7 Extraordinary European River Cruises

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Europe is the heartland of river cruising, and more cruises than ever are exploring its passing castles, vineyards, venerable villages and contemporary cities. As European river cruises become more popular, here are seven great ways to traverse the old continent.

 

APT’s 15-day Magnificent Europe

Amsterdam to Budapest is Europe’s top river-cruise route, taking you from the North Sea deep into continental Europe along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Lovely landscapes include the glorious Rhine Gorges, while Regensburg, Passau and Würzburg are among Europe’s most beautiful river towns. APT also offers an exclusive meeting with a princess at Namedy Castle and “Freedom of Choice” shore excursions.

 

Viking River Cruise’s 13-day Waterways of the Tsars

If anything will float your boat, surely this fabulous journey through the Russian heartland will do it: wooden churches, gracious trading cities and fortified monasteries glide by, and the passing forest is magnificent, especially in autumn. The cruise is bracketed by two gobsmacking but very different cities: historical baroque-era St Petersburg, reflected in canals, and fast-paced, bling-laden Moscow.

 

Avalon Waterway’s 10-day Canals, Vineyards & Paris

The petite and charming Moselle River meanders from France to Luxembourg and Germany before joining the Rhine. This cruise, which starts on land in Paris, is notable for focusing on this sometimes overlooked river, and includes a stickybeak at Luxembourg, Germany’s oldest city (Trier) and bustling Düsseldorf. Don’t worry: you’ll see the famous Rhine Gorge as well.

 

APT’s nine-day Douro Delights

Portugal’s Douro River is compact, but packs in spectacular terraced vineyards and dramatic gorges, baroque towns and brooding monasteries. The journey starts in hilly Porto and sails through the world’s oldest wine region – no surprise that wine-tasting is one of this river’s pleasures. This European river cruise stands out for its land extension to the ancient university town of Salamanca, and finale in Madrid.

 

Scenic’s eight-day Idyllic Rhône

This cruise starts at Tarascon in southern France and heads north through the lavender-scented countryside of Provence made so famous by Van Gogh. Highlights are medieval Avignon (where you enjoy a concert in the papal palace), Arles and Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France. Here the ship slips onto the pretty Saône River and into Burgundy, finishing at Chalon-sur-Saône in vineyard country.

 

APT’s seven-night Black Sea Voyage

For more adventurous travellers, the Lower Danube from Budapest to Rousse (near Bucharest) offers a fabulous slice of Eastern Europe: Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. Sail through the Iron Gates gorges, admire snow-capped mountains and investigate medieval citadels, art deco towns and thriving capital cities such as Belgrade and Bucharest, whose lively, youthful inhabitants are enjoying new-found freedoms and peace.

 

Uniworld’s eight-day Venice & the Gems of Northern Italy

Uniworld is the only mainstream cruise company sailing the Po River. You might explore Chioggia, afloat on canals like a mini-Venice, historical Padua or Bologna, or the famous Byzantine-era mosaics at Ravenna. The cruise starts and finishes in Venice, where guides ensure you see the best of the city, including a crowd-free, after-hours visit to St Mark’s Basilica.

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