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Common ports of call include Blaye, Cadillac, Libourne, and Pauillac, and itineraries come jam packed with visits to vineyards and wine châteaus in celebrated regional wine destinations like Médoc, Sauternes, and Saint-Émilion. Those assessments were combined to generate results for the cruise lines in six categories, including river cruising. Airport transfers to and from the ship, drinks (non-alcoholic, beer and wine) with lunch and dinner, gratuities, Wi-Fi and a plethora of shore excursions are included. There are often excellent deals to be had, too, such as free flight credit when booking early, buy-one-get-one-free offers and reduced-single supplement for solo travelers. Emerald’s ships are unquestionably elegant, including the 180-guest Emerald Luna, which sails Europe’s Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle rivers. Guests on board can enjoy a heated pool that transforms into a cinema, spacious suites and a dedicated wellness area.
Splendours of Europe (Start Budapest, End Amsterdam)
Find the full list of the best river cruise lines — and more on what sets Viking apart — below. All along the way, passengers will get the chance to enjoy Portugal’s national beverage, port. Lisbon to Porto (or the reverse) is a common itinerary on the Douro River in Portugal. The Douro River Valley is the world’s oldest demarcated wine region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lower Danube
Emerald offers both yacht and river cruises, with a range of cruises on the rivers in Europe. Founded in 2013, Emerald now features a fleet of nine "Star-Ships," with stylish suites, first-class amenities, and room for 180 guests. Excursions include the EmeraldPLUS program of special experiences to connect with their destinations, and EmeraldACTIVE offers faster-paced guided tours, bike rides, hikes, and activities.
The 10 Best River Cruise Lines in Europe for Every Traveler
Specially designed itineraries and Adventure Guides create experiences for parents, children, and teens, from active excursions to unique onboard activities. Adults-only dinners and wine tasting experiences along with teen programming, Disney movie nights, karaoke, trivia nights, and Junior Adventurer dinners provide entertainment for guests of all ages. 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. Selecting the right river cruise for you depends on the kind of experience you’re after. There’s a European river cruise for every type of traveler, from families and couples to the budget-conscious and luxury seekers.
Classical Rhine Cruise (Amsterdam - Basel) (10 destinations)
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. 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.
Viking
You'll then loop back down the river, calling at Slovakia's capital Bratislava and the Wachau Valley in Austria before returning to Engelhartszell. 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. No. 1 Uniworld Boutique River Cruises earned one of the highest scores of any cruise line — river or ocean — this year, impressing readers with flawless service, imaginative itineraries, top-flight design, and wonderful food. Choosing the river for your European cruise is as crucial as selecting your ideal cruise line.
Christmas market river cruises: What to expect on a holiday sailing - The Points Guy
Christmas market river cruises: What to expect on a holiday sailing.
Posted: Fri, 09 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Night Paris To The Swiss AlpsDetails
As this river is located in one of France’s most famous wine areas, most river cruise ships include a glass (or two) of wine. You will also be able to appreciate the magnificent structures as the cruiser passes the UNESCO World Heritage site, Port de la Lune. Rising from north-central Spain and making its way for over 550 miles across northern Spain and Portugal, before emptying into the Atlantic, the Douro is a rising star in the river cruising world.
What is the most popular European river cruise?
In Vienna, there's a cocktail party and private orchestra recital or city tour before heading to Budapest for two days. The eight-day "Sensations of Lyon & Provence" cruise begins in Lyon and heads to a quaint village and then south again towards Tournon, with its 16th-century castle. Along the way, guests can choose a hike through vineyards, canoe trip, village walking tours, or wine tasting onboard. Fancy associations aside, these credentials translate into some truly awesome dining experiences. European ships have the cozy Chef's Table restaurant where all guests get to dine for free once every cruise.
Cruising down the Garrone River can be combined with a wine-tasting excursion you can arrange in advance. Having spent time exploring the Moselle, I can tell you that the stretch of river around Cochem in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, is particularly lovely. If time is a factor, but you’re still looking to be blown away, think about a private boat tour of Paris. 37 bridges spanning the Seine in Paris alone, enough to make any architecture buff swoon.
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. Outside of travel, my passions are my veggie patch, my record collection and spending time with friends and family. 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. The cruise features a number of thoughtful, exclusive excursions, like dinner at the 16th-century Château du Taillis and a walking tour in Rouen to Joan of Arc Square and the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen.
The river cruise ships that frequent the Elbe River are well worth it if you’re interested in the German waterways of the historic city of Dresden. Then you find there's an overwhelming choice of boats out there, and with seemingly similar appearances, routes, amenities—even cost. Read on for our river cruising guide, which will help you learn the distinct personalities and perks of the major river cruise lines, to find the right one for you. As rivers become a much sought after destination for travel, more operators are rising to the challenge of creating river cruise tour itineraries. Considering the number of river cruise lines out there, it can be a little overwhelming to shortlist your options. Running from the Czech Republic through Germany, most river cruises on the Elbe River run between Prague and Hamburg.
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. Here you’ll find storybook-setting riverbanks lined with medieval castles and sloping vineyards, historic cities and agreeable villages. And on any given weeklong sailing, it’s not unusual to drift through three or more European countries en route, affording the perfect sampler itinerary for any eager explorer of Europe.
Passengers can work out solo at the Zen Wellness Studio or join an open-air spin class, while drinking in scenic river views. The ship's ample deck space also offers passengers the chance to unwind in the heated pool and indulge in a nap-inducing massage in one of two treatment rooms. German river cruise line A-Rosa has carved a niche for multigenerational river voyages after pioneering its kids club in 2014.
Many cruises traverse the stretch between the capital cities of Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary, starting or ending at either location. Along its 2,000-mile course, it runs through several European countries and is a must-see if you’re planning a trip to Europe. After a long day under the sun, it’s a good thing you’ll be able to recharge your energy right as you arrive. The Moselle (or Mosel, depending on which country you’re in) rises in the Vosges mountains in eastern France and flows through Luxembourg to western Germany. Rather than being a bonafide river, it is a stunning tributary of the River Rhine, joining the mighty river near the historic German town of Koblenz. Cruising the Rhine is like a real-life fairytale, as this dramatic river flows through the most otherworldly landscapes of Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Liechtenstein, and the Swiss Alps.
New ships debut each year, and the spacious AmaMagna, launched in 2019, is nearly twice the width of traditional European cruise ships. From Portugal's dazzling Douro to the mighty Danube, a river cruise is a fantastic way of exploring Europe’s magical cities and sensational countryside. Sparkling new Europe-based ships seemingly debut every year, all with innovative features and itineraries that showcase art, history, food and more. The best European river cruises make it easy to enjoy the continent’s marvelous scenery to its fullest, with thoughtful amenities, intimate ship sizes and a slower pace to soak it all in. Not only can you have a great time on river ships or a yacht, but you will also witness many other places and visit different cities without stressing out walking or commuting a lot. Best for longer sailings The narrow Moselle river flows into the Rhine at Koblenz and is often featured as part of a longer European river cruise.
But if you’d want to spend more days in tranquil surroundings, you can opt for a 5 day river cruise through Porto and the Douro River Valley. Typically setting off from the French wine town of Bordeaux, these trips will give you a peek at the magnificent Garonne River while allowing you to relax to the soothing sounds of the city. This includes a classic yacht cruise and a leisurely lunch while admiring the stunning architecture. On a Danube river cruise from Vienna to Budapest, you will pass through Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary while exploring medieval fortresses, fairytale castles, concert halls, and fine wineries.
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