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Everyone goes to the cocktail parties, and getting to know your fellow passengers is a big part of the experience. French line CroisiEurope caters to travelers on a tight budget and does river cruising in a friendly European style. Among the differences here is you won't just be cruising with fellow Americans. The passenger contingent is mostly bargain-seekers from France and Germany, and you'll hear onboard announcements in multiple languages.
Best European River Cruise Line for Unique Destinations: CroisiEurope
AmaWaterways' partnership with Adventures by Disney means families are on board select chartered sailings on the Seine, Rhine and Danube. In addition to a big presence on all the main rivers of Europe, the line sails the Mekong and Nile, as well as the Chobe River of Botswana. However, there are also other lesser-known cruise lines to choose from that are contenders for the best river cruise line in Europe, depending on your travel style. To help you out, we've taken a look at 10 lines, from the familiar to the lesser-known, so you can decide the best river cruise line in Europe for you. Jules Verne earned a solid four stars almost across the board and five for its excursions, which ‘all flowed seamlessly’ and ‘catered for everyone’.
Best European River Cruise for Cuisine: AmaWaterways
Below, the reasons why, plus the full list of the best river cruise lines as voted by T+L readers. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. The world’s largest river cruise line has a fleet of 75 ships plying Europe’s great waterways as well as the Mississippi, Mekong and the Nile. Its light-filled, 190-capacity ‘longships’ are thoughtfully designed with plenty of balcony cabins (a rarity on river vessels) and space to dine al fresco. While cruising, you'll enjoy nightly entertainment that celebrates the region's musical heritage.
Best European River Cruise Line for Families: Adventures by Disney
Although children are allowed, the line does not offer extra amenities or perks for kids. In 2023, they will launch Seven River Journeys which will cover seven rivers and 14 countries over the course of 45 nights (starting at $24,999 per person, double occupancy). As for the bed itself, guests can choose their own mattress and pillow firmness from Avalon's Comfort Collection.
Grand Circle generally draws travelers aged over 50 and is a popular line for Americans cruising the rivers of Europe. Grand Circle attracts a high number of repeat passengers, drawn by value-for-money fares that are often lower than other European river cruises. Viking includes one excursion in each port with your fare, and offers a wider variety of river cruises in Europe than others. That gives new-to-river-cruise passengers plenty of options to try their hand at a cruise length that fits their style and a wide array destinations from which to choose. With more itineraries than any other, Viking is the best cruise line in Europe for first-time river cruisers. The world's largest river cruise line offers a well-tested river cruise recipe on its fleet of identical Scandinavian-style longships.
Viking Cruises
Next, during a call at Kingston/Hyde Park, you can tour the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, home to the 32nd U.S. president's library and museum. You can also head to the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, featuring an American Beaux-Arts mansion completed in 1899. The United States Military Academy at West Point, founded in 1802, is also on the itinerary, as is Sleepy Hollow. The Sleepy Hollow legend comes to life during a tour of the local cemetery where author Washington Irving is buried. Back in the Big Apple on day seven, you'll have time to explore before saying farewell to your ship. Take a look at the luxury river cruise landscape -- and find the line that's right for you.
Best Budget-Friendly European River Cruise: Grand Circle Travel
Like most cruises, the food served is reflective of your destination's local cuisine and there is also a light menu and options for vegetarians, vegans, and kids. CroiseEurope also has ships on the Nile, Mekong, and Chobe River in Africa. Avalon is owned by the Globus Family of Brands, a tour operator company, and that experience comes into play on shore, with such VIP experiences as skipping the line at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Pricing on this line is middle of the road, with everything comfortable, reliable and not overly fussy. That said, on the company's sleek, 166-passenger Suite Ships, you can splurge on a Panorama Suite with sitting areas and glass doors that open to bring the fresh air in.
This year, the river cruise market has been anticipating more travel, so consider booking these once-in-a-lifetime voyages as early as you can. Though many European countries have been off-limits for travelers, memories of recent trips to one of the world's iconic river cruising destinations helped inform voters' choices this year. Tauck moved up two places in T+L's 2021 rankings to grab the No. 2 spot with an eye-popping score above 96. The iconic river ships of No. 3 Viking Cruises also fared well this year, with readers giving the stalwart high marks, moving it up three places.
The 10 Best River Cruise Lines in Europe for Every Traveler - Cruise Critic
The 10 Best River Cruise Lines in Europe for Every Traveler.
Posted: Fri, 22 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
American Queen Voyages (formerly American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines)
Indulge in regional cuisine on Viking ships flavored with herbs grown in an on-board garden, though familiar classics are always available. The dishes are paired with a selection of wines from the area that is being explored. It was a fascinating trip down the Danube River in Europe with Disney Cruises, focused on Christmas markets. Fares include most tours, even well-programmed full-day tours with lunch ashore.
American Pride is a 150-passenger paddlewheeler launched in 2012, and American West is a 110-passenger veteran paddlewheeler launched in 1995. Launched in 2022, it's currently the largest river ship in the U.S. and features three restaurants and an aft infinity pool. In Tennessee's two famous music cities, you'll have a chance to visit Elvis Presley's Graceland, stroll blues club-lined Beale Street and check out the Grand Ole Opry. You'll also visit Paducah, Kentucky, and Dover and Clarksville in Tennessee, where experiences include whiskey and bourbon tasting, tours of landmark art murals and, of course, Civil War history. Odds are you will not get motion sickness on a river cruise since large waves or currents do not hit the ships.
Tauck prides itself on offering off-the-beaten-track experiences in each destination, including multigenerational family tours that are curated to include itineraries for both kids and adults. There are also Christmas market sailings that include tree-trimming, caroling, and a Christmas dinner feast. In addition to traditional ships, there are also sleek black U by Uniworld boats, which offer a modern take on river cruising with a younger demographic in mind.
Complementing the itinerary will be gourmet Pacific Northwest cuisine and more than 40 regional wines curated by an onboard culinary team. A naturalist, historian and geologist will be on hand to guide you on excursions by foot, kayak, Zodiac and jet boat. This year's World's Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions.
Perks include a roommate matching service for solo cruisers, competitively priced single supplements and group discounts, plus price match guarantees. Ships offer traditional-style cruising and Exclusive Discovery Series, which provides first-person accounts from locals or expert talks about the destinations you'll be visiting. For the cruise category, respondents were asked to rate individual ships; the results were separated by ocean cruises and river cruises. It’s not the first time the company – best known for its escorted coach tours – has been at the bottom of our table. Shearings reserves blocks of cabins on European river boats, and it drives customers from across the UK to their embarkation point and back home from their final port of call.
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