoying unique city and countryside views. If that sounds like your bag, look into luxury river cruise lines, like the cruises undertaken by the Magna Carta.
Best for oenophilesSailing through the rolling countryside of one of the world’s greatest wine-growing areas, a cruise from Bordeaux is, naturally, all about wine. The inclusive experience of a cruise here will feature visits to St Emilion, Bergerac, Cadillac and Sauternes, with tours of honey-coloured chateaux slumbering in the midst of lush vineyards. Pedal between the vines on guided cycling excursions, drool over the cheeses in the market at Libourne and gaze from the sun deck at the passing countryside, with salty sea breezes from the nearby Atlantic hanging in the air.
Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours. Most known for passing through Paris, the Seine has much to offer once you leave the city limits. Visit historic landmarks such as the villages in Normandy, the Château Gaillard castle and the medieval Rouen.


Viking has river ships across Europe, of course, but also sails the Mekong and the Nile. Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).
There are more landmarks to see in the area, such as Prague Castle, Chateau Melnik, and Hluboká Castle. Whimsical forests, numerous grand palaces, and remarkable bridges are just a few things you can expect to experience on this unique European cruise, starting from $3300. You’ll be treated to views of sweeping architecture and scenery, optional day excursions to famous heritage sites, and traverse the confluence of another renowned waterway, the Elbe River, en route.
The company's "time to discover" philosophy focuses on intensive travel experiences, shore excursions, and varied culinary offerings. This Australian-owned organization is the country's largest family-owned tour and cruise company, offering a variety of travel styles. Their Concerto River Ships, AmaVenita, AmaStella, and AmaReina, cruise on the Danube, Main, Rhine, and Douro Rivers with luxury accommodations and excursions. Apt charters the ships from AmaWaterways, but their itineraries and onboard programs are unique to Apt River Cruises. Apt's offerings include rail journeys, as well as small boat, yacht, and ocean cruises.
Plus, Viking provides historic guided tours and intimate experiences in every destination. For those who want to explore more while onboard, Viking offers pre and post-cruise packages to help book your lodging and extend your stay. Best for dramatic scenery The Elbe is tricky for most river cruise ships to navigate but a generation of shallow-draft boats and paddlewheelers is able to take you from edgy Berlin to medieval Prague. A typical cruise visits Wittenberg, including a look at Dr Martin Luther’s house; Meissen, of pottery fame; and elegant Dresden. The landscape is especially spectacular as you head south from here, cruising through “Saxon Switzerland”, where the river slices through dramatic sandstone mountain ranges. Some river cruises end in Melnik in the Czech Republic, while others join the Vltava river and sail into the heart of historic Prague.
The home base for these river cruises is Porto, Portugal, with its historic city center, spectacular bridges and port houses. Celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2022, this family-owned and operated cruise company focuses on excellent food and wine, tasteful décor, stateroom views, and innovation in their luxurious fleet. Fares include fitness classes, shore excursions, and all dining on board, including The Chef's Table specialty restaurant.
Most poignant, however, is the chance to pause at the D–Day Beaches, with 2024 marking the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy. The guided tour also visits the somber Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial on Omaha Beach. Programming and excursions are geared toward kids, To that end, expect a focus on storytelling rather than straight history lessons. You'll also find plenty of energetic and engaging activities, like tobogganing, 4x4 tours and bike excursions. In the evenings, supervised meals for kids and teens (and movie nights) keep the vibe upbeat until bedtime.
Best for sun-soaked French landscapesIf you’d like to experience France in microcosm, a cruise along the Rhône is going to tick all the boxes. Sailing one of Europe’s finest rivers will take you to the vineyards of Burgundy and charming Avignon, showcasing some of the country’s finest landscapes on the way. Highlights include winding through Burgundy and the sun-soaked countryside of Provence. You’ll explore Lyons, with its grand boulevards and quaint old town; the medieval streets of Avignon and its opulent papal palace; the stupendous Roman amphitheatre in Arles — and much more.
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