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Both itineraries have been modified and feature destinations the whole family can enjoy. While the Jewels of the Rhine explores the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland. Most river cruises are all-inclusive with all meals, beverages, and almost all excursions included in the rate.
CroisiEurope Cruises
The summer months will be far warmer, while the December cruises are cold but come with the added bonus of experiencing Christmas festivities. These excursions are all included in the price of the cruise and are considered part of the river experience, although they aren't included for the sole domestic option on our list, the American Queen Steamboat Company. Like most cruises, the food served is reflective of your destination's local cuisine and there is also a light menu and options for vegetarians, vegans, and kids.
AmaWaterways
Solo travelers are still welcome but may have to pay a supplement fee for booking as a single-occupancy rather than a double. Choose from a wide variety of accommodations from well-appointed suites to small no-frills single staterooms that are a mere 80 square feet. Some sailings have Loft Suites, which are two stories with floor-to-ceiling windows and have two full bathrooms, a dining area, a lounge with a Queen sofa-bed, a balcony, and an upstairs bedroom. I've always been a fan of traditional cruise line journeys, but a river cruise is much more intimate and in many cases, luxurious. These sleek ships generally host less than 200 passengers and go where giant cruise liners cannot, such as the Danube, Rhine, Rhône, Mekong, Mississippi, and Nile Rivers. If exploring the central U.S. — Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri — without driving is appealing, consider the 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise offered by American Cruise Lines.
Best cruise line for LGBTQ+ travelers
Some might argue that, with less than 200 passengers onboard, free wine at meals and included shore excursions, all river cruises are luxurious, compared to their mainstream ocean counterparts. Amawaterways is now accepting reservations for its highly anticipated cruises on Colombia's Magdalena River departing from both Cartagena and Barranquilla in 2024. Both seven-day itineraries explore Colombia's rich musical and cultural history, along with a chance to experience the country's natural wonders and local cuisine. Amawaterways is the first major river cruise line to highlight Colombia’s beauty with these types of voyages.
Best River Cruise Itineraries to Book in 2023 and 2024
These cruises offer 25% off the fare for travelers 4 to 17 years old when traveling with an adult (suites excluded). While many cruise lines have a strict dining schedule, these ships offer several different onboard restaurants. The Panorama Dining Room serves daily four-course à la carte dinners along with complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks, or guests can choose the more casual Panorama Bistro or Sky Grill. Though many European countries have been off-limits for travelers, memories of recent trips to one of the world's iconic river cruising destinations helped inform voters' choices this year. Tauck moved up two places in T+L's 2021 rankings to grab the No. 2 spot with an eye-popping score above 96. The iconic river ships of No. 3 Viking Cruises also fared well this year, with readers giving the stalwart high marks, moving it up three places.
Douro River Cruise Tips - Cruise Critic
Douro River Cruise Tips.
Posted: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
While Viking has also launched an award-winning ocean cruise line, the company built its reputation in river cruising. These all-inclusive cruises feature outside staterooms, Wi-Fi, wine and beer with meals, shore excursions in every port, and cultural enrichment programs. Along with visits to bustling cities like Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City, Aqua Expeditions' Mekong River cruises also visits serene ports in the countryside. Imagine kayaking to floating villages, watching silk weavers at work, and biking to village markets.
After arriving in Lyon, passengers will stay in Paris for an exclusive guided tour showcasing jazz, food, and wine, all while shining a light on Black heritage. Emerald is opening up two of its Europe river itineraries to younger guests, with kid-friendly menus and exciting onboard activities such as video games, movies, and tournaments. Children must be 10 years old or older to take part in Emerald’s kid-friendly voyages.
Best European River Cruise for Onboard Facilities: AmaWaterways AmaMagna
Viking River Cruises provides an 8-day “Romantic Danube” itinerary, ideal for those new to river cruising. The itinerary, which sails round-trip from Porto, includes visits to the Old Town of Porto, the Quinta da Pacheca winery, and the historical city of Salamanca in Spain, complete with a traditional flamenco show. The cruise takes place on the Scenic Diamond, a luxury vessel accommodating 167 passengers, ensuring an intimate and high-quality experience. This cruise is a dream for wine enthusiasts, offering a seven-day journey through the renowned Bordeaux region of France. Take a look at the luxury river cruise landscape -- and find the line that's right for you.
Guests can expect a high level of service, with an equal number of crew members and passengers. Activities include kayaking, fishing, and guided nature tours, and the cruise is ideal for combining with a visit to Machu Picchu. The cruise is perfect for those seeking to explore the lush landscapes and rich wine regions of the Iberian Peninsula, offering a blend of cultural experiences and scenic beauty. Odds are you will not get motion sickness on a river cruise since large waves or currents do not hit the ships. Because most people travel in pairs or a family on a cruise, rates are based on double occupancy.
A guided tour takes guests through Autostadt Wolfsburg, a park dedicated to the history of the automobile. In Hamburg, there's a city tour and harbor cruise before the cruise continues to the Baltic resort, Laboe, and ends in Kiel. 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.
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. Avalon features wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows with beds facing the views for ultimate enjoyment from their suites and staterooms.
“The rooms were a bit dated but I do know that they are going to be refurbished,” said one reader, who traveled aboard the River Empress. Riviera Travel isn't the most widely known cruise provider, but those looking to cruise the Rhine River solo are in luck. On every Riviera sailing a number of double cabins on the lower deck are set aside for single travelers with no single supplement (which is generally charged by cruise lines if you're traveling alone). Additionally, Riviera offers a number of solo-traveler-only itineraries on the Rhine where there is no single supplement on any cabin, including suites. New itineraries for 2024 include an extended 10-night Cologne, the Rhine Gorge & Medieval Germany River Cruise from Cologne to Nuremberg.
For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. AmaWaterways' active excursions take in some of Europe’s most breathtaking scenery—enticing passengers on hilly bike rides and waterside hikes. 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.
For those looking for a longer experience, Uniworld cleverly combines a Po cruise with luxury rail journeys to places like Istanbul, Switzerland and beyond. 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. Lines like AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways excel in combining comfort with adventure, while American Queen Voyages, Tauck, and Emerald Cruises offer distinct flavors of regional exploration, luxury, and modern amenities. Check out top places to visit in the United States; check out the list of things to do in Madison, things to do in Lead and things to do in White Plains for a fun time. River cruising has been exploding in popularity in recent years, and it's easy to see why. You check in, unpack your bag, and let your floating hotel take you on a journey of discovery down some of the world's great waterways, with experiential guided excursions along the way.
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