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Grand Circle attracts a high number of repeat passengers, drawn by value-for-money fares that are often lower than other European river cruises. Viking includes one excursion in each port with your fare, and offers a wider variety of river cruises in Europe than others. That gives new-to-river-cruise passengers plenty of options to try their hand at a cruise length that fits their style and a wide array destinations from which to choose.
No. 8: Riviera River Cruises
If you buy something using a link on this page, Forbes may receive a small share of that sale. Launching in spring 2017, this new eight-passenger barge will focus on the Champagne region of France. Onboard, the French country details, from timber wood furnishings to marble bathrooms, Parisian duvet covers, and wrought ironwork, reflect the distinct charm of the region.
Christmas markets in Europe with Scenic
The cruise will sail from the North Sea to the Black Sea, passing through 15 countries across Europe on the Danube, Rhine, Main, and Moselle rivers, as well as the inland waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium. The 49-night spring version runs from April 22 to June 10, 2024, and the summer edition runs from June 10 to July 29. New itineraries and themed cruises in 2024 make it possible to go farther afield and explore areas of interest more deeply (such as Black history, cuisine, biking, and hiking). The cuisine served onboard AmaWaterways ships is inspired by regional dishes and made with locally sourced ingredients. Throughout the voyages, they feature special drinking and dining events for guests along with entertainment themed to the country you're visiting such as a string quartet or folk dancing. Adventurous travelers hop aboard any of Pandaw’s fleet of riverboats to cruise the waterways of Myanmar, India, Borneo, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Scenic
Ming spent over 20 years in the retail travel sector, working with travel agencies in marketing initiatives, cruise training, and promoting cruise vacations to their clients. In 2015, Ming created Your Cruise Coach and transitioned into travel writing, preaching the merits of cruising via her partnerships with Canadian and American travel trade publications as well as consumer media outlets. An avid cruiser since 1991, Ming has sailed on over 70 cruises and has experienced over 25 ocean, river, and expedition cruise lines combined.
American Cruise Lines’ Music Cities Cruise from Memphis to Nashville
While the suites are about 350 square feet, the standard stateroom is about 170 square feet with fixed windows at the waterline. The value-packed experience is geared toward adults and is consistently high quality. Destinations include all the popular rivers of Europe — such as the Danube, Rhine, Seine, Bordeaux, Rhone, Elbe and Douro — as well as the Nile in Egypt, the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia, and the Mississippi. The cruise, which is available in November and December 2024 and January, November and December 2025, ends with a full day of exploration back in New Orleans before one last night aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi. From Darrow, Louisiana, you'll stroll beneath canopies of towering live oak trees to visit historic mansions or glide through the bayou.
Where to sail next in Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Uniworld stands out immediately for its impressively designed interiors; each ship is themed to the areas that ships sail through. BonVoyage in France, the Le Salon Champagne was inspired by Yves Saint Laurent's home, Villa Majorelle. Standard staterooms, which are the least expensive, hover at the water level, and come in at about 150 square feet.
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. Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruises plies the waterways of Europe, Asia, the U.S., and Egypt with its fleet of more than 60 vessels. 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. These all-inclusive itineraries include pre-cruise hotel stays, open bars, regional cuisine, and shore excursions in each port of call.
Travel Insurance for River Cruises: Coverage, Benefits and Tips (2024) - MarketWatch
Travel Insurance for River Cruises: Coverage, Benefits and Tips ( .
Posted: Fri, 26 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Book a cruise on Avalon Waterways
They offer time before or after the cruise to enjoy the city's food, music and iconic architecture — plus the ease of a round-trip flight booking. Viking's seven-night New Orleans & Southern Charms itinerary focuses solely on ports in Louisiana and Mississippi, with an emphasis on historic architecture, Cajun culture and Civil War landmarks. Whether you're fascinated by American history, culture and cuisine, or you've enjoyed river cruising in Europe but are now looking to explore closer to home, U.S. river cruises are an easy and enjoyable vacation option. "Having traveled on seven Viking longships that are virtually indistinguishable from one another, I believe it's the consistency that makes Viking one of our favorite ways to travel," said one reader.
FAQ: River cruises
Even when it is not restricted, there are times when the crew fold the canopies down, and you must remain briefly seated for low bridges. Just make sure to pay attention to the crew's clear instructions when approaching bridges. CroisiEurope is the only line to sail on the Loire River in France, with a specially designed modern paddlewheeler to navigate low water levels. Similar vessels sail France's lesser-known Elbe River and CroisiEurope is also the only line to sail on Spain's Guadalquivir River and the Vltava River in the Czech Republic. Hit the biking trails of Germany’s Black Forest region on an active Avalon Waterways Rhine cruise. Otherwise, most welcome children but don't offer extra programming for them, and Viking doesn't allow children at all.
The next day, the ship travels through the Barkley Lock and past the stunning coves and limestone bluffs of the Cumberland River's Lake Barkley– a view best enjoyed from the balcony of your stateroom. In Dover, Tennessee, guests visit historic Fort Donelson National Park and learn about the garrison's role during the Civil War. The next day, passengers can tour the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center and Fort Defiance in Clarksville, Tennessee, and cap off the experience with a whiskey tasting at Old Glory Distilling Co. The voyage ends in Nashville, where you can stroll along historic Lower Broadway, visit museums dedicated to Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline, and take in a Grand Ole Opry show. While there are river cruises that can last for several weeks or even months—by connecting through several rivers in one particular region—most river voyages usually range from eight to 15 days.
The line’s “Romantic Danube” itinerary offers quality time in Budapest, Vienna, and the Bavarian city of Regensburg in Germany, where passengers can opt either for included escorted tours or explore on their own. Excursion options include an e-bike ride through vineyards and a visit to Salzburg, Austria, where several scenes of the iconic movie musical The Sound of Music were filmed. Riviera River Cruises will launch its newest ship, the Porto Mirante, in July 2024, sailing 10 departures of its new eight-day “Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca River” itinerary between July and October.
Instead, passengers get to go on rainforest hikes, rafting adventures, winery visits, and scenic kayaking excursions through dramatic canyons. The round-trip voyage out of New York City takes nature lovers through the heart of the Hudson Valley – swathed every fall in a blanket of bright orange, red, and yellow. After departing St. Louis, the cruise arrives in Alton, Illinois, where guests can play golf on championship courses, explore the National Great Rivers Museum, or just stroll around the town's historic districts. Day three brings passengers further upriver to Mark Twain's hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, from which the author drew inspiration for several of his novels. On day four, the ship stops at Bettendorf, Iowa, for a hop-on hop-off tour of museums, artist studios, the German American Heritage Center, and the Quad City Botanical Center. In Dubuque, Iowa, guests can take a ride on the Fenelon Place Elevator, billed as "the world's steepest, shortest scenic railway".
Summer, when the weather is hottest, is peak season and as a result Europe’s cities are particularly crowded. Because of that, we recommend taking a Danube river cruise in April, May, September and October. Good Housekeeping's seven-night itinerary sails in September, when the weather should still be balmy and dry, but the summer hordes have gone home. “The best part about a river cruise departing or arriving in New Orleans is that you get to explore that city—and all of its musical and culinary delights—before you go,” says Chris Gray Faust, managing editor of Cruise Critic. “The cruise port has a nice waterfront area including outlet stores if you need to pick anything up for your trip.” And for those who like to walk, the French Quarter is not far away (taxis and rideshares are also readily available).
