Where in the World Can You Take a River Cruise?

Cruise vacations are not always about sailing across vast oceans. You can also go on a river cruise ship for a different experience on the water. River cruise holidays let you explore the history, culture and traditions of a place in a slow, immersive fashion. From exploring the untouched areas of the Amazon rainforest and Europe’s finest cities to sampling Creole cuisine in Mississippi, river cruises offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Read on to learn about the world’s best river cruises across Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and North America.

Best Rivers in the World to Go on a Cruise

Why Choose a River Cruise?

Here are the major reasons to book a river cruise.

• Get to know a place in an intimate, immersive way.
• Often, river cruise ships dock in city centers at a walking distance from the main places of tourist attraction.
• Generally, these ships carry 190 passengers or fewer passengers, so there are no queues to get on or off.
• If you are traveling solo, then river cruises offer opportunities to know fellow guests and crew members.
• You get the opportunity to sit on the top deck of a ship under brilliant blue skies and gaze at fabled landscapes that are dotted with villages, castles and vineyards.
• Typically, you can access all modern-day amenities like restaurants, bars, lounges, fitness facilities, spa centers, Internet access and comfortable staterooms just one flight of stairs down.

Special River Cruise Deals

You can search and book the perfect river cruise vacation with CruiseBooking.com, which will be a truly enjoyable vacation for you and your family.

Explore Itineraries

Photo by user18989612 at Freepik

World’s Best Rivers for a Cruise Holiday

Let’s dive deeper to know about the best river cruise experiences in the world.

The Rhine

This popular river cruise covers 40 castles over the head-turning 40-mile stretch of the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Also, it is known for panoramic banks lined with vineyards, wine-growing villages and culture-rich cities like Strasbourg and Cologne. Notably, the Rhine river flows through six countries, namely Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, France and the Netherlands.

The Danube

The river begins in Germany’s Black Forest and meanders through 10 countries on its way to the Black Sea. The river cruise offers beautiful scenery, especially in the Wachau Valley (Austria), which is lined with wine estates and apricot orchards.

The Douro

Starting from the city of Porto in Portugal, the Douro river winds through craggy green landscapes featuring port houses until it reaches the Spanish border. Sailing only during daytime, Douro ships let you explore the honey-colored city of Salamanca.

The Seine

The Seine river travels through the center of Paris. River cruise ships are docked for a night or two in the city, offering plenty of time for sightseeing. They also cover Normandy, providing a chance to try local apples in the cider brandy calvados and Normandy chicken that is prepared using rich cream from the region’s distinctive brown speckled cows.

The Elbe

The quiet river starts in the Czech Republic and flows through Germany to end in the North Sea. The highlight of Elbe cruises is Saxon Switzerland, a hilly German national park in the Elbe Valley. River cruise ships on this route also cover the cities of Prague and Berlin.

The Mississippi

River cruise ships undertake a week-long sailing on the lower Mississippi between Memphis and New Orleans. Some cruise ships on this course also offer options to venture upriver to St Paul in Minnesota.

The Nile

Nile cruises sail along the stretch between Aswan and Luxor. Also, they include a visit to the Valley of the Kings, the burial place of notable pharaohs like Tutankhamun.

The Mekong

It is Southeast Asia’s longest river and flows through Vietnam and Cambodia. River cruises on this route emphasise cultural immersion. You can get opportunities to participate in early morning t’ai chi classes on the sun deck and/or attend cookery demos to learn local dishes. River cruises on this route cover Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia’s Siem Reap.

The Amazon

If you like adventure, then book a cruise on the world’s largest river by volume. Beginning from Iquitos in Peru, these river cruise ships go deep into the rainforest with dawn safaris on small boats to witness life in a forest. You get to see chattering monkeys, iguanas, sloths, bats and pale pink freshwater dolphins.

Things to Consider When Choosing a River Cruise

The following are the things to consider while booking a cruise vacation:

• Understand your preferences like the size of the vessel, condition of staterooms, dining facilities and whether you want an adventurous excursion.
• Zero in on where you want to cruise.
• Decide the time of the year when you want to go on a cruise vacation.
• Consider your budget before booking a cruise.
• Take into account whether you want to travel solo or with the family.
• Compare different cruise lines for value for money.

Conclusion

River cruises are gaining popularity when it comes to exploring Europe and the Americas via waterways. They take you through the heart of some of the most fascinating and beautiful cities in the world. If you too want to gain unique experiences on a river cruise, then visit CruiseBooking.com to book your vacation.