Germany - European river cruising is riding the crest of a wave – it’s the fastest-growing sector of the travel industry. And with itineraries packing as many as four countries into a one-week cruise, with the chance to wake up somewhere new each day, we are increasingly spoilt for choice.
Over the past three years, more than 50 new river vessels have taken to the water, with about 20 more due this year. The season runs from March to November, with itineraries ranging from short taster cruises to culture-rich, fortnight-long voyages. And if you prefer not to fly, Eurostar and Europe’s high-speed rail network offer plenty of options.
With spectacular scenery, charming villages and cities such as Cologne, Vienna and Budapest, it’s easy to see why the Rhine, Main and Danube attract the highest number of cruisers. Other popular rivers include the Seine, where ships are based in Paris and cruise to Normandy, and the Rhône, for trips through Provence between Lyon and Arles. Or you can cruise the Elbe from Berlin to Prague, the Moselle through Germany’s wine-growing heartland, Italy’s Po or Portugal’s Douro.
The size of European river cruise vessels is constrained by low bridges and narrow locks. They’re small and friendly, carrying 200 passengers or fewer. A big bonus is that so much is included. All meals come as standard, and the majority of lines also offer free daily excursions. All-inclusive sailings are available, with drinks and tips included in the fare.
As vessels tend to moor in the centre of towns and cities, it’s easy for passengers to explore under their own steam if they want to opt out of organised excursions.
The largest line, Viking River Cruises ( vikingrivercruises.co.uk), launched 16 new ships in one day last year, breaking its previous Guinness World Record of 10, and will have a fleet of 50 vessels in Europe by the end of the year. Its longest itinerary is the 14-night Grand European Tour, from Amsterdam to Budapest.
Amadeus River Cruises ( amadeusrivercruises.co.uk) acknowledges its Austrian roots with classic Viennese coffee houses on its newest ships.
Amadeus Silver II, launching this year, will sail the week-long Classical Rhine itinerary, with a departure on April 23.
Shearings ( shearings.com) is introducing new rail options to join Danube cruises, plus three-night mini-cruises from Amsterdam to Cologne, with some time on the Rhine.
Discovered by the Romans who named it the River of Gold, Portugal’s Douro is less well-known than some of its European counterparts, but it offers great options for exploring on land. Cruises include excursions to wine producers near Porto, as well as Lisbon.
Uniworld ( uniworldrivercruises.co.uk) has a new 12-night Jewels of Spain, Portugal and the Douro cruise, from Lisbon to Madrid.
ACE Cultural Tours ( aceculturaltours.co.uk) has a week’s cruise aboard Spirit of Chartwell, the boat that hosted Queen Elizabeth during the Diamond Jubilee pageant on the Thames. The round trip from Porto, departing on August 29, includes a private visit to Graham’s Port Lodge.
Watching the world go by is one of the main attractions of river cruising, but it’s not just about the scenery.
There are a huge number of themed itineraries on offer, whether you fancy wine appreciation and cookery classes or a World War I history itinerary.
A first for AmaWaterways ( amawaterways.co.uk) is the seven-night Tulip Time cruise, departing March 31. Sailing through Holland and Belgium, beer connoisseur Don Russell will host onboard talks, tastings and beer-themed excursions. AmaWaterways is also offering art, jazz and Jewish heritage cruises.
For green-fingered passengers, the River Cruise Line ( rivercruiseline.co.uk) has a new Dutch voyage including a visit to the Keukenhof gardens. The six-night trip departs on April 2.
Enjoy previously uncharted river cruise waters when CroisiEurope ( croisieurope.co.uk) launches its 96-passenger paddle wheel vessel, Loire Princesse. From April, the line will become the first operator offering overnight cruises along the Loire.
The vessel’s paddle wheel technology will allow it to navigate shallow waters past the landscapes and castles of the Loire Valley.
The five- and seven-night round-trip itineraries from Nantes include a visit to the STX Saint-Nazaire shipyard – birthplace of the giants of the cruising world. Available from April to October for five nights.
Winding its way through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, the 1 320km Rhine is one of Europe’s longest rivers and an obvious starting point for first-time river cruisers. The landscape of steep, vineyard-covered slopes, castles, and picturesque medieval towns combine to make it one of the most attractive parts of Europe.
The Main-Danube Canal enables vessels to sail into the Blue Danube, the gateway to Hungary and beyond; alternatively, with a transfer to the Saône, you can continue your cruise south on the Rhône.
Avalon Waterways ( avaloncruises.co.uk) has a new Rhine and Rhône Revealed cruise, ending with an overnight stay in Monte Carlo. The 14-night journey departs on October 24.
France is Europe’s top barging destination, with an extensive network of waterways, including the Canal du Midi, stretching 240km from Toulouse to the Med, and Burgundy’s canals meandering through vineyards. European Waterways ( gobarging.com) is the main line.
Cordon Bleu chef Caroline Macrae and her husband, Rory, offer fully inclusive, bespoke itineraries through Burgundy aboard their restored six-berth barge, Après Tout ( bargeaprestout.com).
Weekend Argus