europe river cruises family

• Themed cruises

Family cruises

Family friendly river cruises in Europe

Enjoy the benefits of the special Family Cruise program for an unforgettable family cruise for children and parents to Europe:

• Children up to 16 years old travel free or reduced
• Waived single supplement
• Adjacent cabins for family members
• Adapted menus

CroisiFamily offers free cruises for children up to 16 years old* on France , Portugal , Spain , Rhine and Italy . For Croatian Coast Cruises, children benefit from a 30% discount .

Children will enjoy the adapted meals and the opportunity to discover new countries with their parents.

Parents will love the free visit of the stopover cities, the excursions offering guided tours of beautiful cities and sites, the tranquility and rest, the folk evenings and many other activities!

Not to mention the advantages of CroisiEurope: full board on board, drinks included in meals and bar, refined French cuisine, dinner and gala evening, welcome cocktail... Everything to spend the best holidays with the children!

*Offers applicable to cabins of equal or lesser value only. Offers are non-retroactive and cannot be combined with any other offer. Subject to availability.

Family Club - Croatia and Montenegro

DUBROVNIK - MLJET - KORCULA - SIBENIK - TROGIR - SPLIT - VIS - HVAR - KOTOR - DUBROVNIK

Enjoy a breath-taking journey throughout the beautiful landscapes of Croatia and Montenegro, in which you will discover beautiful cities as well as places where nature is queen. Dive into the striking beauty of the Dalmatian coast, stroll through Dubrovnik "the pearl of the Adriatic", Trogir, Hvar, Korcula or Kotor, as well as the national parks of Mljet and Krka.

Family Club - From Portugal to Spain: Porto, the Douro Valley (Portugal) and Salamanca (Spain)

PORTO - REGUA - VEGA DE TERRON - BARCA D'ALVA - FERRADOSA - PINHAO - PORTO

Portugal and Spain will unveil their treasures along a unique cruise over the Douro. Discover Porto, a city full of charm where its heritage is perfectly combined with the modern, cosmopolitan and intimate at the same time. You will visit the charming city of Lamego where breath-taking landscapes of green hills offer an interesting change of scenery. You will also discover Guimarães and its fascinating stories that are reflected in the many monuments and historic buildings surrounding the town.

Family Club : The Douro River, the spirit of Portugal

PORTO - REGUA - PINHAO - VEGA DE TERRON - Salamanca - BARCA D'ALVA - FERRADOSA - PINHAO - PORTO

Visit Spain and Portugal connected by the Golden River. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Douro opens its doors where you will discover terraced vineyards, typical villages, quintas and their wines all along the river. Don't let the kids feel left out on vacation! Our certified youth leaders bring on the fun with crafts, sports, and cultural activities. And we've even handpicked a few excursions just for them.

Family Club - The Loire Valley, a Royal legacy^

NANTES - SAINT-NAZAIRE - NANTES - ANCENIS - CHALONNES-SUR-LOIRE - The Châteaux of the Loire Valley - ANCENIS - NANTES

Discover Saint-Nazaire and see the Espadon submarine, the first French submarine to cross under ice. Escal'Atlantic takes you to the depths of the oceans during this experience. Have an unforgettable time either at the Puy du Fou or exploring majestic castles in the Loire. Top it all off with a street art tour in Angers. From its smallest to largest works created in an amazing variety of mediums, we'll jump into the eccentric landscape of the city's urban landscape.

Family Club - Andalusia: Traditions, Gastronomy and Flamenco

SEVILLE - Córdoba - SEVILLE - CADIZ - EL PUERTO DE SANTA MARIA - ISLA MINIMA - SEVILLE - Granada - SEVILLE

From Seville to Granada, this cruise will allow you to visit the cities and emblematic sites of this rich region of Spain. Discover Seville, the capital of Andalusia, which is full of joy and activity throughout its streets. You will be amazed by the old town which is home to amazing architecture and tradition. But also, by Jerez which has preserved an incredible architectural heritage.

The romantic Rhine Valley and the rock of the Lorelei

STRASBOURG - RUDESHEIM - KOBLENZ - MAINZ - RASTATT - STRASBOURG

Embark on a cruise on the Rhine between Alsace and Germany through an incredible diversity of landscapes, cultures, and stories. Dive into the heart of an authentic terroir rich in discoveries: Rüdesheim in small train, visit famous museums and the treetop walk in the black forest.

Family Club - Timeless Venice

VENICE - MAZZORBO - VENICE - CHIOGGIA - VENICE

Set off on a cruise to experience quintessential Venice. Dive into the art of gondola and mask making. Indulge in fine Venetian cuisine and enjoy authentic cicchetti at the edge of the Grand Canal . Find some respite from bustling Venetian life on the charming island of Burano. To top it all off, discover hillside villa masterpieces from the Renaissance.

Family Club: Porto, the Douro valley (Portugal) and Salamanca (Spain)

PORTO - REGUA - PINHAO - VEGA DE TERON (Spain) - BARCA D'ALVA - SENHORA DA RIBEIRA - FERRADOSA - PORTO

As a family, immerse yourself in the heart of the festive and warm atmosphere of Portugal and Spain where you can discover a unique way of life. You will visit Porto, a subtle mixture of modernity and history famous for its wine, or Salamanca and its cathedral, Spain's "golden city". It has a rich architectural, religious and gastronomic culture.

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Europe River Cruises

• Italy River Cruise
• Portugal River Cruise
• Germany River Cruise
• France River Cruise

250+ European river cruises with 1,214 reviews

• River Cruise

Romantic Rhine (Southbound) 2024

Loved the tour and the included excursions. It would have been good to spend less time in Amsterdam and extra time sailing during the day. Also, a disco of an evening would be great!

Romantic Rhine (Northbound) 2024

Outstanding service in every respect

Danube Serenade: Romantic Journey from Vienna to Bucharest (Turnu Magurele) , MS Fidelio

Classic Rhine cruise (Amsterdam-Basel) MS Crucevita

Great, it could do more local food & wine from the area

Grand Danube Cruise 2024

Captivating Rhine 2024 Start Amsterdam, End Basel

From the Blue Danube to the Black Sea (port-to-port cruise) (11 destinations)

Crosieurope had nice food, plenty of beer and wine, very clean boat - both inside and out. Staff were very nice and helpful, always cleaning windows, carpet, etc. The administration staff were a bit at times disorganised. Sometimes they would forget to give message in English after they delivered Message in French.

The beautiful blue Danube (port-to-port cruise)

The tour exceeded all our expectations. We will definitely recognize this company to all our friends and family. Will also do another one in the near future.

Splendours of Europe (Start Amsterdam, End Budapest)

The program in the Emerald ship was magnificently planned and discussed. The local music during the cruise was so informative. Long live the music from the Netherlands and Germany through Austria and Slovakya to Hungary! Just for the music, dances and songs I will do the cruise again!

Danube Classics Vienna 2024 (8 destinations)

We had a generally good experience. Most new passengers board in Engelhartszell, but 17 passengers boarded the ship in Vienna. We boarded in Vienna and didn’t receive new passenger orientation, which includes basic ship, safety and excursion presentations. The crew was very friendly, although it was primarily a German language oriented cruise lines.

Classical Rhine Cruise (Amsterdam - Basel) (10 destinations)

We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise. It was well organized and the food was superb.

Splendours of Europe (Start Budapest, End Amsterdam)

Douro Experience 2024 (9 destinations)

Our Douro river cruise on A Rosa , was extremely pleasant and positive. All staff, food and sailing were enjoyable & dealt with English speakers well.

Romantic Rhine & Moselle - Rüdesheim > Rhine Gorge (Start Basel, End Amsterdam)

Rhine Highlights with Switzerland - Koblenz > Rhine Gorge

European river cruises reviews.

It was a great cruise. The food was amazing, the crew was really helpful, and the tours and tour guides were great. The only thing to imporve on if the WiFi which only worked half the time.

The Wi-Fi didn’t work as expected and it caused quite an inconvenience. The excursion plan is not as clear either. Overall it’s still a good tour but I think my last Danube river with Avalon is better than this rhino river cruise.

Great company to cruise with. Ship carries 110 passengers. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner each day. Plenty of stops to sightsee. The castles along the Rhine make trip a very enjoyable cruise. All staff were great.

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A-ROSA Family Cruises

A-ROSA Cruises with children

Traveling with children is an incredible opportunity to witness their growth and development. Each day brings new experiences, flavors, and adventures that they get to discover for the first time. And the best part? Everyone can embark on this adventure together - from the littlest toddler all the way up to the beloved grandparents! These are moments you'll cherish forever as unforgettable memories made in each other's company. So why not plan your next vacation with everyone onboard? You won't regret it!

A-ROSA Family Cruise

In this video our River Cruise blogger Anna-Maria shows you how nice it is to be on board with the whole family. In the A-ROSA Kids Club our little crusaders have a lot of fun.

• Family Cruises

Families – benefits at a glance

• Central berths & special family excursions, e.g. visit to Comic Worlds in Antwerp
• The perfect offer for every generation: Kids Club, wellness area, city hopping
• Nobody can get lost: manageable ship size with maximum of 240 guests and a familiar atmosphere
• Port guides with special information for families

Children on board!

Children up to and including 15 years of age travel free of charge when accompanied by at least one (two in Cat. G) supervising adult on Deck 1. From Deck 2 children receive a 30 % discount. Furthermore, children up to 7 years of age accompanied by 2 supervising adults can use a sofa bed free of charge on the A-ROSA SENA in categories B - D. On the A-ROSA ALVA, A-ROSA ALEA & A-ROSA CLEA children accompanied by at least one supervising adult receive a 30 % discount. The children’s discount is only valid for the cruise itself. Limited availabilities on all cruises.

A-ROSA Kids Club

For children, our cruise ships are like a giant floating playground. Ship voyages are adventures, and those adventures are best experienced with our Kids Club – together with other children, experienced children´s entertainer and lots of activities, such as ship treasure hunts, a pirate day or a creative atelier. Parents can relax with a clear conscience, in our spa for example, while their kids experience all manners of adventures. And in the evening everyone will find their favourite dish at the buffet even your little gourmets with our special kid’s menus.

• animation program for children and teenagers between 4 and 15 years old
• daily up to three kids club times
• the when, where and what will be communicated the evening before
• the supervision responsibility remains with the parents, as the children can still move freely on board

Family Cruises in 2024

€ 150 pp SUPER EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT

Rhine Legends 2024

What dreams are made of: wild landscapes and lonely castles..

From Cologne to Rüdesheim, Germersheim (Speyer), Strasbourg (Kehl), Mainz and Koblenz to Cologne.

from  € 969  pp

Premium All-Inclusive | cabin S

€ 150 pp Super Early Booking Discount

Rhine Enchanting Christmas 2024

To enjoy a relaxed christmas on the rhine is no fairy tale..

from  € 1,269  pp

€ 200 pp SUPER EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT

Rhine Experience Amsterdam & Rotterdam 2024

Spend your time on deck dreaming – but don't miss the dream-like landscape..

From Cologne to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Cruising Day to Cologne.

from  € 1,697  pp

Premium All-Inclusive | cabin B

Rhine Experience IJsselmeer

Towards the ijsselmeer – the largest lake in the netherlands.

From Cologne to Willemstad, Huizen, Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Nijmegen and Wesel to Cologne.

from  € 1,397  pp

€ 200 pp Super Early Booking Discount

Rhine Discovery Spay/Koblenz 2024

From Cologne to Cochem, Koblenz, Boppard, Gorinchem, Nijmegen and Düsseldorf to Cologne.

from  € 2,047  pp

Rhine New Year's City Experience 2024

Happy new year in holland & belgium.

From Cologne to Rotterdam, Antwerp, Dordrecht, Amsterdam and Cruising Day to Cologne.

from  € 2,547  pp

Premium All-Inclusive | cabin C

Rhine New Year's Dream 2024

Where's the best party in amsterdam everywhere in amsterdam..

From Cologne to Antwerp, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Nijmegen to Cologne.

Premium All-Inclusive | cabin A

Danube Discovery 2024

On the danube you’ll find the city of your dreams. and then another one. and another..

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Vienna, Bratislava, Krems, Melk and Linz to Engelhartszell (Passau).

from  € 899  pp

Danube Christmas 2024

A gift with the dark blue ribbon of the danube..

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Bratislava, Vienna and Melk to Engelhartszell (Passau).

from  € 1,199  pp

Danube Christmas Dream 2024

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Dürnstein, Vienna, Bratislava and Melk to Engelhartszell (Passau).

€ 200 pp SUPER EARLY BOOKING DISCOUN

Danube Classics 2024

Calm waters through europe's stormy history..

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Vienna, Esztergom, Budapest, Bratislava, Krems and Melk to Engelhartszell (Passau).

from  € 1,299  pp

Danube Enchanting New Year's 2024

The old year ends like the new one begins: with a new outlook..

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Cruising Day, Budapest, Vienna, Dürnstein and Linz to Engelhartszell (Passau).

from  € 1,847  pp

Danube New Year's Dream 2024

New year's resolution: marvel as often as today..

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Cruising Day, Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Dürnstein and Linz to Engelhartszell (Passau).

Danube New Year's 2024

End the old year as the new one begins: with new prospects..

From Engelhartszell (Passau) to Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Cruising Day to Engelhartszell (Passau).

Seine Rendez-vous with Paris 2024

The seine has plenty of time. and it’s in no rush to leave the most beautiful city in the world..

From Paris to Rouen and Vernon to Paris.

from  € 1,419  pp

Seine Experience the Normandy 2024

Wake up in the city you were just dreaming about..

From Paris to Rouen, Caudebec-en-Caux, Les Andelys and Vernon to Paris.

Rhône Route Rendez-Vous 2024

The best holidays are when you meet nice people – and yourself..

From Lyon to Viviers, Arles, Avignon and Vienne to Lyon.

Rhône Route Classique 2024 - A-ROSA LUNA

More beautiful images during a trip are not to be had. for the album and for the heart..

From Lyon to Mâcon, Chalon-sur-Saône, Tournus, Lyon, Arles, Avignon, Viviers and La Voulte to Lyon.

from  € 1,597  pp

Rhône Route Méditerranée 2024 - A-ROSA LUNA

Cast off for savoir vivre, art and life..

From Lyon to Viviers, Avignon, Arles, Port St. Louis and Tournon/ Tain-l´Hermitage to Lyon.

Special cabins for families on A-ROSA ships

Every day with family is an adventure, especially when you embark on thrilling journeys together. The perfect place to create your own little personal haven or plan your next excursion is our family cabin, which is furnished with a generously sized double bed and two high-quality single beds. 

A-ROSA VIVA

2-bed outside cabin with additional bed, S 14.5 m²

Spacious, comfortable outside cabin. Elegant design and first-class materials ensure an atmosphere of well-being. Cabin facilities: safe, air-conditioning, TV, hair dryer, bathroom with shower and toilet, sauna towel, wool blanket, telephone, bathrobe.

A-ROSA DONNA, A-ROSA MIA, A-ROSA RIVA and A-ROSA BELLA

2-bed outside cabin, A 15.5 m²

Spacious and comfortable outside cabin. Elegant design and first-class materials ensure an atmosphere of well-being. Cabin facilities: safe, air-conditioning, TV, hair dryer, bathroom with shower and toilet, sauna towel, wool blanket, telephone, bathrobe.

360° Panorama View

A-ROSA FLORA

2-bed family cabin, G 18.5 m²

Generously sizes and comfortable family cabins with two extra beds. Elegant design and first-class materials ensure an atmosphere of well-being. Cabin facilities: safe, air-conditioning, TV, hair dryer, bathroom with shower and toilet, sauna towel, wool blanket, telephone, bathrobe.

2-bed junior suite, E 21 m²

Generously sized Junior Suite with Juliette balcony, sofa, spacious bathroom and walk-in closet. Elegant design and first-class materials ensure an atmosphere of well-being. Additional services: check-in and personal welcome from 12.00 h, Suite cocktail with the hotel manager, room service, free use of the mini bar, fresh flowers and fruit, laundry and ironing service, butler service.

2-bed balcony suite, F, F 29 m²

Generously sized Balcony Suite with balcony, sofa, bathroom with daylight and walk-in closet. Elegant design and first-class materials ensure an atmosphere of well-being. Additional services: check-in and personal welcome from 12.00 h, Suite cocktail with the hotel manager, room service, free use of the mini bar, fresh flowers and fruit, laundry and ironing service, butler service.

A-ROSA SENA

2-bed family cabin, G 28 m²

2-bed balcony suite, F 26 m²

A-rosa aqua and a-rosa brava.

A-ROSA SILVA

2-bed balcony suite, F 29 m²

A-rosa luna and a-rosa stella.

FAQ Family Cruises

• General Questions

What do I need to consider when planning a family vacation with A-ROSA?

Children of all ages are welcome on board the A-ROSA fleet. During school vacations, A-ROSA offers a Kids Club on selected cruises with lots of sporty and playful activities. Find more information  here .

Keywords: Family travel, Family Cruise, Kids Club, Vacation

Why is a family trip with A-ROSA worthwhile?

A-ROSA has very special offers for families on the A-ROSA family cruises. The family cruises take place during school vacations and offer lots of fun, games and variety for the youngest guests in our Kids Club. There are also special family excursions and child-friendly dishes at the buffet.

Keywords: Vacation, Family travel, Kids Club, Family Cruise

Are A-ROSA family trips All-Inclusive?

On  Family Cruises  you also have the option of booking the popular Premium All-Inclusive rate. And the best part: Children up to and including 15 years of age travel free of charge when accompanied by at least one (two in Cat. G) supervising adult on Deck 1. From Deck 2 children receive a 30 % discount. Furthermore, children up to 7 years of age accompanied by 2 supervising adults can use a sofa bed free of charge on the A-ROSA SENA in categories B - D. On the A-ROSA ALVA, A-ROSA ALEA & A-ROSA CLEA children accompanied by at least one supervising adult receive a 30 % discount. The children’s discount is only valid for the cruise itself. Limited availabilities on all cruises.

Keywords: Family travel, Family Cruise, Kids Club, Premium All-Inclusive

Do the A-ROSA Family Cruises offer childcare?

The A-ROSA family cruises offer a Kids Club with up to three entertainment times a day and experienced supervisors. The program is suitable for children and young people from 4 up to 15 years of age. Find more information about our Kids Club  here .

Keywords: Family travel, Family Cruise, Vacation, Kids Club

Which round trips are particularly suitable for families?

A-ROSA offers many family cruises on the Rhine, the Danube, the Rhône and the Seine. All family cruises provide lots of fun, games and variety for the youngest guests in the Kids Club. There are also special excursions that are ideal for families. Here  you can find an overview of all Family Cruises.

Keywords: Family travel, Kids Club, Family Cruise, Excursions

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• River Cruises

15 of the Best European River Cruises

Explore France, Germany, and more on these European river cruises.

Much of the appeal of European river cruises, especially as we emerge from the pandemic with pent-up travel demand, is the small size of the ships, casual atmosphere, and accessibility. Unlike oceangoing ships that carry as many as 5,000 passengers, most river cruise ships accommodate around 150 guests, for a more intimate experience. Balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and open-air viewing are features of most river cruise ships, and some offer pools, spas, fitness areas, and jogging tracks.

Guests are kept busy (if they wish to be) with daily shore excursions, and most cruises offer several options depending on interests and activity levels. Bikes and walking tours are available in most ports, or guests can choose a leisurely day in a comfortable lounge enjoying the passing scenery.

"River cruises offer opportunities to step ashore in fairy-tale towns and fabled cities. You can immerse yourself in contemporary culture and learn something about the history of the towns along the continent's greatest rivers," according to Ralph Grizzle of River Cruise Advisor . "Sitting on the top deck of a ship under brilliant blue skies, you can gaze on fabled landscapes dotted with castles, villages, and vineyards. A flight of stairs down, and you have all the amenities of a modern hotel—restaurants, bars, fitness facilities, spas, internet access, and comfortable staterooms."

With a number of cruise companies and rivers to choose from, planning a river cruise can take some time. Consulting with a travel advisor is always a good idea, and there's plenty of information available online as well. These are the major companies offering the best European river cruises along with examples of their itineraries.

Perhaps the best known of the river cruise companies, Viking promotes their "longships," which include large suites and inviting verandas for outdoor dining. Guests enjoy Viking's destination-focused dining as well as the variety of staterooms and itineraries with a wide range of prices.

Viking's 10-day "Portugal's River of Gold '' begins in Lisbon with a walking tour through its ancient streets before heading to Porto, home of the country's traditional wine, to board the ship and begin the cruise along the Douro River. Guests can explore Baroque palaces, vineyards, and lush scenery along the way, arriving in the World Heritage city of Salamanca, Spain on day six. The itinerary includes visits to Portuguese villages in Pinhão and Régua to sample local foods and wines before returning to Porto.

AmaWaterways

Celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2022, this family-owned and operated cruise company focuses on excellent food and wine, tasteful décor, stateroom views, and innovation in their luxurious fleet. Fares include fitness classes, shore excursions, and all dining on board, including The Chef's Table specialty restaurant. New ships debut each year, and the spacious AmaMagna , launched in 2019, is nearly twice the width of traditional European cruise ships.

Wine lovers will want to experience the seven-night "Taste of Bordeaux," with visits to iconic chateaux, timeless vineyards, and delicious wine tastings while cruising the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers. Excursions include a tour of a medieval castle and tasting of Sauternes, a stop in Pauillac, gateway to the Medoc wine region, and a Saint-Emilion tour and tasting. Returning to Bordeaux, guests will explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site and capital of the wine world.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Uniworld's one-of-a-kind vessels are inspired by the locales they visit, making their luxurious ships a destination in themselves. Billed as "the world's only authentic boutique cruise line," Uniworld offers in-suite butler service, world-class cuisine, and all-inclusive rates that cover premium spirits and wines as well as gratuities.

Their eight-day "Enchanting Danube" cruise aboard the S.S. Maria Theresa begins in Budapest with a choice of touring by bicycle or walking. A stop in Vienna includes a Mozart and Strauss concert at a Viennese palace, a city tour, and a taste of local delicacies. The cruise ends in Passau with a choice of bicycling, walking, or hiking to explore the city and a special captain's farewell reception and dinner.

Avalon Waterways

Avalon features wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows with beds facing the views for ultimate enjoyment from their suites and staterooms. Large private bathrooms include full showers and L'Occitane bath amenities. Their deluxe beds and luxurious linens provide comfort in spacious, quiet quarters with ample closet space. Avalon offers "Active & Discovery" river cruises with activities for a variety of energy and fitness levels, from traditional sightseeing to action-packed experiences.

The "Active & Discovery on the Rhone" cruise begins in Lyon and heads south through the French countryside of Provence and ends in Port-Saint-Louis. On the way, Avalon Choice excursions include a culinary walk, cooking class, painting workshop, wine tastings, guided bike rides, and more, with Active, Classic, and Discovery level activities.

Started as a New England motor coach tour company, Tauck is a family-owned global travel firm offering tours and cruises to a wide range of destinations around the world. Their award-winning European river cruises are praised for their personalized service, exclusive destination experiences, luxurious cabins and suites, fine dining, and professional, caring staff.

"Impressions from the Seine: Paris to Normandy," an eight-day cruise, features stops in historic small villages and towns and a visit to the D-Day beaches of Normandy and the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. A private visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet at Giverny and a visit to the Impressionist Museum will please art lovers. Other highlights include a guided visit to Versailles, Louis XIV's magnificent palace and gardens, the Cathedrale de Rouen, and Joan of Arc Square.

Scenic offers both ocean and river cruises, all with emphasis on its fleet of "Space-Ships" and their meticulous design and spacious quarters. Guests enjoy personalized butler service and all-inclusive cruising. Ships offer a wellness area, massage services, gym, e-bikes, and onboard entertainment. Scenic's "FreeChoice" excursions offer something for all activity levels.

The "Charming Castles & Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle" begins with arrival in Frankfurt and transfer to Mainz for boarding. Stops include Koblenz, where guests can take a walking or e-bike tour. There's a private classical music concert and tour of Reichsburg Castle along the way, as well as optional visits to the Mercedes-Benz factory or a walking tour of Strasbourg and its magnificent cathedral.

Emerald Cruises

Emerald offers both yacht and river cruises, with a range of cruises on the rivers in Europe. Founded in 2013, Emerald now features a fleet of nine "Star-Ships," with stylish suites, first-class amenities, and room for 180 guests. Most carry bicycles, and all staterooms are equipped with hiking poles. Excursions include the EmeraldPLUS program of special experiences to connect with their destinations, and EmeraldACTIVE offers faster-paced guided tours, bike rides, hikes, and activities.

The eight-day "Sensations of Lyon & Provence" cruise begins in Lyon and heads to a quaint village and then south again towards Tournon, with its 16th-century castle. Along the way, guests can choose a hike through vineyards, canoe trip, village walking tours, or wine tasting onboard.

Adventures by Disney River Cruises

Partnering with AmaWaterways, Adventures by Disney offers cruises on the Seine, Rhine, and Danube Rivers, Disney style. Specially designed itineraries and Adventure Guides create experiences for parents, children, and teens, from active excursions to unique onboard activities. Adults-only dinners and wine tasting experiences along with teen programming, Disney movie nights, karaoke, trivia nights, and Junior Adventurer dinners provide entertainment for guests of all ages.

The eight-day Danube River Cruise starts in Budapest where excursions include a horse show at an equestrian park and a goulash-making competition for Adventurers. In Bratislava, Junior Adventurers can visit a petting zoo, and in the evening, there's family karaoke. A tour of Vienna and Schönbrunn Palace, marionette show, concert, and strudel making are options the next day. A day in Salzburg ends onboard with "The Sound of Music" film and singalong. After an Oktoberfest celebration and captain's farewell dinner, the cruise ends the next day.

CroisiEurope Cruises

Established in 1976, Croisi offers cruises on rivers, canals, and seas with a fleet of oceangoing ships, canal barges, and river cruise ships. The company's innovative approach allowed them to be pioneers on several rivers in Europe including the Gironde, Loire, Po, and Elbe, basing their ships' design on the characteristics of the waterways.

CroisiEurope's seven-day "Hamburg to Berlin: Discover the Medieval Charms of Hanseatic Cities" cruise starts with guided tours of Hamburg and Lübeck, A UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a morning cruise, the ship will ride on the Scharnebeck twin ship lift, one of the highest in Europe, with a vertical lift of 125 feet. An optional visit to the Autostadt theme park, dedicated to German auto design, and an afternoon cruise fill day four. The next day, there's a tour of Magdeburg, known for its fascinating architecture and culture. The ship arrives in Berlin for a tour and festive evening.

This German cruise company' s distinctive ships are easy to recognize by the large red lips and rose on the bow. Their fleet of 12 ships was joined by the new A-Rosa Sena , a hybrid powered ship expected to cruise the northern Rhine almost silently and emission-free. Family-friendly amenities include a kids club, heated outdoor pools, and free passage for children ages 15 and under.

The six-day "Highlights of the Rhine" cruise begins in Cologne and cruises on to Rotterdam and then Amsterdam the following day. Options include a bus tour, canal tour, pedal boats, or private auto tour, each at an additional cost. A variety of ways to explore Utrecht the next day are available. On day six, the ship returns to Cologne.

Lueftner Cruises

This Austrian family business dates back more than 40 years and offers European river cruises on its fleet of 16 AMADEUS ships. Five-star service, facilities, and cuisine are their hallmarks, and their ships feature wide panoramic windows and a spacious sun deck.

The eight-day "Saar and Moselle Fairytales" cruise boards in Cologne and cruises down the Rhine to the Moselle and its tributary, the Saar River. The ship passes the Mosel vineyards and docks in the medieval town of Cochem for a guided walking tour. The next day, guests can tour the town of Bernkastel-Kues and enjoy a wine tasting or hike to the ruins of a castle for a stunning view. After a morning tour of Saarburg, the ship cruises along the Saar River with panoramic views of its massive loop. The ship stops in Luxembourg and then continues to Koblenz, where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet, before returning to Cologne.

Apt River Cruises

This Australian-owned organization is the country's largest family-owned tour and cruise company , offering a variety of travel styles. Their Concerto River Ships, AmaVenita , AmaStella , and AmaReina , cruise on the Danube, Main, Rhine, and Douro Rivers with luxury accommodations and excursions. Apt charters the ships from AmaWaterways, but their itineraries and onboard programs are unique to Apt River Cruises. Apt's offerings include rail journeys, as well as small boat, yacht, and ocean cruises.

Their 15-day "Magnificent Europe" cruise begins in Amsterdam with a canal tour and cruises the Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers before arriving in Budapest. The ship docks in Koblenz and takes a daytime cruise through the Rhine Gorge before landing in Miltenberg for a guided tour of the city. On day six, guests can choose a trip to Rothenburg or visit a family-owned farm for a home-cooked morning tea. The ship passes through the Main-Danube Canal that connects the Black Sea and the North Sea. In Vienna, there's a cocktail party and private orchestra recital or city tour before heading to Budapest for two days.

Nicko Cruises

This German company offers 30 years of experience on Europe's rivers, and has a fleet of 26 river ships in addition to the expedition ship World Voyager and oceangoing Vasco Da Gama . The company's "time to discover" philosophy focuses on intensive travel experiences, shore excursions, and varied culinary offerings.

The eight-day "Traveling on the Elbe and Havel" cruise covers Germany's north on rivers and canals aboard the Frederick Chopin . Starting in Berlin, the cruise continues to Potsdam for a guided walking tour. A guided tour takes guests through Autostadt Wolfsburg, a park dedicated to the history of the automobile. In Hamburg, there's a city tour and harbor cruise before the cruise continues to the Baltic resort, Laboe, and ends in Kiel.

Teeming River Cruises

Founded in 2017 with the goal of making European river cruises more economical and personalized, family-owned American company Teeming River Cruises developed a different river cruise model. Instead of pre-programmed group activities, guests create their own unique experiences with a complimentary city tour app for each destination. All-inclusive plans and group tours are not part of Teeming's itineraries.

Their cruise in northern Italy along the Po River, "From the Canals of Venice to Renaissance-infused Mantua," is a seven-day excursion starting in Venice where guests can discover St. Mark's Square and Doge's Palace. In partnership with CroisiEurope aboard the MS Michelangelo , the ship heads west to Vicenza and then on to Chioggia. Day four is spent in Verona, with its ancient amphitheater and Giusti Gardens. The next days are spent in Cremona and Mantua with disembarkation and a coach trip back to Venice.

Belmond - Afloat in France

Belmond has another way to cruise some of Europe's rivers — on luxury barges with private chefs and excursions like truffle hunting, hot air ballooning, canoeing, and wine tasting. Seven barges make up Afloat in France , each with its own style and size. The elegant barges cruise the waterways of Burgundy, Provence, Alsace, Champagne, Languedoc, and Franche-Comté from April to October.

On the Belmond Napoleon , guests cruise the River Saône past châteaux, rural river towns, and expansive vineyards. Stops at Montmerle, Mâcon, and Tournus offer opportunities for wine tasting and exploring a Benedictine abbey. There's a walking tour of Chalon-Sur-Sâone and time to browse through St. Jean de Losne.

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Europe’s inland waterways and stunning seaside coasts are brimming with old-world treasures. Discover them in celebrated capitals such as Vienna and Oslo, and in delightfully surprising ports, like Bratislava, Slovakia and Skagen, Denmark. From river to ocean, you can find:

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FAMILY FRIENDLY, MULTI-GENERATIONAL EUROPE RIVER CRUISES Connecting families and Europe together for lasting memories for those of all ages.

Today, we're going to talk about why river cruising, specifically, provides a wonderful opportunity for families to celebrate a special occasion together. Traveling as a family allows those of all ages to discover different cultures, lifestyles and cuisines from around the world, and it is hassle-free when enjoyed on a European river cruise. No longer are European river cruises a "no, no" for families. Family river cruises on the Danube, Rhine, Rhone and Saone are now available throughout the summer months on several excellent river cruise lines including: Tauck, Uniworld, and in a few cases, Avalon Waterways. We mention these three specific cruise lines because they're currently the only ones offering specific family river cruise departures during the summer. In some cases, depending on the age(s) of your children, you may not need to go on a specific family-focused cruise. Our river cruise experts will work with you to determine what your needs are so that you're comfortable in your selection process, and know the one selected is the right cruise for your family. The "family" friendly river cruise itineraries are the same as the non-family departures, but there are many added features for the younger set. These events or kid-friendly tours are not on normal cruises including medieval games, dinners at unique castles, chocolate tastings, bicycle rides, cooking classes, and more. In addition to many fun things for the kids, the normal tours are itinerary tours and are also available for older children and their parents to enjoy; parents can work with the ship's onboard cruise director to determine what is best for their children.

The two major lines that offer family-friendly departures, Tauck and Uniworld are also all-inclusive, which makes family river cruises even more affordable. Once on board, you AND your kids pay for absolutly nothing, not even tipping. And, on shore, everything is included as well, so you know up front what your costs are before you ever leave home. AmaWaterways has family-friendly balcony staterooms. In 2016 and 2017, AmaWaterways introduced a limited number of family-friendly balcony staterooms containing 3 guests on the AmaStella, AmaViola and AmaKristina. This was a first in the river cruise industry as most staterooms are generally designed for two people. There are only about 12 such staterooms on each of the new ships, so you do need to reserve very early as they are certainly in high demand. In addition to the triple berth staterooms, these ships also feature connecting staterooms, enabling a family of five to be as close as they need to be. The AmaSerena and AmaViola sail the Danube throughout the river cruise season. We think a family river cruise along one of these fabulous European rivers is a history lesson for all. The memories created when you visit to places like Heidelberg Castle, Strasbourg, Koln Cathedral, Amsterdam, Lyon, Budapest or Prague will last a lifetime. Imagine the dinner conversations after your family enjoys a concert in Vienna's Schonbrunn Castle, or walk the streets of the Champs Elysée in Paris? And best of all? You pack and unpack only once!. When we look back on life I would venture a guess that there are personal, family and travel memories that stand out to each of us. I remember family dinners, both with my folks and my kids that evoke many funny memories — you know like, “eat it or you can’t get up,” “drink your milk or no dessert,” and others. I especially remember one dinner in Honolulu at a prominent restaurant where my youngest son was suffering from a bit of jet lag. The family (9 or 10 of us) were talking when we heard a loud “thud.” As our eyes turned toward the end of the table, we saw him with head smack in the middle of his plate of food, sound asleep — what a picture that paints to this very day. For those fortunate enough to travel as a family, you know what I mean when I say, "traveling as a family creates some of the most enduring memories; memories that transcend the decades and last forever." So true.

Because river cruising is relatively new, the opportunities for family travel are a bit limited, but expanding each year. As we noted above, the two best companies — Uniworld and Tauck — provide family-friendly river cruises in Europe during the summer and winter break periods. Both lines offer 7-night Danube and Rhine River cruises geared to families of all ages, visiting places like Salzburg, Vienna , Durnstein, Budapest and Bratislava. Uniworld and Tauck also offer fun-filled 7-night river cruises in France , both with or without Paris land options. The first is an historical journey through Normandy, the second a delightful cruise on the Rhône through Provence. Imagine enjoying a private dinner in Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace with the kids and grandkids, rafting in Bratislava or visiting Durnstein’s Kuenringerburg Castle, the place where Richard the Lion Heart was held for ransom at the end of the Crusades. Imagine the feeling when you see the kids and grand kids bike riding along the Danube or Rhône as the ship gently sails by — can it get any better? Many other special family-friendly excursions are included on all of these unique cruises. In addition, late Fall Holiday Markets , Christmas Time and New Year’s river cruises are also a great time to cruise as a family. If you’re traveling with eight or more family members, you can create your own family experience on any river cruise and enjoy exceptional group savings, too. But remember, because there are so few family-friendly river cruises, they do sell out quickly. So, don’t let your family be disappointed. The best way to get started and to make sure this is a vacation that will work for your family is either to request a quote as you view one of the family friendly river cruises, or even better, give one of our Personal Travel Planners a call soon to book your most memorable family vacation ever! At Premier, we are family river cruise experts. Most of our staff have cruised with their families, so we can honestly tell you what to expect and where to find the best value. Our travel agency specializes in river and small ship cruise vacations, no other agency in North America can say that; we know families better than anyone!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Unless otherwise noted, prices and offers are in USD, cruise only per person, based on double occupancy and do not include airfare, taxes or fees. The displayed prices are based on minimum category riverview window stateroom and applicable only to the sailing date(s) shown. Prices for other dates may vary based on the date and stateroom selected. Other than “Hot Deal” offers, price does not reflect any cruise line or Premier savings. Where Premier includes “prepaid tips” in an offer, it applies only to the cruise portion of the trip and not any land portion or shore excursions. To obtain the best price, please use the "Get Quote" button or call one of our river cruise and small ship cruise specialists. Certain discounts or prices may require full payment at the time of booking in order to be eligible. We urge you to book early as river and small ship cruises sell out almost a year in advance. Prices and availability may change without notice and are not guaranteed until a deposit is received and applied to your reservation. Call 1-855-255-1200, for complete details. We reserve the right to correct any informational or typographical errors. ©2010-2023 Premier River Cruises, LLC, a Travel of America Company. All rights reserved worldwide. CST #1015320-40.

DISCOVER THE GENERATIONS COLLECTION Share the joys of river cruising with the entire family

All-inclusive family river cruises.

Every Uniworld Generations cruise includes special programs, events and excursions designed specifically for your world travelers in training.

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SPECIAL GENERATIONS AMENITIES

Special generations amenities.

• Exciting shore excursions tailor-made for families and hosted by local experts
• Kid-friendly menus for each meal and unlimited beverages onboard
• Young Travelers’ Table, a special dining table reserved on certain nights just for our younger guests and Family Hosts
• Onboard activities just for kids, such as cooking classes and dessert-making with the ship’s chef and pastry chef
• Hands-on craft workshops tailored to the destinations you visit
• Young travelers’ lounge and game room, complete with PlayStation, games, movies, and local treats
• Two dedicated Family Hosts to oversee all activities for Junior Cruisers (ages 4 to 12 years) and Teen Cruisers (ages 13 to 17 years)
• Opportunities to “Live the Lingo” and learn words and phrases in other languages from our Family Hosts
• Kids-only movie nights, where kids can enjoy popcorn-fueled screenings of family-friendly films along with their new onboard friends and Family Hosts
• A special VIP ship tour with the Captain or Hotel Manager
• Complimentary bicycles, helmets. and Nordic walking sticks for use onshore
• Convenient departures scheduled during summer breaks

AVAILABLE ON SELECT DATES ON THESE ITINERARIES

Castles along The Rhine (2024)

Basel to Amsterdam | 8 days

Cruise along the Rhine—Germany on one side, France on the other. Discover Alsace, whose dual French and German heritage has given it fabulous food and a winemaking tradition that goes back to...

Ships: River Queen, S.S. Antoinette, S.S. Victoria

Countries: France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland

River: Rhine

4.7 /5 (1883 reviews)

Generations

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Splendors of Egypt & the Nile (2024)

Cairo to Cairo | 12 days

For 12 adventure-filled days, experience Egypt and the Nile’s most wondrous sites in style and luxury. * Wander amongst the towering ruins of the Temple of Karnak, the world’s largest...

Ships: River Tosca, S.S. Sphinx

Country: Egypt

River: Nile

4.6 /5 (752 reviews)

December 14 21 28

Authentic Danube & Prague (2024)

Vienna to Prague | 10 days

As your adventure starts, castles, stunning architecture and natural wonders ensue. Discover the old walled city of Nuremberg and its mesmerizing castles. Stroll through countless enchanting towns...

Ship: River Princess

Countries: Austria, Germany, Czech Republic

River: Danube

4.4 /5 (132 reviews)

Authentic Danube (2024)

Vienna to Nuremberg | 8 days

As your adventure starts, castles, stunning architecture, natural wonders and rich history ensue. Discover the old walled city of Nuremberg and its mesmerizing castles. Stroll through countless...

Countries: Austria, Germany

4.7 /5 (58 reviews)

Dutch Delight (2024)

Amsterdam to Amsterdam | 8 days

Windmills, colorful flowers, a rich art history, and more bikes than you can possibly imagine—the Netherlands is like nowhere else on earth. See the full spectrum of Dutch life, landscapes, and ...

Ship: River Queen

Country: Netherlands

4.3 /5 (47 reviews)

Splendors of Egypt & the Nile (2025)

4.6 /5 (743 reviews)

December 13 20 27

Enchanting Danube (2025)

Budapest to Passau | 8 days

The shimmering waters of the fabled Danube River flow for thousands of miles through the very heart of Europe, silent witness to centuries of artistic achievement and historical events. This...

Ship: S.S. Maria Theresa

Countries: Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia

4.7 /5 (799 reviews)

Castles along The Rhine (2025)

Ships: S.S. Antoinette, S.S. Elisabeth, S.S. Victoria

4.7 /5 (1865 reviews)

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9 best river cruises in Europe

River cruising in Europe is one of those delightfully slow and easy modes of travel. You're in a small floating hotel, exploring calm inland waters, gliding past castles and vineyards and scenery that changes by the hour.

Daily escorted walking tours and other excursions provided by the river line take you to key UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other city and village attractions you've come to see. Or you can choose to explore on your own, which is easy since your ship often will dock right in town.

Lazy afternoons on the ship afford the time to sit in a lounge chair and watch the world go by — kids swimming from the riverbanks, farmers tending their crops, river birds flapping their wings — as you glide to your next destination.

Which European river should you explore? The choices are broader than you might expect.

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The main rivers in Europe are the Danube and the Rhine and their tributaries. They are, by far, the most popular, doable either on one-week segments or longer itineraries that combine areas and sometimes combine rivers. Even if your cruise is only a week, don't underestimate the allure of relaxing for seven days on a river in France or on the dreamy Douro in Portugal.

Here are the best river cruises in Europe.

Upper Danube

When it comes to Europe river cruises, a perfect seven-night starter sailing is the Upper Danube, which takes you through centuries of history as you explore Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.

Ships visit such cultural hubs as Vienna, with its opera and art museums and elaborate royal palaces, and Budapest, Hungary, with its magnificent architecture and modern vibe. If your ship passes the Hungarian Parliament building at night, you're in for a treat; magnificently lit, it's one of the most photographed sights on the river.

Along the route, between Melk and Krems in Austria, you cruise through the Wachau Valley, a key wine-growing region producing rieslings and gruner veltliners, with sipping opportunities available. It's also a great place to bike, which is why it's nice to sail with lines, such as AmaWaterways , that carry bikes on board for passengers to use.

You might also have the option of a side trip to Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Mozart — and also where several scenes for the movie "Sound of Music" were filmed. A surprise for many is Old Town Bratislava, Slovakia, which might not have been on your must-do list but which charms with its beer culture and castles.

Related: Booking your first river cruise? Here's what you need to know.

Lower Danube

For a deep dive into Eastern Europe's past and present, the fascinating Lower Danube route between Budapest and Bucharest, Romania, explores history from the medieval times and Victorian era of Dracula to the rise of communism and the Bosnian War.

The seven-night river cruise takes you through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. The most beautiful stretch of the river is a 62-mile passage through a gorge between the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains. It's also one of the deepest stretches of river in the world.

Other sights accessed on shore excursions via bus include Bulgaria's Belogradchik Rocks, which are naturally carved towering red rock pinnacles that appear to take forms such as "Madonna with child," and Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's stunning medieval capital.

When it comes to top cruising rivers in Europe, the Rhine wins for natural beauty and fairytale landscapes. A cruise on the river between Amsterdam in The Netherlands, and Basel, Switzerland — a typical one-week route — takes you past expanses of slope-side vineyards, forests and mountains, historic cities and medieval half-timbered villages.

That's even before you get to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 40-mile stretch of river, between Rudesheim and Koblenz, Germany, has castles galore — you might imagine Rapunzel letting down her hair — and Lorelei Rock, the legendary cliff said to distract sailors with the mesmerizing song of a maiden.

The French city of Strasbourg, with its famous Gothic cathedral and robust Alsatian culinary scene, is often a favorite stop on Rhine itineraries, with other highlights including Heidelberg, Germany, and its imposing castle.

Related: Christmas market river cruises: What to expect on a holiday sailing

Sure, you can catch sight of the Eiffel Tower when boarding a river ship in Paris, but you can do that while staying in a hotel, too. The real attractions of a Seine River cruise are sailing on the river outside the city toward the English Channel and a visit to the beaches in Normandy for a perspective on World War II.

Your visit there and to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, as well as other memorials and monuments to the fallen, is a poignant experience (one that requires a two-hour bus ride from your ship, however). Avalon Waterways brings a World War II expert on board to add insight on select sailings.

Other treasures exist along the Seine, not the least of which is Giverny, the home and gardens of impressionist artist Claude Monet. If you are a fan of his art, much of the property might seem familiar.

In historic Rouen, where Joan of Arc was martyred in the Middle Ages, stop by the Rouen Cathedral (another subject of Monet) before losing yourself on cobblestone streets with wonderful cafes.

Related: River cruise packing list: What to pack when traveling by riverboat

Bordeaux river cruises are different from other water routes because you explore two short waterways — the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers — and the Gironde Estuary in Southwest France.

You'll spend more time ashore than floating down the river on this itinerary, with your ship docked for two nights in the city of Bordeaux, a mini-Paris with grand 18th-century buildings. Who cares when you are in the epicenter of French culture, in one of the most celebrated wine regions in the world?

Bordeaux serves up the opportunity to sip Medoc, Margaux, Saint-Emilion, Pomerol and Sauternes wines as you expand your wine education. You'll visit vineyards and gorgeous chateaus. Your cruise line might even host a dinner at a wine estate one evening. If you plan your cruise for September or October, you'll be able to admire the grape harvest.

Related: The 5 best cruise lines for solo travelers

Rhone and Saone

Another must for wine-lovers is exploring the interior of France, sipping Cotes du Rhone in such famous winemaking regions as Hermitage and Chateauneuf-du-Pape in Provence and Beaune in Burgundy.

Rhone and Saone River cruises typically sail between Lyon and Arles or Avignon, and they're top-loaded with such non-wine attractions as the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard and the Roman Arles Amphitheater, as well as the massive Palais des Papes (Papal Palace) in Avignon. You'll also be able to take in the lavender fields, haystacks and other scenes that inspired painters like Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh.

For a lazy, dreamy, wonderful river cruise experience, nothing quite beats exploring the wine regions of Portugal on the Douro, one of the major rivers through the Iberian Peninsula. The home base for these river cruises is Porto, Portugal, with its historic city center, spectacular bridges and port houses.

On one-week cruises, you'll follow the river 130 miles past green hillside vineyards in the Douro River Valley, a UNESCO-recognized destination, before turning around at the Spanish border. The river cruises typically include a visit to the university town of Salamanca in northern Spain. Viticulture is very much the lesson en route, as you learn about port production on the "River of Gold."

Related: 5 cruise lines to try if you just can't stand being around kids on vacation

Due to fluctuating water levels and narrow passages, the Elbe is a challenging river that runs 680 miles between the Czech Republic and Germany. Historically, it formed part of the border between East Germany and West Germany.

River cruising here is a rare experience. Viking River Cruises is one of the few lines that visits (another is the French line CroisiEurope), offering 10-day itineraries that combine hotel stays in the cities of Berlin and Prague with a stretch of river between Prague and Wittenburg, Germany.

The cruises are on ships built specifically for the Elbe route. They stop in places such as resurgent Dresden, heavily bombed during World War II but expertly rebuilt; the Saxon Switzerland region of Germany with its striking sandstone rock formations; and the spa town of Bad Schandau.

The Po River in northern Italy is tidal, making it another challenging waterway. However, it affords the opportunity to combine a visit to Venice with a river cruise. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises does the Po in high style with its 126-passenger S.S. La Venizia, completely decked out with a sense of place, from Fortuny fabrics and Murano glass to its gilded accents.

The one-week route doesn't take you far but does include the walled city of Padua, the charming fishing village of Chioggia, and the culinary mecca of Bologna.

For those looking for a longer experience, Uniworld cleverly combines a Po cruise with luxury rail journeys to places like Istanbul, Switzerland and beyond.

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• Cruises for Families

4 Best River Cruises for Families

Aug 8, 2016

See recent posts by Stacey Zable

More and more families are heading to Europe for river cruises and features that include dedicated tours and programming to attract parents, and often the extended family.

Inclusive excursions can feature Venetian mask making in Italy , private dinners in a centuries-old castle along the Rhine River, and hot air balloon rides over Paris . Families can even take off to explore destinations on their own using the ships’ complimentary bicycles. The immersive experience while onboard these intimate ships can get families cooking regional cuisine, taking language classes, and listening to local entertainment. Most of the departures take place during the summer and winter school holidays and are usually seven-night cruises, with some offering land-based add-ons.

Family River Cruises vs. Ocean Cruises

Unlike traditional ocean cruise ships that can hold thousands of passengers, river cruise ships hold a maximum of approximately 200 guests. With that small size comes much less onboard amenities. You won’t find water parks or climbing walls, and there will be one, maybe two restaurants. There may be a small fitness center and spa for adults, and some ships may have a small pool.

The intimate river cruises, however, also lack long lines to get on and off the ship and crowds. More of a tour where the mode of transportation is a ship, river cruise itineraries also provide a more personal and immersive experience with the ships’ ability to visit small cities and towns. Local experts and guides lead shore excursions that provide an authentic feel. Rates on river cruises are generally all-inclusive, with dining, drinks, gratuities, and even shore excursions included. Airfare is additional.

Here’s a look at some of the best European river cruises for families:

1. Adventures by Disney/AmaWaterways

Adventures by Disney partners with AmaWaterways river cruise line for cruises on the Danube River and Rhine River. Countries visited include Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Switzerland.

Adventures by Disney excursion highlights include an Oktoberfest celebration with costumed local entertainers, bike ride through Austria’s Wachau Valley vineyards, marionette performance and strudel making demonstration in Vienna , clog painting and a cheese making demonstration in Holland, and ziplining through the Black Forest in Strasbourg, France. The holiday sailing features visits to Christmas markets and a Vienna Boys Choir performance.

Disney Adventure Guides are on each sailing, serving as hosts in each destination and onboard the ship. The guides are in addition to AmaWaterways’ crew and Cruise Manager. Onboard the ship, guest spaces are repurposed during the family sailings to provide for specially designed activities geared towards children, teens, and adults. Adjoining staterooms and suites are available and can sleep three to four guests. The ships also have swimming pools.

Recommended Age: Children ages 8 and up are welcome to cruise on AmaWaterways.

A-ROSA offers sailings just for families, cruising along the Rhine, Maine, Moselle, Danube, Rhine and Saine Rivers and visiting Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Switzerland. Especially appealing is that each child ages 2 to 15 sails free with an adult! A-ROSA’s ships have triples, family suites, and adjoining staterooms to cater to the family market. Almost all of A-ROSA’s ships also have swimming pools, and during holiday periods, the A-ROSA kids’ club is available for ages 4 to 15.

Recommended Age: Age 2 is the minimum age on A-ROSA, but children age 6 and older will most enjoy the experience.

3. Tauck Bridges/Tauck River Cruising

Tauck offers four family-specific cruises: Fun Along the Seine: Paris to Normandy; France Family River Cruise (on the Rhone River); Blue Danube (Hungary to Germany and through Slovakia and Austria); and a Castles on the Rhine cruise, which sails through Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Kid-friendly fun includes a scavenger hunt in the Louvre, Bratislava Devin Castle Jousting in Slovakia, French cooking class in Valence, and a private dinner and tour of Reichenstein Castle on the Rhine.

Tauck has several director-level staff members on each departure, in addition to the local guides. Though there are no connecting rooms onboard, Tauck does offer family-friendly configurations with some suites that can accommodate three or four with a pullout couch. It also waives its single supplement, ideal for single parents or a single grandparent traveling with the family.

Recommended Age: The recommended age is 8 and up for enjoyment, but the minimum age is 4 on the Tauck Bridges river cruise departures.

4. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Rivers include the Rhine, Danube, Main, Seine, Po and Venice Lagoon. Countries that are visited are Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. A December Christmas markets cruise in Germany is also available. Family shore excursion highlights include Frankfurt’s paleontological museum, a tour of Vienna’s Spanish Riding School, glass-blowing and mask-making workshop in Italy, hot air balloon rides over Paris, and visiting Marksburg Castle and its armor collection in Braubach, Germany.

The Generations departures also include kid-friendly menus and nightly Young Travelers Table (though kids can also eat with their parents if they chose), onboard Family Hosts, special ship tours with the Captain or hotel manager, use of bicycles, onboard language and dessert making lessons, and a Young Travelers’ Lounge & Game Room. Each night with turndown, children receive a special gift reflective of the destination.

Recommended Age: Kids should be at least 4 years old to get the full multigenerational experience that Uniworld offers.

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'You're not fighting the crowds' in Europe when you visit on a river cruise

Europe has no shortage of marquee tourist hot spots , but Diamond Meadows’ first river cruise there didn’t include them.

The 28-year-old graduate student took a cruise along the Rhine and Moselle rivers that took her to cities like Koblenz and Trier in Germany (she supplemented the sailing with train travel around Austria, Switzerland and elsewhere).

Meadows was traveling with her mom and her mom’s boss, who uses a wheelchair. The group chose the CroisiEurope Cruises sailing for the ease of sailing with a mobility device . But she discovered other upsides.

“It takes you exactly into the heart of the city,” said Meadows, who is based in Tennessee. Their roughly 160-guest vessel offered convenient drop-offs in smaller destinations, allowing them “to access so much more.”

Many European destinations were packed with tourists last summer . But river cruises in the continent can offer a more laid-back way to travel with small ships visiting a mix of popular and less-crowded ports.

Are river cruises better than ocean cruises?

Jen Campbell Boles, founder of the travel agency Explore More Family Travel, said that while cruising in general is a “great value for seeing Europe,” river sailings are particularly immersive. “One quote we always use in the travel industry is, ‘Ocean cruise liners take you to the destination, river cruises take us through the destination,’” she said.

Passengers visit not only major cities but also quaint villages and often disembark within walking distance of attractions. When they are done exploring, they return to a ship with an average of 150 guests.

“It's more intimate, it's cozier,” said Campbell Boles. “You're not fighting the crowds, obviously.”

That was part of the draw for Jim Jones, 57, who took Avalon Waterways river cruises with his wife in 2011 and 2014.

“The smaller cities were an attraction,” said Jones, who is based in Phoenix and works for a software company. He enjoyed visiting Avignon in the south of France, for example, which was once the seat of the papacy . “I’m a total history geek,” he said. On their first cruise, he recalled, “just about every town” they visited had a farmers’ market, allowing them to sample local food.

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Unlike ocean cruise ships, with their large casinos and plentiful bars, onboard “it was very relaxed and a much slower pace.”

River cruise vessels tend to have “less bells and whistles,” Campbell Boles said (though she added that guests get a more personalized experience as a result of their small size).

Adam Duckworth, president and founder of Travelmation, echoed that. He said the cruises are less about the ship than where it’s going. “This is truly an experience about itineraries.”

Are European river cruises cheaper than land-based trips?

While travelers can find land-based accommodations that are less expensive than river cruises, there are other factors to consider.

River cruises tend to bundle more costs, such as alcohol in the fare, than a mainstream ocean cruise line, Duckworth said (though exact policies vary by line). At least one excursion per day is typically included, as well, Campbell Boles added.

She said demand for Europe is still “through the roof” and land-based pricing is particularly high. “Even if you're staying in the highest category stateroom or suite, you're spending less than an equivalent hotel,” she said.

Are luxury cruise ships worth the money? We did the math for Silversea's Silver Nova.

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Transportation from one destination to another is also built into a river cruise, whereas travelers might have to take a train or make other arrangements to visit a mix of places. “I mean that really adds up in Europe, so this is a great way to see a lot more variety,” Campbell Boles said.

Passengers can also add pre- and post-cruise stays, allowing them to “get the best of both worlds.”

“What we say is that a river cruise oftentimes can be a premium product,” added Duckworth. “But for what you're experiencing – the comfort, the (lower) stress, the luxurious experience on board – we find it to be actually the best value through Europe from our experience.”

Are European river cruises kid-friendly?

Since river cruises require a certain amount of free time – most are at least seven days long – they have tended to be popular with older guests, according to Duckworth.

But in the past couple of years, he has noticed more multigenerational travel in the sector. “We're seeing grandparents bring their grandkids, we're seeing young professionals go on a river in Europe for the first time,” Duckworth said.

Some operators have offerings that are particularly well-suited to younger guests. Adventures by Disney offers river cruises with AmaWaterways, and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has a Generations Collection .

How long should I go on a cruise?: How long and short cruises compare

Even if programming is curated with kids in mind, though, Duckworth cautioned that river cruise vessels don’t offer the same breadth of amenities as large ocean ships. “If your kids want to go to a waterpark and they want to go on a FlowRider and they want to play putt-putt all day, there are great lines for you, but a European river cruise is probably not one of them currently,” he said.

Some lines also don’t allow kids or have varying age requirements, so it’s important to do some research beforehand.

For those going for the first time, Campbell Boles suggested starting with a cruise on the Danube or Rhine since they are “kind of the most iconic.”

“I mean, it’s Europe,” she added. “It’s going to be great no matter what river you go on.”

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach him at [email protected].

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7 of the best river cruises around the world for 2024

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A cruise holiday isn’t always about setting sail across vast oceans. For an alternative type of break on the water, winding your way inland might sound similar but it’s a vastly different experience.

From crossing deep into the untouched areas of the Amazon rainforest to exploring some of Europe ’s finest cities, the river cruise experience is one that allows tourists to get to grips with the history, culture and tradition of a destination in a slow, immersive fashion.

This could be in the form of sampling Creole cuisine in Mississippi or discovering historic sites in Vietnam , but whatever it is, there’s plenty of choice across Europe , Asia , South America and North America .

Read on for a selection of the best cruises, from the Mississippi to the Mekong.

Europe’s second longest river – and arguably its most famous – river takes you through amazing capital cities and host of charming towns, as well as plenty of scenic countryside in Austria , Hungary , Slovakia and Romania. Cruises along the Danube can vary from a handful of days to almost three weeks, giving you time to explore the elegance of cities like Vienna , Budapest, Bratislava or Belgrade.

Emerald Cruises lets you see the best of the Danube with the addition of a hefty dose of traditional German culture in Munich. Leaving the Bavarian capital, you’ll travel to Passau before a quick cross-border trip to the Unesco-listed Czech city of Cesky Krumlov. Vienna is the next city, replete with opulent architecture, before a quick overnight stay in Bratislava on the sixth night. Guided tours and hikes around the castle are included, before you get three nights to explore Budapest, the Hungarian capital that is blessed with picturesque buildings, relaxed thermal baths and a buzzing nightlife scene. 

From £1,999pp, including nine nights’ accommodation, full board, tours of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest and airport transfers. Departing 7 May 2024 to 20 October 2024.

Read more on Europe travel :

• The lesser-known Croatia destinations you may not have considered
• The best spas in Eastern Europe for an affordable, yet luxurious, break
• Lisbon travel guide: Where to eat, drink, shop and stay in Portugal’s vivacious capital

This famous river runs for over 4,000 miles throughout South America and is a major part of the eponymous rainforest, one of the most biodiverse and important natural areas on the planet. A river cruise remains the best way to reach deeper into the jungle, with many cruises beginning in the northern Brazilian city of Manaus or in the Peruvian city of Lima.

Start in Peru’s enchanting capital with the Peruvian Rivers and Rainforest Discovery cruise from Uniworld. You’ll fly to Iquitos, the largest city in the Amazon as your next stop, before delving into some of the most remote areas in the world as you take to the waters. From here, nature takes centre stage, with a variety of experiences – including jungle walks and kayaking on a lake – added to the enjoyment of natural features such as giant lilies, towering barrigona trees and around 10 per cent of the world’s known animal species.

From £8,799pp, including 10 nights’ accommodation, full board, return flights from London, domestic flights and various excursions. Departing regularly from 17 January until 6 November 2024.

Start in  Cairo  and make your way down to Aswan over a few days (though many shorter routes operate between  Aswan and Luxor  only). For a relaxing way to take in riverside scenery and some of Egypt’s most important historical sites, a river cruise is the ideal choice.

AP Touring’s  Egypt Discovery  trip takes you on a round trip from Cairo. You’ll cross thousands of years of history, starting with West Bank the Valley of the Kings, before a short flight to Aswan to explore Abu Simbel and a sighting of the landmark Pyramids of Giza near the Egyptian capital. The scenery along the route is exceptional, too, with palm trees, green spaces and mini oases dotted in between the yellow-hued rock.

From £6,995pp, including 12 nights’ accommodation, 30 meals (including unlimited local beer and wine) return flights from London Heathrow, domestic flights within Egypt and activities in each of the 10 destinations. Departing regularly from September 2024 to April 2025.

Exploring this land of castles and fairytales is a worthwhile European trip, with tours often starting in the pretty Dutch capital of Amsterdam and weaving across the German and French countryside, with the route broken up by cities such as Cologne, Dusseldorf and Strasbourg. Many of the towns located on the banks of the Rhine, such as Koblenz, are incredibly picturesque, with a range of medieval castles and natural sites like the Black Forest also featuring.

Ama Waterways provide a seven-night cruise that runs from Basel to Amsterdam. Get your cultural fix at either end of your trip in either of these two cities, before admiring the vistas around the Rhine Valley, the medieval castles that loom over towns like Heidelberg and the timber-framed buildings that line the streets of Riquewihr and Strasbourg. Stops in both Freiburg and Dusseldorf are also included, as well as an optional excursion to Cologne.

From £2,399pp, including seven nights’ accommodation, full board and tours in each destination. Departing regularly between 18 February and 28 December 2024.

The views around the Douro Valley are some of the best in Portugal , whether you’re sitting by the banks in Porto or admiring the verdant hills and vineyards around Pinhao. This region, well-known for its port production, has cruises lasting roughly one week that usually begin and end in Porto – where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean – with a brief crossing over into Spain and Salamanca.

The Riviera Travel package offers an affordable eight-day Douro option starting and ending in Porto , with two nights to explore Portugal’s magnificent second city (and to go on a guided tour of a well-known port producer). Days three and four take you to sleepy Castelo de Rodrigo and the historic Spanish city of Salamanca (with guided tours and time to explore at your leisure) before traversing the cascading vineyards of the valley on your way back to Porto via the beautiful Peso de Regua (and a local wine tasting).

From £1,599pp, including seven nights’ accommodation, full board, flights from a London airport, one excursion one each day and airport transfers. Departing regularly from 7 April 2024.

The Mississippi

Discovering the Deep South is often done by car, but with new routes recently from Viking Cruises, exploring Louisiana, Mississippi, Minnesota and Tennessee has never been more idyllic. The famed cities of New Orleans and Memphis can bookend your tour, with lesser-known locations such as Baton Rouge, Natchez and Darrow making up the other stops.

Opt for Viking’s ‘Heart of the Delta’ cruise to if you really want to immerse yourself in the Deep South. The cruise begins with a few days exploring the French influences and Creole cuisine of New Orleans , before moving on to Baton Rouge – a haven of Creole and Cajun culture – and then onto Natchez, the oldest city on the river. You’ll travel through other towns on the Mississippi – complete with walking tours or excursions to the Atchafalaya Swamp basin – before reaching Memphis, the atmospheric home of blues music.

From £6,545pp, including 12 nights’ accommodation, full board, return flights from London and one excursion per destination. Departing weekly from March 7 until 13 June, with additional departures on 7 November and 13 November.

The Mekong flows through a host of Asia’s most fascinating countries, including Vietnam , Thailand , China and Cambodia. Most cruises only take in parts of Vietnam and Cambodia , though this mix of floating fishing villages, traditional markets and the two capitals of Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh will be enough for most travellers. With Avalon Waterways , you’ll combine energetic, modern cities with some of the most vibrant culture in Asia and a history that is equal parts sobering and fascinating.

It starts in Siem Reap, site of the Angkor Wat temple, before moving on to the Cambodian capital, where you can learn about the dictatorship of Pol Pot and visit several must-see landmarks. After this, Vietnam beckons, with a visit to the dizzying Ho Chi Minh City to see its admirable architecture. Visits to markets, old Vietnam War tunnels, temples and cooking classes are dotted in between these city trips for good measure, with stops at characterful towns like Vinh Long, too.

From £4,229pp, including seven nights’ accommodation, full board and activities on each day of the trip. Departing regularly from 15 January to 11 March and from 12 August to 2 December 2024.

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The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Viking cruise ship

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Fast-growing Viking has one of the most diverse arrays of itineraries of any cruise line.

Not only does the California-based company offer ocean cruises in almost every corner of the world, it also offers river cruises on many of the world’s major rivers.

That’s notably different from most cruise lines. Typically, cruise lines operate either ocean cruises or river cruises but not both. That gives them a smaller range of itineraries.

For more cruise guides, tips and news, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

Viking has a particularly large footprint when it comes to European river itineraries, with a wide range of sailings on nearly every European river of any note, from the Douro in Portugal to (until recently) the Volga in Russia.

The company also operates river trips on the Nile in Egypt and the Mekong in Southeast Asia, and it just began river trips on the Mississippi River .

There are 80 river ships in Viking’s fleet — an astounding number. None of its main competitors among river lines catering to North Americans, which include Avalon Waterways, Uniworld and AmaWaterways , have anywhere near that number of vessels.

Related: First look at Viking’s stylish new Nile River ship

Among ocean cruise destinations, Viking has a major presence in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, which it considers its home turf. (The company was founded by a Norwegian family.) However, you’ll find Viking’s nine traditional ocean ships everywhere from North America to Asia and Australia.

Last year, the line began cruising to Antarctica with its first expedition ship — a type of vessel built specifically for travel to remote, hard-to-reach places. Viking now has two such vessels.

Among the line’s voyages, there’s everything from eight-day cruises in the Mediterranean to 138-day around-the-world voyages.

Overwhelmed with choices? Here are the five best Viking cruise destinations where the line can truly offer you a memorable vacation.

Scandinavia and Northern Europe

Some of Viking’s most interesting itineraries are around Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea, with many beginning or ending in Norway — the homeland of the company’s founder and chairman, Torstein Hagen.

As Hagen once told me, Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea are what the company considers “Viking country” — a region where it wants to dominate.

During summers, in particular, Viking devotes an unusually large number of its ships to itineraries around Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea and other Northern Europe destinations such as Iceland. Many, notably, use the relatively small but famously scenic Norwegian city of Bergen (population 286,000) as a gateway, something no other line is doing. That allows for unusual variations on the typical Baltic Sea or Norwegian fjords cruise.

The line’s most popular route in the region, “Viking Homelands,” is a two-week-long, one-way trip between Bergen and Stockholm that combines several days of exploring the fjord region of Norway’s west coast with more-typical Baltic cruise destinations such as St. Petersburg, Russia, and Helsinki.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries

Note that, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Viking has pulled the St. Petersburg stop, as well as stops in Finland and Estonia from the Viking Homelands itinerary; the trips instead feature extra stops in Norway and Denmark. It’s unlikely St. Petersburg will return to the itinerary until the war in Ukraine is resolved.

Viking also offers a 14-night itinerary that includes several stops in the northernmost part of the country above the Arctic Circle. Dubbed “Into the Midnight Sun,” the one-way route between Bergen and London is unique because it combines calls in far-north Honningsvag and Tromso, Norway, with visits to Scotland’s remote Shetland Islands and the Orkney Islands. Though part of the United Kingdom, these archipelagos have ties to Norwegian and Viking history.

Itineraries that will take you from Bergen to Iceland or even as far away as France, Portugal and Spain also are available.

Viking’s Scandinavia and Northern Europe trips range widely in length from just seven nights to a whopping 28 nights.

Among the longest sailings that Viking offers that include calls in Northern Europe are one-way, 28-night voyages between Bergen and New York City. The trips include stops in Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Canada.

In Northern Europe, Viking ships mostly sail out of Bergen, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Copenhagen and London as well as Reykjavik.

The Mediterranean

Viking has grown into a major player in Mediterranean sailings, with more than 30 distinct itineraries that include stops in the region.

The trips include voyages focused specifically on the Western Mediterranean or Eastern Mediterranean and some that include stops across both areas.

Typical of the latter is the line’s 14-night “Mediterranean Antiquities” routing, a one-way trip between Athens and Barcelona that stops in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Monaco, France and Spain.

More-focused Mediterranean itineraries include the line’s nine-night “Empires of the Mediterranean” voyages between Venice and Athens, which mostly concentrate on stops along the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea in Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.

In the Mediterranean, the line’s main hubs are Barcelona; Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Venice, Italy; Piraeus (the port for Athens), Greece; and Istanbul.

Related: The complete guide to Viking cabins and suites  

Europe riverways

Viking is, quite simply, the giant of river cruising in Europe — at least among lines that cater to English speakers. The company operates around 70 river ships on a broad swath of the continent’s rivers — far more than any other river line catering to North Americans.

In all, the line accounts for about half of all river cruises taken by North Americans in the region. The next biggest player in Europe river cruises for North Americans, AmaWaterways, is less than half the size.

Among the rivers in Europe where Viking has a major presence are the Rhine, Main and Danube in Central Europe; the Seine, Rhone, Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde in France; the Douro in Portugal; and the Moselle and Elbe in Germany. Until recently, Viking also offered cruises on the Dnieper River in Ukraine. The voyages have been suspended since Russia invaded the country in early 2022.

On nearly all of the rivers, the line offers multiple itineraries with lengths ranging from seven nights to as many as 22 nights.

Among 10 different itineraries on the Rhine River alone, offerings range from a seven-night “Rhine Getaway” from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland, to a 22-night “European Sojourn” from Amsterdam to Bucharest, Romania. The latter adds travel on the Main and Danube rivers to days on the Rhine.

Viking offers some of the most intimate and elegant cruises on the Nile, with three ships including the recently unveiled, 82-passenger Viking Osiris — one of our favorite vessels on the river.

All three of Viking’s Nile ships operate the same seven-night Nile cruise itinerary that Viking pairs with a four-night stay at a hotel in Cairo (three nights before the cruise and one night after) to create an 11-night “Pharaohs and Pyramids” tour of Egypt.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking’s loyalty program

The cruise portion of the tour includes visits to the historic temples of Luxor, Karnak, Esna, Dendera and Abu Simbel as well as a visit to the iconic Valley of the Kings. The stay in Cairo brings a visit to the pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum and other sites.

Viking Osiris is the first of four sister ships that Viking plans to launch on the Nile by 2025 as it doubles its footprint in Egypt. The vessels offer a clean-lined, Scandinavian-influenced design that mimics the look of Viking’s Europe-based vessels.

Notably, the ship features an entire deck of sprawling suites that rival anything else found on the Nile for luxury and comfort. Each comes with two full-size rooms — a large living room with a residential feel and an adjacent bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom. Each suite also has an outdoor balcony with seating for two — something you don’t always see on Nile ships.

Viking is a newcomer to cruises to Antarctica, but the destination is a big growth area for the line. Viking recently added two new, 378-passenger expedition cruise vessels specifically built to travel to the White Continent.

Dubbed Viking Octantis, the first of these vessels began sailings to Antarctica in February 2022. The second ship in the series, Viking Polaris, has just joined its sister in Antarctica this year. Together, the two ships are already making waves in the market for Antarctica cruises, in part because they have several new and unusual features.

Most notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina that allows passengers to transfer to two of each ship’s exploratory vessels while still in the protected interior of the ship. A first for an expedition ship, it’s something that is significantly improving the experience for passengers heading out on Antarctica exploration.

Related: The 3 types of Viking ships, explained

In another first for polar expedition cruise vessels, every cabin on both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel.

Viking offers several Antarctic itineraries, with the typical trip starting with a night at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before a flight to Ushuaia, Argentina, to board one of the two expedition ships for an 11-night cruise to Antarctica and back. A longer version of the trip features 13 nights on board one of the ships and extra days in Antarctica.

Viking also offers Antarctica sailings that combine a visit to the White Continent with stops in the Falkland Islands, Uruguay and Brazil.

Viking Octantis, notably, also operated Viking’s first sailings around the Great Lakes this year. In 2023, both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris will spend their summers in the Great Lakes.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 15 best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

SPONSORED:  With states reopening, enjoying a meal from a restaurant no longer just means curbside pickup.

And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free. 

These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.

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