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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. For 90+ years, the Tauck family has had a passion for sailing — aboard small ships and yachts at sea, riverboats along great inland waterways, and at home on the rivers and lakes of Connecticut and New York. When we began blending our land experience with our strong passion for cruising in our first European river cruise back in 1992, we knew that no "ordinary" river cruise experience would do for our guests.
Portugal & Spain
For those looking for a longer experience, Uniworld cleverly combines a Po cruise with luxury rail journeys to places like Istanbul, Switzerland and beyond. A short ferry, train or plane ride lets you explore the châteaux of the Loire and the wonders of Paris on Seine, while a trip down the Rhône brings you Van Gogh’s favourite café and the opportunity to dance “sur le Pont d’Avignon”, for a small fee. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule provided with your final documents.
Greece: A crusie with Seabourn, Silversea, Ponant, Windstar, or Variety Cruises
When it comes to Europe river cruises, a perfect seven-night starter sailing is the Upper Danube, which takes you through centuries of history as you explore Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Emerald Cruises recently unveiled a design update coming to its luxury river cruise ships. The update will integrate the elegance and features of its ultra-luxury ocean yachts into its river cruise ships, which will not only enhance the guest experience but also reflect the brand’s commitment to sustainability. 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. If, after seeing the movie Luca, which debuts June 18, your family gets a hankering to visit Italy, Disney Cruise Line has you covered.
Nicko Cruises
The intimate 96-passenger Scenic Azure winds through the port-producing (and UNESCO-listed) Douro Valley, with its terraced vineyards, olive groves and tranquil towns and villages. The itinerary sees Scenic whisk passengers to historic vineyards and cellars in Regua, Vinhateiro and the Côa Valley to sip on local wines and Port. An unmissable outing for couples is a private classical concert at the beguiling Sao Francisco Church in Porto, offered as one of the cruise line’s “Scenic Enrich” experiences. 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.
Canada's Capital Cities plus Niagara Falls
Avalon offers "Active & Discovery" river cruises with activities for a variety of energy and fitness levels, from traditional sightseeing to action-packed experiences. With a number of cruise companies and rivers to choose from, planning a river cruise can take some time. Consulting with a travel advisor is always a good idea, and there's plenty of information available online as well.
You'll also be able to take in the lavender fields, haystacks and other scenes that inspired painters like Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh. That's even before you get to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 40-mile stretch of river, between Rudesheim and Koblenz, Germany, has castles galore — you might imagine Rapunzel letting down her hair — and Lorelei Rock, the legendary cliff said to distract sailors with the mesmerizing song of a maiden. For a deep dive into Eastern Europe's past and present, the fascinating Lower Danube route between Budapest and Bucharest, Romania, explores history from the medieval times and Victorian era of Dracula to the rise of communism and the Bosnian War.
The seven-night river cruise takes you through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. The most beautiful stretch of the river is a 62-mile passage through a gorge between the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains. Ships visit such cultural hubs as Vienna, with its opera and art museums and elaborate royal palaces, and Budapest, Hungary, with its magnificent architecture and modern vibe.
Christmas on the Seine
With its historic sites, whitewashed towns, the popular beaches of Mykonos, and views galore in the cliffside towns of Santorini, Greece opened its doors to international travelers in May. Nearly a dozen cruise lines are returning to the Aegean this summer and fall so there are ample options for those seeking to sail the Greek isles. Seeing the Northern Lights is practically guaranteed on Seabourn’s new wintertime Norway itineraries debuting in December. Excursions, which include the opportunity to camp on land overnight for optimal Northern Lights viewing, are led by a 26-person expedition team. Alternatively, you may opt to just stay cozy in your fancy suite and get a wake-up call should the lights appear. Most departures are from Tromsø, Norway, or Copenhagen, with fares for 12-night sailings starting from $10,999 per person.
best river cruises in Europe
Danube river cruises: an ultimate guide to cruising the Danube - Good Housekeeping uk
Danube river cruises: an ultimate guide to cruising the Danube.
Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 08:15:03 GMT [source]
As standard, Emerald’s eight Europe-based “Star-Ships” offer a generous number of inclusions built into the cost of the cruise, with typically lower entry level fares. Our seven-night Danube river cruise with Lucy Worsley departs from the city of Engelhartszell in Austria before calling at Vienna (pictured below), the pretty town of Esztergom in Hungary and Budapest. You'll then loop back down the river, calling at Slovakia's capital Bratislava and the Wachau Valley in Austria before returning to Engelhartszell. Its banks are lined with dramatic, unspoiled landscapes, postcard-perfect towns and villages, and grand, opulent cities. 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.
La Venizia, completely decked out with a sense of place, from Fortuny fabrics and Murano glass to its gilded accents. 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.
Should you travel Europe via river cruise? - USA TODAY
Should you travel Europe via river cruise?.
Posted: Tue, 06 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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. 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.
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.
