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The ship passes through the Main-Danube Canal that connects the Black Sea and the North Sea. In Vienna, there's a cocktail party and private orchestra recital or city tour before heading to Budapest for two days. Wine lovers will want to experience the seven-night "Taste of Bordeaux," with visits to iconic chateaux, timeless vineyards, and delicious wine tastings while cruising the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers.
Popular Cruise Ships
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. To help you see some of the most famous rivers of the world in style, take a look at this guide to the best luxury river cruises in Europe, from Scenic to Uniworld and everything in between. Paris river cruises of the Seine are best for small group journeys and intimate gatherings. For example, in this package, you can enjoy a private Seine river cruise with exclusive access to a boat, some wine, and all the sights of Paris for around $500. Over the last few years, riverboat cruises have grown immensely in popularity, and understandably so.
NEW! Rhine & Main Explorer
On the way, Avalon Choice excursions include a culinary walk, cooking class, painting workshop, wine tastings, guided bike rides, and more, with Active, Classic, and Discovery level activities. A stop in Vienna includes a Mozart and Strauss concert at a Viennese palace, a city tour, and a taste of local delicacies. The cruise ends in Passau with a choice of bicycling, walking, or hiking to explore the city and a special captain's farewell reception and dinner. While Scenic isn't strictly adults-only, this elegant Australian-owned cruise line doesn't tend to draw many families, making it ideal for couples.
best river cruises in Europe
Sail through Europe this summer with 50% off Uniworld river cruises - The Points Guy
Sail through Europe this summer with 50% off Uniworld river cruises.
Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 15:31:55 GMT [source]
Even if your cruise is only a week, don't underestimate the allure of relaxing for seven days on a river in France or on the dreamy Douro in Portugal. This ship truly embodies the decadence of Renaissance Venice, with a playful interior featuring hand-painted Venetian masks and flamboyant custom-made fabrics by Venice-design house Fortuny. Passengers can dine on fresh wood-fired pizza at Cielo's and sip Bellinis at Hari's Bar, all while taking in views of Venice's sparkling lagoon. VANCOUVER — Hot off the press is Emerald Cruises’ 2025 Europe River Cruises brochure, featuring fleet updates, new EmeraldPLUS experiences and early booking offers. If you love dazzling landscapes, magnificent architecture and fabulous food, a Danube river cruise is hard to beat. Exploring Europe by water requires no internal flights and train rides and eliminates schlepping around with your luggage in tow.
Europe River Cruises
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. 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.
After sampling champagne on your Rhône River cruise, you may crave something else to quench your thirst. 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.
Many cruises traverse the stretch between the capital cities of Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary, starting or ending at either location. With longer port calls and our destination-focused approach, Viking maximizes your discoveries in Europe. From the fairytale castles of the Middle Rhine to the natural beauty of Norwegian fjords, you will gain deep insight into the continent’s cultural and historic riches.
Find the full list of the best river cruise lines — and more on what sets Viking apart — below. 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. The six-day "Highlights of the Rhine" cruise begins in Cologne and cruises on to Rotterdam and then Amsterdam the following day. Options include a bus tour, canal tour, pedal boats, or private auto tour, each at an additional cost. The "Active & Discovery on the Rhone" cruise begins in Lyon and heads south through the French countryside of Provence and ends in Port-Saint-Louis.
Most of the France-exclusive itineraries here run for a week between Lyon and Arles or Avignon. Some continue north on the Saône River, the chief tributary of the Rhône (the two merge in Lyon), and into the heart of Burgundy; it’s a gateway to stops like Burgundy’s wine capital at Beaune. But, like with any cruise line, schedule adjustments or trip cancellations may be necessary if water levels are unusually high or low.
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 intimate 96-passenger Scenic Azure winds through the port-producing Douro Valley, with its terraced vineyards, olive groves and tranquil towns and villages. This 505-mile stretch between the Swiss Alps and southern France lets out in the Mediterranean Sea (near Marseille), affording a lovely ride along the way, marked by Alpine scenery filled in with gorges and valleys.
Mealtimes are peachy, too, with dishes such as dressed salmon and pork goulash, plus a children's buffet luring kids to the table. After a long day of exploring, parents and grandparents can relax at the spa or in the lounge. Design innovations on the ships include mid-tier Balcony Suites on Scenic Diamond where drop down windows turn a small sunroom into a proper balcony at the push of a button. However, it's the line's Junior and Royal Suites that really enhance the luxury cruise experience. Expect in-room breakfast service, daily canapes or sweets and invitations to Table La Rive -- the line's exclusive fine-dining restaurant. On a river cruise, you can discover multiple destinations – and even get to the heart of them with a guided tour, should you wish – in just one trip, all the while returning to the same luxurious stateroom and comfy bed each night.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection stands as a paragon of opulence and sophistication in the realm of river cruising, epitomizing a commitment to redefining luxury on the water. Renowned for its fleet of lavishly decorated boutique-style ships, Uniworld provides an intimate and personalized experience for discerning travelers seeking a heightened level of refinement. Each ship is a floating masterpiece, adorned with unique themes, exquisite artwork, and sumptuous furnishings that evoke the ambiance of a luxury boutique hotel. Uniworld’s commitment to culinary excellence is evident in its farm-to-table dining experiences, showcasing locally sourced ingredients and gourmet cuisine prepared by world-class chefs. Beyond elegant accommodations and gourmet indulgences, Uniworld goes above and beyond with exclusive shore excursions, ensuring guests experience cultural enrichment and historical immersion at every port of call.
There's a private classical music concert and tour of Reichsburg Castle along the way, as well as optional visits to the Mercedes-Benz factory or a walking tour of Strasbourg and its magnificent cathedral. 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. The line, which is part of the long-established European hospitality group Seaside Collection, consists of five vessels that were previously owned by Crystal Cruises, a storied name in luxury cruising.
Uniworld's European fleet of 12 boutique vessels are decorated with original artwork, antiques, posh Asprey toiletries, opulent hand-finished details in gold leaf and lavish suites, including some with four-poster beds and brocade drapes. The storied Seine—revered as one of the world’s most romantic rivers, thanks to its deep ties to Paris—extends beyond the City of Lights for fascinating river voyages into northern France. The 485-mile-long waterway flows northwest from France’s Burgundy area near Dijon, through Paris, and into the Normandy region, before emptying into the English Channel (at Le Havre). Here, you’ll see one of the most well-known bridges in Europe, The Loschwitz Bridge, popularly known as the “Blue Wonder.” This famous crossing attracts visitors from all over the world.
Their deluxe beds and luxurious linens provide comfort in spacious, quiet quarters with ample closet space. Avalon offers "Active & Discovery" river cruises with activities for a variety of energy and fitness levels, from traditional sightseeing to action-packed experiences. 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. 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.
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. You can travel in style in one of the latter bad boys between some of Europe’s most iconic locations. Best of all, when your accommodation is your ride, you can see many more of your chosen destinations without worrying about transport logistics. Add this altogether and a voyage on the Seine has to be one of the loveliest cruises in Europe in terms of scenery and history — and the most effortless way to enjoy Paris and the surrounding countryside.
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