In the past, cities were built along rivers as they represented lifelines to many historic settlements. Today, these historic settlements are some of the world’s most exclusive travel destinations and home to untouched World Heritage Sites. River Cruising has opened up a whole new world of travel by allowing guests the ability to journey to these dream destinations along the most legendary rivers of our time, such as the Nile, Rhine, Danube, Elbe, Yangtze, Mekong and Seine; all the while aboard a vessel that defines luxury and comfort!
River cruising is the fastest growing segment of the cruising industry as it allows travelers to enjoy a more intimate and authentic experience onboard, all in a lavish environment. With scenic city views along these famous rivers, you’ll wake up to the view of an ancient castle one morning and a quaint brick road market the next. The vessels themselves boast state-of-the-art public spaces, balcony staterooms, L'Occitane en Provenance bath and body products, refined dining, and free flowing wine and beer with meals! River cruises are designed to exceed the standards of five star boutique hotels, with every space transformed into an elegant oasis on water.
River cruising presents travelers with the best selection of land discoveries and unique cultural experiences. AmaWaterways has exclusive tours in cities such as Uglich, Russia, which boasts some of the country's most majestic churches and cathedrals, where guests are given the opportunity to visit the home of a local family and experience Russian hospitality first hand. Travelers can also choose one of Viking River Cruises' masterfully crafted itineraries and visit Salamanca in Spain; a living museum of a city, or take in the 18th century Andalusian inspired Gypsy music and dance known as Flamenco. Wine connoisseurs can also choose one of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises' exclusive Epicurean Adventure Programs, and visit the famous Villány Hills to taste the local concoction dubbed the "Queen of Wines". Moreover, if you decide to extend your vacation, river cruise lines offer the finest selection in hotels to ensure that your entire experience is flawless.
One of the unique added bonuses of a River Cruise is the friendships created onboard; guests can meet new travel companions and create lasting memories because of the intimate environment onboard. With complimentary shore excursions adding to the river cruise experience, vessels will often dock footsteps away from bustling market squares, majestic city landmarks, and in the heart of culturally historic districts.
Elegant Sanctuaries
River cruises often bestow travelers with a sense of peace, not only by sailing on calm waters, but also by exemplifying onboard comfort. River vessels are essentially boutique hotels on water, and passengers can expect nothing short of exceptional service onboard. Most cruise fares are comprised in an all-inclusive fashion, including all onboard meals and complimentary wines, beer, soft drinks, coffee and tea. River vessels also entice guests with specialty coffee and tea 24 hours a day, and replenished water bottle supplies in their staterooms. Further, to enhance your journey most vessels also include shore excursions with English speaking tour guides and headsets so guests can make the most of their travel experience.
Besides the aesthetically pleasing design and interior, guests can also expect personal service with great attention to detail. Award winning chefs provide scrumptious dining experiences that range from traditional dishes of each port, to exotic delights. Travelers are then often treated to an engaging one-on-one dining experience with the chefs. Uniworld also offers cooking and culinary classes with their honoured chefs, where guests can learn the art of pastry making or develop their culinary skills by learning local delicacies from award winning chefs onboard.
Along with the culinary delights, guests never miss a visual treat due to the al fresco dining style provided by the distinctive layout of river vessels. Guests can expect nothing but the best in mouth-watering cuisine and exceptional entertainment with the Captain's Welcome Galas and Farewell Dinners. To enhance your cultural experience, guests are invited to enjoy onboard lectures and local entertainment from the ports visited, including entertainment such as folklore, traditional dances and music.
Expectations are Limitless
Designed to meet your every need, many of the river vessels provide added bonuses for their passengers that enhance the experience of ultra comfort and luxury. River cruise lines offer travelers the advantage of experiencing local customs and cultures in a contemporary chic setting by allowing cruisers the freedom to create their own adventure. For example, travelers can receive concierge services and explore on their own, or take a tour with an expert guide.
To optimize a cruiser's exploration of major hubs in port destinations, AmaWaterways and Uniworld provide travelers with complimentary bicycles and safety helmets, so that they can roam through the city with complete freedom at their own pace or with a guided bike tour. Uniworld also provides guests with Nordic walking sticks, which can be used onboard as well. Uniworld enhances guests' state of peaceful relaxation with plush robes and exquisite towels from the oldest towel makers in the world, Christy's of England. Further, staterooms are furnished with French balconies and Savoir beds draped with lavish linens and European duvets that exude richness.
Calm Explorations
Since river cruises are not as limited in terms of space, destination possibilities are limitless as well. Many river cruise lines offer itineraries to the most celebrated cities and regions of our time.
Among the unique destinations exclusive to river cruises, are sailings in Spain and Portugal along the designated UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Douro River, an unspoiled region that still holds its centuries old charm and natural beauty. Guests can step into centuries old wine regions and UNESCO-listed medieval city centres.
AmaWaterways now offers the ultimate African safari cruising experience with their Zambezi Queen, which sails along the Chobe River. A combined land adventure with a relaxing sanctuary on water, this is one of the most fascinating voyages, which is exemplified by the diverse backdrop of Africa and the itinerary is exclusively designed to capitalize on animal sightings. Guests can wake up to views of elephants, lions, zebras, and hippos basking in the sun, take shore excursions that journey into the wine regions of Cape Town, or visit traditional manyattas settlements of the Amboseli Maasai.
Perhaps one of the quaintest destinations, known as Europe's longest river, the Volga invites travelers to explore the unique architecture that is so pertinent to Russia. While flowing along the Volga-Baltic waterways, guests get the chance to explore the bustling and intricate Moscow metro system, revel in the romantic beauty of St. Petersburg, or take in history through WWII monuments, museums, art galleries, and other historic sites. Russia encompasses some of the most artful landscapes that are unique to their history and culture such as the "Russian Versailles" or Peterhof, St. Isaacs Cathedral and the Chambers of Prince Dimitry.
It may be hard to imagine gliding past an exotic village among the lush climate of the Mekong River, until one experiences it. The Mekong is preserved in serenity as one of the few unspoiled regions in the world, robust with old age charm and thriving of natural prosperity. With many river cruises embarking on this tranquil journey, sailing through Vietnam and Cambodia has become a popular trend in river cruising. The Mekong River cruising experience offers guests the opportunity to entice their cultural curiosity, awaken their spirituality, and experience the beauty of villages that seem suspended in time; all the while aboard a luxury vessel with unparalleled service and amenities.
As part of the exclusivity in terms of destinations, river cruises can travel the paths of Egyptian Pharaohs and follow in the sailing footsteps of Napoleon, without forsaking luxury and comfort. With its deeply rooted history and unequivocally rich culture, the Nile River is quite possibly the most famous waterway in the world; and many river cruise lines such as Viking and Uniworld can take you there! Let history unfold in front of your eyes and experience the gems of Egypt with expert guided tours by Egyptologists, and uncover the significance and beauty of Egyptian landmarks first hand.
River Innovations
River cruising defines innovation by continually offering travelers with contemporary river vessels and inspiring experiences. In 2012, as part of their specifically crafted walking tours, AmaWaterways started offering travelers the chance to visit cooking schools, culinary speciality shops, famous bistros, exclusive chocolatiers and renowned charcuteries throughout Europe. Further, stepping aboard one of the newer Viking longships released this past March, such as the Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord and Viking Odin, you'll be captivated by the unique Scandinavian glass lined interior that reflects scenic views from every corner of public space onboard. Attention to detail such as heated bathroom floors and both European and North American power outlets enhance onboard comfort. Viking River Cruises has also recently patented their unique architecture, which optimizes the ship’s space to maximize the number of rooms with full balconies.
River cruises encompass the greatest facets of what makes a vacation perfect: enchanting landscapes, charming surroundings, exceptional service, succulent dining, robust wines, memorable all-inclusive amenities and once in a lifetime adventures. With so many discoveries to be had, there’s no better way to discover the world than along some of the most legendary rivers of our time.
Contact your Cruise Consultant to book your river cruise today!