European River Cruises

Regions for European River Cruises

Europe is crossed by dozens of navigable rivers, many of which are linked to popular regions though a series of canals. Some of the most popular options include the Loire Valley of France with its meandering tributaries visiting glorious chateaus, winding rivers through Austria and Hungary, and decadent voyages through quaint hamlets in many nations, including Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Ukraine, and even the Siberian tundra of Russia.

The most commonly cruised rivers in Europe include:

• Seine
• Elbe
• Po
• Danube
• Moselle
• Rhine
• Main
• Volga

Each region offers a variety of different river cruises to choose from, often passing through multiple countries, and interested passengers should carefully investigate which options they find most appealing before booking passage. Different regions operate seasonally based on local weather conditions, and because many river boats can only accommodate a few dozen passengers, reservations should be made well in advance.

Cruise Itineraries and Activities

Danube River through Budapest, Hungary.

European river cruises are far less structured than the more familiar mainstream cruise vacations in open waters. Many times, the highlight of an itinerary may be a wine tasting stop at a local vineyard, a tour of a deserted abbey, or a visit to a village marketplace. While certain cities are included on particular voyages – Vienna and Budapest, for example, are often embarkation or debarkation points – the real lure of these intimate voyages is their ability to get beyond the glitter of famous European cities and into the true culture and heritage of the region. Because of this, shore excursions may include visiting castles or cathedrals, touring archeological ruins, or simply chatting with local residents in a tavern or café. Walking and bus tours are common options, though most tours involve only moderate exertions because of the generally older profile of river cruise passengers.

Onboard the ship, structured activities are minimal and typically revolve around the cruising region, such as history, culture, or language lectures to prepare visitors for upcoming ports of call.

River Boats vs. Cruise Ships

There are many differences between river boats and cruise ships, due in large part to the vast disparity between the ships’ sizes. While cruise ships can accommodate thousands of passengers for a single voyage, most river boats house fewer than 200 guests at a time, and many offer passage to less than a dozen. Because of river boats’ small size (the ships are limited by the confines of the river, including ancient low bridges and narrow canals), most do not offer balcony cabins, and they may seem cramped in comparison to ocean-going vessels.

Moselle River, Germany.

Amenities

Despite the small size of river boats, they still offer suitable amenities for passengers to enjoy. Ships’ libraries are common features, as are saunas, exercise rooms, and whirlpools. Sun decks can get quite crowded, especially because they offer great views of the surrounding countryside, and many vessels offer open bridges to encourage camaraderie between the passengers and crew.

Cost

Depending on the cruise line, European river cruises may cost as little as less than $100 per night for a no-frills, no-meals option to upwards of $5,000 per passenger for a two-week privately charted, personalized voyage. Most fares range from $1,500-3,000 depending on the region, ship, and duration of the cruise as well as whether airfare, gratuities, shore tours, and other items are included. Specialty voyages, such as visiting Christmas markets during the holiday season or tulip river cruises through Amsterdam in the spring, typically cost more than standard sailings.

Cruise Lines

There are dozens of cruise lines that offer European river voyages; rather than researching only well-known operators, prospective travelers can find better deals and a wider range of options by contacting a travel agent experienced with both river cruises as well as European destinations.

Languages on European River Cruises

Before embarking on a cruise around Europe’s famous waterways, passengers should investigate which language will be spoken on board. While English is promoted by many cruise lines, German and French are also frequently spoken and announcements may be made in multiple languages. Packing a traveler’s dictionary and phrasebook is a wise precaution to avoid confusion and miscommunication, even if the cruise line advertises English as a primary onboard language – the ship may speak it, but ports of call likely will not.

European river cruises are the ideal itineraries to explore the culture and history of this great continent. With voyages ranging from four days to longer than two weeks and visiting multiple countries, there is sure to be a river cruise option to delight any interested passenger.