The Best European River Cruises in 2016
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River cruising in Europe next year promises more new ships and itineraries than ever before. While there’s still enormous demand for cruises on the Rhine and Danube, France and Portugal are increasingly popular destinations – and cruise lines are going all-out with exclusive shore excursions. Here, we take a look at the best European river cruises in 2016.
Bordeaux, the port capital of France’s Aquitaine and centre of the region’s famous wine producers, is rapidly becoming the destination du jour. APT is the latest line to offer cruises on the Dordogne and Garonne rivers that include visits to historic châteaux and vineyards in Cadillac, Saint-Émilion, Bergerac and Sauternes and Cognac. Scenic, Uniworld and Viking also operate cruises in the region; generally they are eight days round-trip from the city of Bordeaux.
If eight days aren’t enough, you can opt for extensions in Paris or combinations of Bordeaux river cruises with other French itineraries – for example, Uniworld’s 22-day Ultimate France Paris to Avignon journey combines cruises on the Seine, Dordogne, Garonne, Saône and Rhône rivers.
Portugal’s Douro river is also attracting newcomers. Scenic’s newest SpaceShip, the 96-passenger Scenic Azure, will sail round-trips from Porto to Vega de Terron on the Spanish border, taking in four spectacular UNESCO World Heritage sites along the way. While the cruises are usually a leisurely eight days, a variety of extensions are available, including Lisbon, Salamanca and Madrid. They’re well worth the extra time and expense.
River cruise lines are offering an extraordinary array of shore excursions and in-depth experiences in order to attract new travellers and keep repeat cruisers coming back. Many of these tours would be difficult, if not impossible, to organise on an independent basis and most are included in the fare.
APT’s Royal Collection Magnificent Europe cruises between Amsterdam and Budapest feature three stand-out attractions: a journey on the luxurious Majestic Imperator train, a replica of the Imperial Royal train of the Hapsburgs; a private visit to Namedy Castle, including a cocktail reception and banquet, and a private concert at Vienna’s Liechtenstein City Palace. Next year, APT is adding a host of special events that will include cruises hosted by some of Australia’s top winemakers.
Scenic will debut the Best of The Sound of Music and Salzburg Show on its 15-day Jewels of Europe cruise in March 2016, as part of the line’s Scenic Enrich program. The show has been produced in conjunction with the Salzburg Orchestra and Classic Art Vienna and will be a highlight of a full day in the beautiful Austrian city.
Viking’s shore excursions fall into three categories: Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access. Examples include visiting a Russian family in Uglich, on the Volga River; meeting a gingerbread maker in Passau, Germany; or taking a behind-the-scenes tour of the fabulous Lobkowicz Palace in Prague.
River cruises have not been particularly family-friendly in the past, due to the size of the ships and lack of children’s facilities on board, but Uniworld is changing that. Next year the line is tripling its multi-generational departures. Cruises include hands-on cooking and craft workshops for kids, language classes and a dedicated host to oversee children’s activities. Children aged 4-18 will also receive a 50 per cent discount.
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