Avoid the Monotony of the Sea: Try Danube River Cruises

Whereas ocean cruises offer great views of the sea, Danube river cruises offer a completely different perspective. The river passes through many countries including Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Austria and Germany. You can experience the inland territories over a stretch of over 2,000 miles. Western Europe cruises such as these are the best way to see some wonderful landscapes and breathtaking scenery that no ocean cruise can give you.

Whereas ocean liners cannot enter these narrower waters, smaller river boats are used for Danube river cruises; they can take you up and down the old waterways and canals that were used in previous centuries. The number of passengers is typically less than 200, which also means that you can get friendlier with your fellow shipmates.

Western Europe cruises offer as much style and comfort as any large ocean liner. The cabins are fully equipped and there are facilities such as fitness centers, saunas, hairdressers and game activities on board. The accommodation offers the chance to sit on balconies or open large French windows to take in the stunning landscapes as you slowly pass by.

The barges also tend to dock at smaller locations and you can disembark to discover a completely different way of life in rural areas of the varying countries you visit. The boats also dock in the well known towns and cities so you will not miss the chance to see famous landmarks.

Many cruise companies are now offering themed Danube river cruises which are a whole lot of fun. It could be a classical music theme, opera or a shopping trip which visits the many Christmas markets held annually in these countries. Other themes available include cycling, walking and horse riding trips.

Western Europe cruises are easily located by browsing the World Wide Web. Numerous cruise operators have their own websites where you will find more details about the trips and can book directly. Be sure to mention any additional requirements you may have including special diets and mobility access.

There are numerous operators that offer passengers short or long duration cruises. You may only want a short trip, say three or four days and this can easily be arranged. Cruises that last 14 nights or more are also a popular choice.

It is of no particular importance what kind of traveler you are when it comes to Danube river cruises. There is something to suit everyone and it is a great adventure from start to finish. You will have plenty of good times to remember on your way back home.

European River Travel For Everyone

So, you are contemplating European river travel. You are looking for the cruise to be a luxury travel vacation. Europe tours should be part of the holiday package. Then the European cruise travel vacation for you is a European river cruise!

European river travel may sound like a strange idea at first, but it is a common way to savor the towns and waterways of countries such as Germany, France and Austria, while at the same time avoiding the crowds of mass tourism.

Virtually all of the major rivers in Europe have luxury travel trip packages available on them. These magnificent boats cruise the powerful rivers through the indescribable landscape that is steeped in history. Each day you can visit another settlement, city, village or point of interest – all without travel in rough surroundings and the packing and unpacking required by other means of European travel.

If you have very specific interests, such as buying antiques or savoring local wines, you will find themed European river travel that will suit your interests perfectly. If you have a group of aficionado friends, you could even contact a specialized travel agency to organize a cruise centered on your interests!

The four seasons all have different highlights for European river travel, and whether you will choose to travel in the pleasant heat of summer, in the flowery months of spring, in colorful autumn or in snowy winter, the experience will be delightful.

Most European river travel boats will have a sundeck, so if the weather is warm you will be able to enjoy the passing sights from the deck, enjoying a commanding view of the surroundings.

Some staterooms offer floor to ceiling viewing windows. Some have separate bathtub and showers. Most of the stateroom facilities you would expect in the splendid ocean cruise ships are provided on these luxurious river cruise boats.

Most European river travel arrangements will cover all meals, and you will usually be fed fresh local cuisine and wines prepared by onboard cooks, with an occasional foray to a renowned restaurant in the area.

The pampering service one would expect on any luxury cruise is met and exceeded on these cruises. Luxury travel vacations would simply be travel without the marvelous service bestowed upon the river cruise traveler. The cruise staff are gracious and affable and are definitely there to please!

There are a great number of locales for European river travel, but in all cases the comfort of an upper end cruise will delight you. You may even find it hard not to come back for another European cruise the next year!

It’s Easy To Travel Across Europe By River

For most tourists the phrase “cruise vacation” conjures images of indolent time spent on deck chairs sipping tropical drinks while being transported across warm seas to the next sun-drenched tropical islet. But there is a different sort of cruise, which can bring an entirely new experience to the excitement of cruising: European river travel.

If you are an old hand cruise patron looking for a new experience, European river travel will present you with a way to stay on the water when the tropical cruise period has ended.

With European river travel, you will avoid the constant hassles of car gridlocks, changing accommodation every other day, and having to take lots of flights. And you will see wonderful places that are inaccessible to a seagoing cruise across Europe’s coasts.

Most European river travel will involve visiting beautiful cities such as Vienna, Regensburg or Strasbourg, but you will also have a chance to sample nature’s delights in beautiful protected parks, and if you like mountains, the Alps and the Carpathians could only be a day trip away from your cruise boat!

Indeed there are plenty of options, and most of them are easily explorable from the comfort of your computer screen, where thanks to dedicated online travel agents you can select from wealth of different options, as well as packages that include tailor-made parts or wholly bespoke trips.

European river travel is achievable along some of Europe’s oldest and most romantic watercourses. A two week cruise of the Danube River, for instance, will take you from Amsterdam to Budapest, through Holland, Germany, Austria, and Slovakia. You’ll in fact be cruising on three waterways, the Main and Rhine Rivers as well as the Danube.

You’ll visit Vienna, the origin of the waltz, and the thirteenth-century cathedral at Cologne. You’ll visit the overwhelming Danube Gorge and the Stone Bridge at Regensburg, which has been bearing traffic safely over the Danube for more than a thousand years.

One great extra bonus of long European river travel is that as the vessels are smaller then the cruise ships that go out to sea, you will receive a much more personalized and attentive service from the on-board personnel, and you will also get to know your fellow travelers more.

You may be so overcome by the slower, more graceful experience of European river travel, in fact, that you permanently trade in all your tropical apparel for something a bit warmer!