The 8 Best European River Cruises 2024
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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. 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.
Amsterdam with Rhine Castles & Moselle Vineyards (Start Amsterdam, End Zurich)
Diamond Deck and Junior Suite guests can also dine at Table d'Or, where a six-course degustation menu is paired with local wines. A jaunty kids' club with a climbing wall and secret nooks is positioned next to 12 family cabins, each sleeping up to five, featuring nautical-themed bunk beds. 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.
Teeming River Cruises
After a long day of exploring, parents and grandparents can relax at the spa or in the lounge. 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. The eight-day Danube River Cruise starts in Budapest where excursions include a horse show at an equestrian park and a goulash-making competition for Adventurers. In Bratislava, Junior Adventurers can visit a petting zoo, and in the evening, there's family karaoke.
Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley ( (Porto to Lisbon,
I've written about destinations ranging from the South China Sea to the Arctic and Norway. 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. On the Belmond Napoleon, guests cruise the River Saône past châteaux, rural river towns, and expansive vineyards.
Night Spectacular Switzerland With Romantic RhineDetails
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.
Night Danube SymphonyDetails
It also takes passengers to some of Europe's blockbuster cities, including Budapest, Vienna, Cologne and Amsterdam. Passengers can sip on fine wines in the Wachau Valley, wander Regensburg's UNESCO-listed old town and marvel at Vienna's Habsburg-period architecture. Itineraries feature guided trips to revered museums, cathedrals, and palaces—complemented by slow days sailing these scenic waterways.
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Take, for instance, the Panorama Suites, featuring a remarkable 11-foot-wide floor-to-ceiling window that effortlessly converts into an Open-Air Balcony. This ingenious feature allows guests to relish in the invigorating breeze or savor unobstructed vistas when balcony access is less ideal. Additionally, the thoughtfully arranged room layout enables the bed to face the window, enabling guests to immerse themselves in awe-inspiring views while luxuriating in utmost comfort. Another way Avalon sets itself apart is its distinctive “Avalon Choice” program, a selection of a la carte services and excursions, allowing guests to tailor their journey to their personal interests and activity level.
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Plan your 2024 river cruise in Europe, browse our wide range of destinations to select the departure of your choice. Sure, you can catch sight of the Eiffel Tower when boarding a river ship in Paris, but you can do that while staying in a hotel, too. 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. 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.
Essential Reasons to Take a European River Cruise
For those looking for a longer experience, Uniworld cleverly combines a Po cruise with luxury rail journeys to places like Istanbul, Switzerland and beyond. 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. Your visit there and to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, as well as other memorials and monuments to the fallen, is a poignant experience (one that requires a two-hour bus ride from your ship, however). Avalon Waterways brings a World War II expert on board to add insight on select sailings. 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.
Fun activities include a “meet the captain” event, pizza-making classes and treasure hunts. All ships are stocked with age-appropriate games and books, and family shore excursions to zoos and theme parks feature on itineraries. The stellar 2022-built Viking Egdir, carrying 190 passengers, offers a ringside seat of bucolic vineyards and medieval castles on the Rhine, Main and Danube.
Embarking on a river cruise in Europe is a journey into refined luxury, cultural immersion, and scenic splendor. Several river cruise lines stand out for their commitment to delivering unparalleled experiences along the continent’s waterways. Let’s explore the top river cruise lines that redefine travel along the iconic rivers of Europe. River cruises feature less sailing time in favor of shore excursions and exploring destinations along the way (and most lines offer free tours when in port). You'll find European river cruise itineraries from lines including Viking, Uniworld, AmaWaterways, Avalon and Scenic. The doyen of Europe's waterways is the adults-only Viking Cruises, a multifaceted cruise line that also boasts a fleet of ocean and expedition vessels.
European ships have the cozy Chef's Table restaurant where all guests get to dine for free once every cruise. Perks include a roommate matching service for solo cruisers, competitively priced single supplements and group discounts, plus price match guarantees. Ships offer traditional-style cruising and Exclusive Discovery Series, which provides first-person accounts from locals or expert talks about the destinations you'll be visiting.
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