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25 BEST Europe River Cruises 2024 Prices + Itineraries: Cruises to Europe River on Cruise Critic

best river cruise europe

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. Those interested in learning more about World War II can visit the Normandy beaches and American Cemetery and Memorial. 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. We understand that time is the greatest luxury, which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal, a drink, or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world.

Douro Cruises

Scenic offers both ocean and river cruises, all with emphasis on its fleet of "Space-Ships" and their meticulous design and spacious quarters. Guests enjoy personalized butler service and all-inclusive cruising. Ships offer a wellness area, massage services, gym, e-bikes, and onboard entertainment. Scenic's "FreeChoice" excursions offer something for all activity levels. Avalon features wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows with beds facing the views for ultimate enjoyment from their suites and staterooms. Large private bathrooms include full showers and L'Occitane bath amenities.

Classical Rhine Cruise (Amsterdam - Basel) (10 destinations)

The real attractions of a Seine River cruise are sailing on the river outside the city toward the English Channel and a visit to the beaches in Normandy for a perspective on World War II. 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. 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. 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.

Germany's Main

The 10 Best River Cruise Lines in Europe for Every Traveler - Cruise Critic

The 10 Best River Cruise Lines in Europe for Every Traveler.

Posted: Fri, 22 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

This German cruise company's distinctive ships are easy to recognize by the large red lips and rose on the bow. Their fleet of 12 ships was joined by the new A-Rosa Sena, a hybrid powered ship expected to cruise the northern Rhine almost silently and emission-free. Family-friendly amenities include a kids club, heated outdoor pools, and free passage for children ages 15 and under. The "Charming Castles & Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle" begins with arrival in Frankfurt and transfer to Mainz for boarding. Stops include Koblenz, where guests can take a walking or e-bike tour.

Avalon Waterways

All cruising has to be done during the day on the Douro; after dark cruising is prohibited by law. That’s a plus in our book giving you plenty of daylight hours to take in the sites as you sail along the river. Their cruise in northern Italy along the Po River, "From the Canals of Venice to Renaissance-infused Mantua," is a seven-day excursion starting in Venice where guests can discover St. Mark's Square and Doge's Palace. In partnership with CroisiEurope aboard the MS Michelangelo, the ship heads west to Vicenza and then on to Chioggia.

Grand European Tour Budapest to Amsterdam

The Rhine boasts parts of stunning beauty, particularly the breathtaking Rhine Gorge. Starting from Amsterdam, you’ll sail across the Dutch Waterways in Belgium and the Netherlands. As our readers know, seven nights is just too short for a fully satisfying experience. My Dream Cruise spans 18 nights, with optional pre- and post-cruise extensions. We’re taking you from early spring and Tulip Time river cruises to winter.

European River Cruise Lines

best river cruise europe

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. A typical itinerary takes passengers between Lyon to Arles or Avignon. For a luxury European river cruise with a contemporary vibe, take a look at Scenic's eight river ships. The line's all-inclusive river itineraries provides a high-end experience with a more relaxed atmosphere than others on this list.

best river cruise europe

Avalon is owned by the Globus Family of Brands, a tour operator company, and that experience comes into play on shore, with such VIP experiences as skipping the line at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Pricing on this line is middle of the road, with everything comfortable, reliable and not overly fussy. That said, on the company's sleek, 166-passenger Suite Ships, you can splurge on a Panorama Suite with sitting areas and glass doors that open to bring the fresh air in. 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.

The Dutch Waterways

Local performers including dance troupes come on board to entertain. The Moselle is one of Europe's most beautiful rivers and also one of the biggest surprises. It's not all that well known, and itineraries are more typically part of other routes, like the Rhine, but wow oh wow.

AmaWaterways also has food and wine-themed sailings accompanied by expert hosts. Highlights include a visit to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s home in Frankfurt, and the town of Bamberg, a UNESCO site, which dates from 902 A.D., making it one the most impressive river cruises in Europe. Leading luxury tour operator Tauck has its own fleet of award-winning 84- to 130-passenger river ships cruising the Danube, Douro, Rhine, Rhone and Seine. The big selling point here is that a Tauck tour director and three Tauck cruise directors are on board all departures, assuring that guests are catered to. Sleek ships with marble lobbies, mid-century furnishings and impressive art collections mark the Australian-owned Scenic as all about luxurious, high-end river cruising. Butler service is part of the scene, and so are free-flowing cocktails, e-bikes and six dining options – all for a passenger contingent of fewer than 170.

The fleetwide reservation-only Vintage Room is set up for private dining, with an extravagant seven-course wine-pairing menu.

Read on to find the perfect river to suit your cruising personality. Christian Petzold is a successful touristic entrepreneur, experiential traveller and round-the-world backpacker. Be prepared and don’t forget anything with this packing list of 68 Essential Travel Accessories that we recommend for travelers. If it’s the magic of Europe’s renowned Christmas markets you seek, a winter cruise is perfect.

This award-winning river cruise company offers thoughtfully selected itineraries with luxurious onboard amenities as you cruise through the many rivers they sail on. European river cruises are a great way to travel through a country and see multiple hot spot destinations. Unlike larger ocean cruises, river cruises are smaller, so you can enjoy a more personalized, luxurious experience aboard. Plus, you can enjoy all the superb amenities offered on a cruise ship while immersing yourself in authentic experiences and the local culture. Below are the best river cruises in Europe to check out, plus what you can expect when journeying along some of Europe’s most popular rivers. The cruise line runs river cruises throughout Europe, Asia and Africa.

Bikes and walking tours are available in most ports, or guests can choose a leisurely day in a comfortable lounge enjoying the passing scenery. Viking includes one excursion in each port with your fare, and offers a wider variety of river cruises in Europe than others. That gives new-to-river-cruise passengers plenty of options to try their hand at a cruise length that fits their style and a wide array destinations from which to choose.

He told me that when there is low water on the Rhine, he’ll sometimes deviate to the Moselle. He informs guests, of course, telling them that although the planned route needs to change, they would not be disappointed. “The Moselle is almost always a pleasant surprise for the guests,” he said to me. The six-day "Highlights of the Rhine" cruise begins in Cologne and cruises on to Rotterdam and then Amsterdam the following day.

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