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The last body of water is the Moscow Canal, but thanks to the lock system, Moscow is connected with the Baltic Sea at St. Petersburg and the cities on the Volga downstream to the Caspian Sea. Elbe River cruise tours include hotel stays in Prague and Berlin, two of Europe's great cities. Most of the cruise is in eastern Germany, and cities like Dresden, Meissen, and Wittenburg all have their own special charm. After being almost completely destroyed during World War II and now rebuilt, Dresden is a marvelous city to visit, with one of the world's great museums.
Viking Expeditions
Picking the best line for a European river cruise can be a challenge as more and more lines compete for attention on European waterways. Many American travelers have heard of river cruise lines like Viking, AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways -- and you can find more about them below. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the delightful city of Cologne with its iconic cathedral. Stroll through Strasbourg’s picturesque streets and discover Heidelberg’s rich history. Along the way, you’ll also experience the breathtaking scenery of the Rhine Valley, with its romantic castles, vineyards, and charming villages. Many of these cruises are roundtrip from Amsterdam, and a day touring this famous city is often included in the tour before the ship sails.
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Until a few years ago, even experienced travelers did not know about the Douro River as a cruise destination. This 557-mile long river starts in Spain, but most of its navigable waters are in Portugal, and the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Porto. The Douro River has 15 dams that generate hydroelectric power, but only five are on the navigable section, and all of these also have locks to enable ships to go up and down the river. Because of its rapids, the Douro was once very dangerous for ships to travel, but it has always been used to transport valuable goods downstream.
NEW! Treasures of the Rhine
The Moselle is 255 miles long, but river cruises only sail on the last 100 miles before it enters the Rhine. The Rhine River cruise region between Mainz and Koblenz is one of the most scenic in Europe. The breathtaking castles lining the Upper Middle Rhine Valley make it a traveler's favorite. Many people take a European river cruise just to see these magnificent old castles. Cruise travelers have many opportunities to see the "castles on the Rhine" since they are also included on cruises between Amsterdam and Danube River ports or on Moselle/Rhine/Main/Danube River cruises. The Main River (pronounced "mine") in Germany is the longest river that lies entirely in Germany.
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. If you like to stay fit and healthy on vacation, Avalon Waterways is the best line for get-up-and-go European river cruises. In addition to regular itineraries, Avalon offers Active & Discovery sailings on the Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Moselle, Seine and Dutch waterways. Work up an appetite with action-packed kayaking, hiking and cycling tours before returning to a well-earned meal.
Scenic offers both ocean and river cruises, all with emphasis on its fleet of "Space-Ships" and their meticulous design and spacious quarters. Ships offer a wellness area, massage services, gym, e-bikes, and onboard entertainment. 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. The magic of our award-winning European river cruises goes far beyond the riverboat you're aboard or the landmarks you'll visit. And in the uncommon access to local culture and exclusive destination driven experiences you can't get on your own, as you experience a true slice of European life and return home transformed.
Best Budget-Friendly European River Cruise: Grand Circle Travel
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. The Danube is a year-round destination with the exception of January and February, when few cruise lines operate here. Summer, when the weather is hottest, is peak season and as a result Europe’s cities are particularly crowded.
Cruising the Great Lakes: Chicago to Toronto
Returning to Bordeaux, guests will explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site and capital of the wine world. With more itineraries than any other, Viking is the best cruise line in Europe for first-time river cruisers. The world's largest river cruise line offers a well-tested river cruise recipe on its fleet of identical Scandinavian-style longships. Insightful port talks provide information on the next day's program that cover all questions, such as how much walking is involved and difficulty levels. Its banks are lined with dramatic, unspoiled landscapes, postcard-perfect towns and villages, and grand, opulent cities.
One cute town with lots to offer Rhine River cruise travelers is Rudesheim, which is between Mainz and Koblenz. Spring and fall are two of the best times to take a river cruise in Europe, with milder temperatures and less crowding. Cruising Europe's rivers during the summer months means warm weather, but crowds are huge. It's also worth checking out late fall cruises, as many destinations host charming Christmas markets. 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.
Starting in Budapest, you’ll sail along the Danube River, stopping at charming towns like Bratislava and Durnstein before arriving in Vienna. Here, you’ll explore the city’s fascinating history, including the famous Hofburg Palace and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Douro River ships are specifically built to sail this river and are smaller since they need to navigate the sharp turns in the river and the smaller locks. Some river cruise lines feature 7-day cruise-only vacations, embarking and disembarking their ships in Porto. Others have cruise tours that include two or three nights in Lisbon, a transfer to Porto, and then a 7-day cruise. The Douro River valley is spectacular as the river winds its way down the mountains toward the sea.
Itineraries feature guided trips to revered museums, cathedrals, and palaces—complemented by slow days sailing these scenic waterways. Founded in 2017 with the goal of making European river cruises more economical and personalized, family-owned American company Teeming River Cruises developed a different river cruise model. Instead of pre-programmed group activities, guests create their own unique experiences with a complimentary city tour app for each destination. Guests are kept busy (if they wish to be) with daily shore excursions, and most cruises offer several options depending on interests and activity levels. Bikes and walking tours are available in most ports, or guests can choose a leisurely day in a comfortable lounge enjoying the passing scenery.
Paris is a beautiful city and a perfect place to begin a French river cruise vacation. Travelers love this river cruise itinerary because it gives them the opportunity to visit eastern European countries where travel for North Americans has just become very popular and accessible in this century. The citizens of Hungary, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria welcome tourists and love to share their corner of the world with travelers. Other ports of call include towns like Linz (for tours to Salzburg), Melk, Krems, or Durnstein.
All the New River Cruise Ships for 2024 - TravelAge West
All the New River Cruise Ships for 2024.
Posted: Mon, 15 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Many cruises traverse the stretch between the capital cities of Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary, starting or ending at either location. The 1,333-mile Dnieper River is Europe's fourth longest and sails from Russia through Belarus and Ukraine before flowing into the Black Sea. AmaWaterways' active excursions take in some of Europe’s most breathtaking scenery—enticing passengers on hilly bike rides and waterside hikes.
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. The tour guides on this river cruise recognize that travelers are very interested about their lives in Russia, so they feature many lectures and free-flowing discussions on different topics while the ship is sailing. Since the cruise is only in one country, the entire focus can be on Russian food, drink, clothing, schools, churches, politics, and everyday life. This cruise is usually days and includes overnights (or more) in both St. Petersburg and Moscow.
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