European River Cruising

EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISING

European River Cruises                       

River cruising is a wonderful, hassle free way to visit Europe. Unlike a land tour where you are constantly packing and unpacking and being herded around in large groups, you only have to unpack once and you are with a much smaller group.  You sail along to a new port each day where you are taken ashore for wine tastings, city tours, etc... and at the end of the day, you return to your cruise vessel and enjoy dinner, the comradery of your fellow passengers and a relaxing evening.  River cruise vessels typically carry from 50 to 200 passengers, and are low in profile, which makes it easy for them to fit under bridges. They cruise rivers like the Danube, the Rhine, the Rhone, the Seine, the Douro, and other great rivers of Europe. 

An important difference between pricing the mainstream cruise lines here in the US v.s. a river cruise overseas is that most mainstream cruises don't include things like shore excursions and wine with dinner, but on a river cruise overseas, most costs are typically included in the fare so it's easy to budget your trip once you have chosen a destination and vessel.

European river cruises are typically classified according to the quality of accommodations, dining, and amenities onboard.  Luxury cruise prices average from $400 to $600 per person, per day, plus airfare. Deluxe cruise prices average from $100 to $400 per person, per day, plus airfare. First Class prices average from $80 to $275 per person, per day, plus airfare. Budget prices average from $45 to $130 per person, per day, plus airfare. Here is a list of European river cruises I would recommend:

Luxury

• Abercrombie & Kent -Abercrombie & Kent has been internationally recognized as the first name in luxury escorted travel. They began in 1962 as a safari company in Nairobi, Kenya. Their operations now extend to more than 100 countries all over the world and include European river cruises. Every one of their tours include knowledgeable local guides, luxurious accommodations, comfortable transportation and a choice of activities and amenities. They specialize in "matching unique people with unique places, and in providing the expertise and (unobtrusive) support that allows them to experience those places fully, at first hand and in their own personal style."  To learn more about their canal and river cruising, visit their website at: http://www.abercrombiekent.com/index.cfm?navid=3.6.11.
  

• Tauck World Discovery - Tauck was started in 1924 by Arthur Tauk, who at the time was a 26 year old traveling salesman who just happened to be driving through Adams, MA enjoying the beautiful fall foliage.  It's amazing to me that this man was able to start this amazing tour company in the middle of the depression!  Some 80 years later, they have been named the “#1 Tour Operator & Safari Outfitter” three times by the readers of Travel & Leisure magazine, and they enjoy the travel industry's highest return-guest rate. Tauck is still a family company, and today Arthur's granddaughter Robin Tauck serves as president. In 2006 they received the Readers Choice Award: Best Tour Operator: Europe. Headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, Tauck today offers 130 trips visiting 60 countries and all seven continents via motorcoach, cruise ship, rail, helicopter, and riverboat. To learn more about their canal and river cruising, visit their website at www.tauck.com/journeys/travel-type/river-cruising.
  

Deluxe

• Insight Vacations - Insight began in London in 1978 and has achieved many important Tour Operator 'Firsts' over the years including, in 1983, being the first scheduled tour operator to win 'the Queen's Award for Export Achievement' from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. From their website, "'The Art of Touring in Style' lies at the very heart of Insight philosophy. Our carefully chosen unique features and impeccable service standards enable us to deliver exceptional quality, unequalled value, unforgettable memories and personal freedom at levels currently unrivalled elsewhere in the industry. You will travel with companions from all over the English speaking world - England, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and more. Relax and capture the spirit of Europe and North America while we take care of every detail. From Great Britain to the European continent, from Turkey to the wonders of Israel and Egypt and the breathtaking National Parks and exciting cities of America & Canada, we invite you to experience the Insight difference and travel in style and comfort."   They offer many tour and cruise options.  Here are two from their website relevent to the current topic (you can find more information by visiting their website at www.insightvacations.com):
  

ELEGANCE TOURS Now you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Insight has combined the art of touring in style with the art of river cruising. It's a unique combination that affords you an experience that neither touring or cruising can offer alone. It's a blend of cities and countryside, rivers and mountains. Select from Tour & River Cruising, Tour & Aegean Cruising, Tour & Black Sea Cruising or Tour & Nile Cruising. Discover Europe in a whole new way.

TOUR & CRUISE Now you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Insight has combined the art of touring in style with the art of river cruising. It's a unique combination that affords you an experience that neither touring or cruising can offer alone. It's a blend of cities and countryside, rivers and mountains. Select from Tour & River Cruising, Tour & Aegean Cruising, Tour & Black Sea Cruising or Tour & Nile Cruising. Discover Europe in a whole new way.

First Class                              

• AMAWATERWAYS - From their website: "Beginning with the 2006 launch of the MS Amadagio, the line has steadily expanded its “AMA” fleet to include the MS Amalegro (2007), MS Amacello (2008) and MS Amadante (2008). The MS Amalyra and MS Amadolce will join the fleet in 2009, while another two “AMA” vessels are scheduled to debut in 2010.

  The newest and most state-of-the-art fleet in Europe, the innovative “AMA” ships carry 148 passengers in unequaled luxury, comfort and style. Features include the most spacious cabins on the rivers; French balconies; plush bedding with down duvets; flat-screen TVs; Infotainment system with complimentary internet access; fluffy terry bathrobes and slippers; spa-quality bath amenities and marble-appointed bathrooms. Each vessel offers complimentary Wi-Fi in the public lounges; complimentary specialty coffees and free-flowing complimentary wine at dinner. The ships also include a fitness center, beauty salon, whirlpool, walking track on the Sun Deck and a fleet of bicycles for passenger use. Each AMAWATERWAYS cruise is accompanied by an elite cruise director, and expert local guides conduct complimentary city tours at each destination. Smoking is only allowed on the top deck of their vessels.
  

  AMAWATERWAYS’ collection of 16 vacation programs for 2009 includes popular itineraries on the historic Danube, Main, Rhine and Mosel rivers. New for 2009 is the Romantic Danube program, featuring three nights in Prague followed by a cruise from Vilshofen to Budapest. AMAWATERWAYS also offers a unique selection of destination cruises in France, Portugal and Russia." I have had several clients cruise with AMAWATERWAYS over the last several years and they have all returned truly delighted! For more information, specifically pertaining to their river cruises in Europe, please visit their website at www.amawaterways.com/destinations.asp.

• Avalon Waterways (Globus) - Avalon Waterways is part of the Globus family of Brands, "...backed by 80 years of experience in planning itineraries and guiding vacations around the world. And as experts in travel, Avalon continues to raise the bar when it comes to small-ship cruising by creating truly unique getaways—on one of the youngest fleets on the waterways today!
  
  Each year, Avalon adds new vessels that deliver the accommodations and amenities desired by today’s traveler. These modern, contemporary-designed ships feature elegant polished metal and glass throughout, revolutionary engineering, state-of-the-art technology, and personalized service of the highest caliber. From the minute you step on board, an English-speaking crew extends a warm welcome and delivers exceptional service throughout your journey. The Cruise Director is readily available to help you make the most of each day, and delivers educational commentary as you pass through interesting landscapes.
  
  In port, Avalon helps you see your destinations like a local—not a tourist. We work with Local Guides in the area to create shore excursions that reveal the famous sights of a city, as well as the insider secrets and native stories."  In my opinion, they are very comparable to AMAWATERWAYS.  It really just depends upon the itinerary and ship you are looking for.  For more information on their Europe river cruises, visit their website at www.avalonwaterways.com/Cruise-Vacations/River-Cruises-Europe/.
  

• Brendan Worldwide Vacations - Headquartered in the United States, Brendan is a family operated, worldwide travel company that has been in business since 1969.

    Their founder, Jim Murphy, and President, Gary Murphy, believe the best way to travel is not just to take a trip, but to experience all the sights and sounds of a country. This philosophy has been implemented at Brendan and they have maintained a standard of providing travel experiences that show “We Care” for almost 40 years. From their website:
  

  "Brendan is distinguished from the competition by our company culture that is based on providing superior personal service. When calling Brendan, real people, not computers, answer our phones. In addition, our management team is “hands on.” They make it a priority to inspect the properties and sights featured in our itineraries so we can create unique travel programs for everyone to enjoy.

  In the years since our first escorted tour to Britain and Ireland was introduced, we have increased to over 280 exciting travel programs to more than 60 countries."  In a recent survey, american travel agents voted them as having the "best overall value" for the price paid for touring.  They are a highly respected tour company within the travel industry with American Express, which Cruise Planners is affiliated with, naming them as one of their 4 "highly preferred" partners, alongside American Express Vacations, Classic Vacations and Abercrombie & Kent.  To learn more about their European river cruises, visit their website at www.brendanvacations.com/Front/Tour.aspx .

• Peter Deilmann Cruises - Peter Deilmann Cruises has been offering deluxe cruise vacations for more than 25 years. The Deilmann river cruises are designed for the first time cruisers as well as the frequent European vacationer who enjoys comfort, style, attentive service and fine dining. Casually elegant ambience and deluxe standards can be found fleet-wide, and all voyages are seven days or longer. You can choose between five star vessels such as the MV Mozart, MV Katharina, MV Dresden, MV Cezanne, MV Casanova or MV Frederic Chopin. Four-star voyages are offered on board the MV Danube Princess, MV Konigstein, and MV Princesse de Provence. Unfortunately, they have announced that, at the end of the 2009 season, they will no longer be offering river cruises.
  

  Dining is single seating on all river vessels and features a delectable selection of continental cuisine and local specialties served with fine wines including those from local vineyards along the rivers' route. Friendly, multi-lingual staff caters to your every wish. The Deilmann vessels enjoy the best passenger to staff ratios of all river vessels in Europe with no more than 2.5 passengers for each staff member (most other vessels have 4 or 5 passengers for each staff member). This allows for an extraordinary level of care, attention and service, the hallmark of the Peter Deilmann brand.

  Another thing that distinguishes them from many of the other European river cruise lines is that, like AMAWATERWAYS, for the comfort of all their guests, Peter Deilmann Cruises has expanded the no-smoking restrictions on its European river fleet to include all areas inside the vessels without exception. Smoking will be permitted only on the open decks. Smoking is only permitted in the Old Fritz Bar and open decks on the MS Deutschland. For more information, visit their website at www.deilmann-cruises.com/destinations/index.html.
  

• Trafalgar Tours - Operating since 1947, Trafalgar Tours offers escorted travel to Europe and Britain, USA, Canada, South America, Australia and New Zealand, as well as China. Trafalgar boasts over 60 years of escorted touring experience and great value! They offer a huge selection of Itineraries in Europe.  For example, on the Danube alone, they are offering 18 sailings www.trafalgartours.com/danube-river.

• Uniworld River Cruises, Inc. - Uniworld River Cruises, Inc., newly acquired by The Travel Corporation, is a leading river cruise and tour company offering premium level vacations in Europe, Russia, China and South America. The company provides an all-inclusive experience to discerning, experienced travelers in an all-English speaking, non-smoking environment. I would caution you though, to check their cancellation and refund policy carefully.  Deposits are non-refundable and you may enter the cruise line's cancellation penalty period prior to final payment. In their words, from their website, here is what diferentiates Uniworld from other river cruise companies:

  • Intimate, boutique hotel-style cruise ships with an average of 134 guests
  • An all English-speaking, world-class attentive crew with a ratio of one crew member for every three guests
  • Elegant riverview staterooms appointed with hotel-style beds draped in the finest linens, and bathrooms stocked with thick towels, plush robes, and soothing bath amenities
  • Over 98% guest service satisfaction rates
  • Gourmet cuisine prepared fresh daily using only the freshest and finest ingredients, often brought onboard from the local markets
  • Complimentary fine wine during dinner*, bottled water in your stateroom, and 24-hour specialty coffees and teas
  • Captivating shore excursions, included with the price of your cruise, hosted by all English-speaking guides who use a state-of-the-art Quietvox portable headset system to enhance your sightseeing experience
  • Exciting onboard local entertainment, demonstrations and lectures reflecting the regions you visit
  • All transfers on arrival and departure days*
  • The best European Cruise Managers in the industry
  • Please see individual itineraries for additional inclusions.

  To view their many awards, visit their site at  www.uniworld.com/awards.asp.

  Visit their website at  www.uniworld.com/europe.asp to learn more about their Europe river cruise destinations.

  
  

• Viking River Cruises - Viking River Cruises' itineraries journey along the rivers of Europe, Russia, and China allowing you to explore fascinating destinations up close and in comfort. All-inclusive vacation packages include roundtrip air, cruises, and shore tours with English-speaking guides, deluxe river view cabins and gourmet meals. They have been sailing the rivers of Europe for over 175 years! They have consistently placed high on competitive rankings like Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List, Reader’s Choice and Best Small Ships awards; and Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best. Travel Agents have honored them with awards including TravelAge West’s “Editor’s Choice” and Travel Weekly’s #1 River Cruise Line. They are also featured in the 2008 edition of National Geographic’s The 10 Best of Everything. Their most recent award just announced is that, once again, they have been recognized by readers of Travel + Leisure as one of the “Top 10 Small-Ship Cruise Lines” in its 13th annual “World’s Best” awards. 

  My one word of caution when using this cruise line is that Viking River Cruises assigns air schedules to air/cruise passengers based on the order in which the Passenger Information Form (PIF) is submitted to the company. This practice could result in different flight schedules for people sharing the same cabin. To avoid this you should return the completed PIFs together at the same time.
   
  The cruise line brochure states:
  "Viking River Cruises will attempt to accommodate passengers traveling together, however, this cannot be guaranteed. Flight schedules will be released 90 days prior to departure. Any changes made to an issued airline ticket will incur a $50 per ticket change fee plus any change fee incurred by the air carrier. Any additional costs, including penalties for cancellations or rebookings will be made at the passenger’s expense."
   
  For the full terms and conditions see the Viking River Cruises brochure.

  Here is a link to learn more about their European river cruises:

  www.vikingrivercruises.com/us/regions/europe/index.aspx