For many Americans, river cruises have almost become pictures and videos of leisurely sliding across European castles and on European castles and iconic landmarks such as the Neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament Building on the Danube.
While this is undoubtedly a very accurate and tempting description, it is just one. Over the years, river cruise has become – has become – has become more.
From Mississippi in the United States to the Nile in Egypt, the Mekong and Ganges in Asia, the Magdalena in the Amazon and South America, and even the safari cruises in Africa, there are sailings to meet the needs of every type of traveler.
As more companies take advantage of the rising demand for these small adventures, there are more boats, more destinations and more activities to choose from.
What is a river cruise like?
In my opinion, river cruise is an example of the best slow travel. The ship sails to multiple destinations throughout the course of one to two weeks, but the pace is long and the coverage distance can actually be small. A person can usually drive between destinations (even bikes) in the same or less time, but you will miss the beautiful views along the river and the opportunity to stop on the beachfront in the heart of the town.
On most cruises, at least one daily tour is included. But whether it is just walking off the boat, catching a bike that has become a standard in Europe or using locally transported bikes, there are plenty of opportunities to explore on your own.
I cruised the river to a group tour of various guided tours, minus the bus ride as you can maximize the included sightseeing and excursions, or you can simply use the boat as a floating hotel, get off at each stop, and wander alone in the city and quaint villages.
How is river cruise different from ocean cruise?
River cruises usually carry between 100 and 200 passengers, making them more intimate. Not to mention, the focus is more on the destination than on the boat. While this means fewer facilities on board than marine boats, upscale and luxurious riverboats usually have lots of open public places (indoor and outdoor) for rest and socializing, as well as (very) small spas and fitness areas.
No casino or Broadway style performances. The evening entertainment is usually a piano player or DJ in the lounge, occasionally bringing in local talent for boarding, either for the evening of playing songs or for the traditional song or dance performance of the destination.
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While there is usually only one major restaurant on the riverboat, the upscale and luxurious river lines pride themselves on a variety of regional, farm-to-table food and wines, with menu staples like salmon, steak and burgers, wines are offered daily in addition to menu staples such as salmon, steak and burgers. The luxury line is also smaller in the rear of the boat or adjacent to the main dining room and can be used for private parties or special pairing menus. When the main restaurant is closed, most also offer casual breakfast, lunch and snacks in the lounge.
When the weather is clear, the best part of a riverboat is sunbathing, where there are usually plenty of lounge chairs, sofas and tables to relax and enjoy the views. Some have a pool or hot tub and an outdoor bar. Amawaterways’ Amamagna is one of the largest European riverboats and even has a full-size pickle court. Most boats have small spas and fitness centers.
What does a cottage look like?
As with any cruise, the cabin can be small (think: less than 200 square feet). But, like most boats, the first two decks have balcony or floor-to-ceiling windows and cabins, perfect for solo travelers, with windows on the bottom deck that have higher water levels than water. Despite their size, these cabins are equipped with all the amenities and comfortable bedding you would expect in an upscale or luxurious hotel.
Isn’t River Parade really an older retiree?
While the largest operator, Vikings, has been committed to its more than 55 demographics, many other upscale and luxurious routes cater to international travelers have evolved in recent years, offering more options for travelers of all ages and travel styles. In addition to the traditional must-see landmark tour, many now offer more active options, including daily yoga and fitness classes, hiking, cycling, kayaking, local cooking classes, and even bar crawling. Some routes, including the Avalon Waterway and Emerald Cruise, also have dedicated voyages along popular routes, which in addition to traditional historical landmark tours, guarantee an active daily tour option.
Which companies operate river cruises?
In fact, hundreds of ships sailed across most of Europe’s rivers. However, many cater to more local demographic populations and travelers who speak languages ​​other than English. However, about two dozen companies offer upscale and luxurious cruises for North American, Australian and British travelers. They include:
- Abercrombie & Kent River Cruises
- Amadeus River Cruise
- Amawaterways
- American Cruise
- Aqua Adventure
- A-Rosa Tour
- Avalon Waterway
- Century Tour
- croisieurope
- Delphin Amazon Cruises
- Jade Tour
- Jungle experience
- Pandaw River Cruises
- Riverside luxury cruise
- Riviera River cruise
- Scenic luxury cruises and tours
- Tucker River Cruise
- Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
- Victoria Cruise
- Vikings
- Viva Cruises
- Zambezi Queen
Where can you navigate the river cruise?
Europe
The most popular routes sail the Danube, the Rhine and the main rivers, stop at must-see destinations in Amsterdam, Vienna and Budapest, Hungary, and among the quaint villages in between. Some also increasingly branch onto the less travelled Moselle, as well as from Budapest to the southern part of the Danube, through Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.
In France, you can travel back and forth from Paris on the Seine, which includes a visit to Normandy. Or, explore the Rhone Valley and smaller rivers in the wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy in France.
Another favorite is Douro, Portugal, which is widely regarded as one of the most scenic, unspoilt rivers in Europe as it offers endless views of vineyard liners, terraced hillsides, quaint villages and wine estates, and the occasional Pousada or Campground.
Egypt
Take a leisurely cruise for your inner layer on ancient tombs, temples and other scenic landmarks along the legendary Nile of Egypt. Most major European river cruise operators sail here, although they usually carry smaller boats with 50 to 100 passengers. The itinerary usually includes four to seven days of sailing between Luxor and Aswan, before or after the Cairo voyage, visiting the pyramids and visiting the city’s museums.
South America
The latest destination for river cruises is South America. Amawaterways launched its first ship on the Magdalena River in Colombia this year and plans to sail a second ship later this year. It is one of the first new rivers to open passenger cruises in decades, traveling from Cartagena through the heart of Colombia. These vessels are smaller than the European vessels of Amawaterways, with only 60 passengers. Croisieurope has just announced that it will sail a small ecotourism itinerary on Manaus, Brazil starting in 2027.
us
Explore two great inland waterways in the United States: the Mississippi and Columbia River and the Snake River in the Pacific Northwest. The American Cruise Line has twelve ships, including four paddle wheels, and the Vikings are one of the largest riverboats in the world, sailing in Mississippi and can accommodate nearly 400 passengers. Mississippi itineraries include music hotspots such as U.S. heartland or Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans. In the Pacific Northwest, follow the footsteps of Lewis and Clark.
Asia
Now, most major river cruise operators offer navigation on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. Like Egypt, boats are smaller than European boats, but you get the same level of service and facilities including daily tours, including daily tours. Uniworld and Antara River Cruises are among the companies sailing the Ganges in India, and the boats provide guests with the same comfort as European riverboats. However, you can also find local operators and some small boats run by Indus Rivers, which are sailing by luxury hotel companies. Several Chinese companies offer cruises on the Yangtze River, although American marketing has evaporated significantly since the coronavirus pandemic.
Southern Africa
River cruise safari? Yes, there is something like this. Vikings and Amawaterways are people who offer river cruises on the Chobe River in Botswana, where you can watch elephants, hippos and other wildlife from different angles. These tours are usually only four days combined with railway trips or land parcels in South Africa. To have longer sailing experience in Africa, Croisieurope has a 13-day voyage across South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe on the Zambezi River.
Bottom line
River cruises are very different from ocean cruises. But like other small boats and yachts, they offer a luxury and intimate alternative to traditional tour guides for exploring popular and less traveled corners of the world.
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