Here are the main rivers for cruising in Europe

The Danube

The Danube River runs from Germany’s Black Forest east through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine, making it the perfect river for those interested in exploring Eastern Europe in comfort. It passes through picturesque countryside, pleasant small towns, and major cities and capitals, including Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, and Bratislava.

Cruising itineraries on the Danube can range from just a few days, during which you’ll concentrate on a smaller area like Austria and Hungary, to 16-day odysseys where you can traverse the whole route from Germany to the Black Sea. Excursions off the river can include visiting the small towns of Ceský Krumlov or Budweis in Czech Republic, taking a “Sound of Music” tour in Salzburg in Austria or wandering the medieval town of Regensburg in Germany.

The Seine and Rhône Rivers

France’s Seine River flows in the north of the country, through Paris up to the English Channel. Most cruises start or end in Paris and make several stops in the Normandy region. Spend a few days exploring all that Paris has to offer and then set sail for small towns like Rouen and Le Harve. Excursions further inland might include an afternoon in Giverny, home of Claude Monet. Trips on the Seine usually last 7-8 days, though you can extend your trip pre- or post-cruise by staying in Paris a few extra days.

The Rhône runs through Southeast France and Switzerland. It passes through Oberwald and Geneva in Switzerland and several smaller towns in France, including Arles, Avignon and Lyon.

Most itineraries stop in these towns. You can tour the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lyon, marvel at Roman ruins and walk the streets of Arles, which inspired Vincent Van Gogh, and tour Avignon, the “City of Popes”. Excursions away from the river may include a journey into the heart of Burgundy to taste the locally made wine. 1-2 days may be added to these typically week-long journeys with an extension on the Saône River to the north. Or combine a look at southern France on the Rhône, with a cruise in northern France on the Seine for a journey of 12-16 days.

The Rhine

The Rhine starts in the Swiss Alps, flows north through Germany, and passes through the Netherlands. It runs through the major cities of Basel in Switzerland, Cologne and Düsseldorf in Germany and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Rhine cruises typically last for 8-12 days and feature stops at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cologne, the castle at Marksburg, and the European Parliament at Strasbourg. Along the way you’ll pass by fairy-tale castles, idyllic vineyards, and charming small towns.

Journeys along the Rhine can be extended to 15-18 days combining the trip with a sailing on the Moselle (which flows into Eastern France), Main (which connects the Danube and Rhine) or Danube Rivers.

Most Europe river cruises include a local guide for all excursions, all meals on board, some meals on excursions, and European wines on board. On-board entertainment often includes presentations like wine tastings with local experts, cooking classes and entertainment from local performers. Most river cruise ships only hold up to 300 people (as opposed to several thousand on most large ocean liners) and on most, every room will have an “outside” view. And many river cruises don’t cost much more than a sea cruise, making river cruising and affordable way to explore Europe in comfort and style.

Here are the Major companies providing River Cruises in Europe:

AMA Waterways
Avalon Waterways
Peter Deillmann Cruises
Uniworld Cruises
Viking River Cruises

There are cruises for most budgets and there are a myriad of destinations including some wonderfully new, popular destinations in Eastern Europe and Russia.

A river cruise experience is quite different from that of ocean cruising.
Lets Compare:

• In the first place, there are generally no more than about 200 passengers on a river cruise as compared to thousands on an ocean cruise. You can forget about swarms of people leaving and boarding the ship.
• Second, river cruises dock in the heart of the city, not miles away. When you get off the boat, you are right there in the center of the town or city you are visiting… how refreshing!
• The scenery along the river is lovely and interesting unlike the miles of blue outside your ocean portal.
• Although rivers have a current, there is no comparison to the ocean’s choppiness and swells. You won’t need dramamine on a river cruise.
• And unlike ocean cruises, most river cruises don’t nickel and dime you to death. Most river cruises include wine with dinner and shore excursions, some even include bikes so you can bike alongside your boat for a little exercise!
• River cruises are intimate and relaxing. There are usually no Broadway-type shows, no casinos, no over-the-top glitz. Just an opportunity to really see Europe at its best.

Here is a run-down on some of the more popular river cruise lines. Remember that you can book directly with the cruise line, but you will pay no more to book with a travel agent.Your agent will offer his or her experience and be there for you throughout the planning process.

Amadeus Waterways

This year, Amadeus has added two new ships (the Amalyra and the Amadolce) to its fleet of eight. The Amadeus Cruise is all inclusive; shore trips and all on-board services and activities. Special highlights include folklore performances, lectures, theme dinners, and local activities. Smoking is not allowed except on the sun deck. While most staff and crew are multi-lingual, English is the only language for annoucements and general communication. Amadeus has itineraries throughout Eastern and Western Europe and this year is adding Spain.

Viking River Cruises
Viking is the world’s largest river cruise company. With a fleet of 18 deluxe ships and 35 unique itineraries, Viking offers more destinations than any other river cruise line. This cruise company provides all meals, but not beverages in the booking fee. All Viking crew speak English and a total non-smoking environment is provided.

Tauck Cruises
Striving for perfection, Tauck is one of the finest tour companies in the world. All riverboats used by Tauck are limited to a maximum of 118 guests, making for an intimate voyage. All shore excursions are included, with a choice of sightseeing opportunities in many cities. On-board meals include wine with dinner, and all gratuities to ship staff are included in the booking fee.

Peter Deilmann Cruises
Cruising the great rivers of Europe, Peter Deilmann Cruises owns and operates nine deluxe river vessels. They offer four-star and five-star cruises, so check that out when booking. Dinners include wine, crew staff are multilingual, and smoking is permitted only on the open decks. Tours are optional and not included in booking price unless stated.

Avalon Waterways 
Avalon Waterways is part of the Globus family of travel brands and is a newer entry in the Europe river cruise business. Wine is included with all onboard dinners and there is a non-alcoholic alternative available. Smoking is only permitted on the Sky Deck and much of the sightseeing is included in the booking fee.

Uniworld

Uniworld owns and operates eight Grand River cruise ships, offering cruising across Europe.  All cruises provide complimentary wine with dinner, shore excursions at no additional charge, English speaking staff, and transfers on arrival day and departure day.

Now is the time to book your Europe river cruise for 2008, or even 2009.