6 European Rivers You’ll Want to Cruise

You are probably fairly familiar with ocean cruise ships even if you have never been on a cruise. They sail from port to port, often within a limited area such as the Caribbean or Mediterranean, and there are excursions on land at many stops.

Onboard there is about every luxury and activity you can think of to explore depending on how fancy a cruise you go on.

Oh, and you gain about ten pounds because they feed you and feed you and feed you… can you say chocolate buffet?

River cruises are a little different. Most of them operate on European rivers although they are gaining in popularity and are beginning to pop up in other parts of the world. River travel has always been a method of transportation and is now also becoming a tourist attraction.

If you are feeling truly adventurous go for a Nile, Chobe or Amazon cruise on another continent. European cruises tend to focus more on history, food, culture, and the many other things for which

Europe is famous as a travel destination. These are relaxing cruises without river crocs or hippos.

Many different companies offer river cruises. The boats are generally smaller than an ocean cruiser but you are still looking at 100-250 passengers on a boat so it isn’t a small, intimate cruise usually. The trips are often themed and focus on specific passenger interests such as food, gardens, history, art, wine, etc. As with an ocean cruise, there is food and beverages available.

There aren’t usually as many activities but there is a deck that is perfect for viewing the scenery from, a bar, and restaurants. Unlike ocean cruises, most river cruises will include excursions in the price of the cruise. Some high end cruises will offer extras at a premium charge.

Most cruises run anywhere from a week to a month depending on how far they are travelling and how they are travelling. Some cruise ships will continue throughout the night.

This can be disturbing for light sleepers and also means you miss out on some of the great scenery because you’re in bed when it goes by. Others travel only during daylight so that you don’t miss out on anything and you are less likely to worry about the sounds of the boat throughout the night.

Expect to pay more for the latter.

Although the themes vary, there are six basic rivers that European river cruises cover – the Rhine, Seine, Rhone, Douro, Danube and the Elbe. Most of them run north south although the Danube runs east west.

Most of them will start out from or near a major city. Take advantage of that and book yourself a few days to visit the city if time allows. Some of the longer trips combine multiple rivers and countries. Some trips are round trips while others are one way only.

Here are the basic trip outlines and the highlights each offers.

1. Rhine

The Rhine is often combined with the smaller Moselle and Main rivers.  The Rhine begins in Switzerland and travels through France and Germany before ending in Holland.

This is a route that typically features some cultural and historical highlights including UNESCO World Heritage sites and some phenomenal castles. These tours typically start in Amsterdam or Basel, depending on whether you are travelling north or south along the river.

Highlights include Cologne’s gothic cathedrals, Koblenz’s Ehrenbreitstein fortress, and the Rhine Gorge.

The latter is a 40 mile stretch known for its spires, castles, cathedrals, riverside vineyards, and Lorelei Rock, where a maiden once, according to legend, threw herself to her death over a fickle lover and now lures sailors to their doom with her siren-like song. It’s a UNESCO Heritage site.

Most tours will also stop at Germany’s famed vineyard region Rudesheim, Heidelberg which is the home of Speyer, Germany’s oldest university, Breisach which is the gateway to the Black Forest, and Strasbourg which is the home of the European Parliament.

2. Seine

The Seine is for those who want to see France and those who wish to see the landing beaches in Normandy from World War II. It starts in Paris and goes north through Normandy, ultimately ending at the English Channel in Le Havre.

Monet fans will enjoy the stop in Vernon, home of Giverny and its gardens which is where Monet lived from 1883 until his death in 1926.

Other highlights include Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, Les Andelys, home of Chateau Gaillard which was built by Richard the Lionheart in 1196, and Conflans which leads to the Palace of Versailles. From Rouen there are excursions to the beaches of Normandy as well.

If you do this cruise, make sure you budget for a few days in Paris. It’s over-priced but still a must see.

3. Rhone

The Rhone river cruises are generally strictly French ones although the Rhone does begin in Switzerland.

It flows through some of the best of France’s wine country and these tours are generally perfect for wine lovers since they often have excursions to a number of vineyards along the way in Burgundy and Provence.

They usually start in Lyons and go to Arles. Apart from wineries, the cruises usually stop in Avignon, home of the Pont D’Avignon of song fame, Beaune, which is Burgundy’s wine capital, and Vienne which has the ruins of a 14,000 seat amphitheatre and temple that was built in 25 BC to honour Roman Emperor Augustus and his wife Livia.

4. Douro

The Douro River negotiates some beautiful scenery and its one that you will not want to sleep through the cruising periods. Cruises generally begin in Porto, Portugal and go to the Spanish border.

Given the location, it is not surprising that you will explore port in Portugal in the same way that you would explore wine in France. A number of stops will include excursions to distilleries and port wine lodges.

You will likely also visit Regua in the heart of port country, Lamego, which is home to an 18^th century church called Nossa Senhora dos Remedios which sits at the top of a 686 step baroque staircase, and Salamanca the Spanish city with golden coloured sandstone buildings.

5. Danube

The Danube goes through countries that up until recently had been cut off from the western world due to the Iron Curtain. It recalls Vienna’s glory days while also visiting a number of countries that often get overlooked.

The river runs from the Black Forest in Germany down through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, and Bulgaria to its end in Romania. For many Vienna will be the highlight.

One of the great cities, it was the seat of power of the Habsburg dynasty in Austria for over 700 years. Other highlights include the Neuschwanstein castle which was the model for Sleeping Beauty`s castle, Budapest, Linz and Salzburg.

Different cruises will devote more time to different countries. This is a river with a lot of options all of which are rich in history.

6. Elbe

The Elbe is another river that goes through history-heavy areas. It begins in the Czech Republic and ends in Germany.

Although cruises do not generally stop in Berlin or Prague, make time to visit them when you do this tour. Prague is a gem that is often overlooked and Berlin is simply drenched in historical sites and museums.

Common stops include Dresden, which was levelled by Allied bombers towards the end of World War II, Meissen, home of the famous porcelain, Litomerice, a small Czech town with some gorgeous architecture, and Wittenberg, which is the birthplace of the Reformation movement.

Like the Danube, this is a river with a lot of options and stops to explore.

For those looking for a new way to see Europe or perhaps a chance to tour parts of it they haven`t previously visited, a river cruise can offer a relaxed pace with lots of excursions that focus on what interests you. Consider giving one a try.