River cruising

River cruising is a great way  to travel through many of the world’s rivers, waterways and canals. Purpose-built vessels are small (in comparison to their larger ocean sailing competition) but because of their size, the vessels can can dock within the city center. Most cruise lines include guided tours in the cruise price.  Guided tours that are conducted by knowledgeable escorts from the cruise line offer historical and cultural insights into the  regions visited.

Roundup of River Cruise Destinations

Asia

Customers tend to book an overland tour of China in conjunction with their river cruise to maximize their reach. Popular itineraries and destinations:

• Yangtze river
• Mekong River in Cambodia and Vietnam

Egypt

Popular itineraries cruise on:

• The Nile River

Europe

Popular itineraries include trips on Europe’s major rivers:  the Rhine, Danube and Main.

• Cruises on the Danube feature stops in Austria, Hungary and Germany
• The Rhine cruises feature:  Amsterdam and Cologne
• River cruises that cruise on the Rhone and Saone rivers take cruisers into southern France
• River cruises on the Seine highlights Paris and the Beaches of Normady

River cruising in Russia is also popular.

• Itineraries that sail on the Volga between Moscow and St. Petersburg tend to sell out quickly
• Cruisers that choose the Dneiper River will experience Ukraine towns like  Kiev, Yalta, Odessa, Sevastopol, and  Zaporozhye
• Svir River connects the two largest lakes in Europe–Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega

South America
Popular itineraries serve the largest river in South America. Cruise guests can access via Brazil and Peru.

•  The Amazon River gives guests a front row seat to the delicate ecosystem of  the rainforest

Roundup of Popular River Cruise Operators

• Abercrombie & Kent
• American Cruise Lines
• American Safari Cruises
• Avalon Waterways
• AMA Waterways
• Lindblad Expeditions
• Oberoi Philae Nile Cruiser
• Tauck Cruising
• Uniworld River Cruises
• Viking River Cruises