River cruises are an incredible way to experience Europe. Each morning will bring with it new views, while your cabin features luxury hotel-style rooms equipped with refrigerators and top brand toiletries.
Explore picturesque villages and iconic cities on a Rhine River cruise, or experience Giverny while strolling its picturesque beach as part of a Seine River itinerary.
The Rhine 
The Rhine River winds its way through six countries, offering breathtaking scenery of ancient castles, hillside vineyards and charming medieval villages. You can explore UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Rhine Gorge or take day trips to Neuschwanstein and Heidelberg castles – as well as cultural centers like Strasbourg and Mainz – or take part in activities offered at one of its cultural centers like Strasbourg or Mainz.
Apart from its beauty, the Rhine also serves as an important trade route, so you may pass by factories and shipping containers that provide you with an unprecedented glimpse into how Europe’s economy operates.
Cruises typically sail the Rhine from mid-June to late August, when temperatures are warmer and many of its top destinations see an increased number of tourists. But you can still visit popular attractions like Lorelei Rock and Black Forest Chocolate Museum even during peak season; alternatively if you wish to avoid crowds altogether fall or spring cruises are another viable option though prices tend to be more costly during these periods.
The Seine
The Seine River has long been at the core of Paris, and a river cruise offers you a wonderful opportunity to see iconic sites like Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower and Louvre. Additionally, Avalon Waterways cruises include visits to Normandy beaches for an in-depth perspective of World War II history and even feature on-board experts for those sailings with World War II themes.
Mid to late spring is an ideal time for a Seine cruise, when flowers are blooming and temperatures remain mild. An itinerary could include stops at Giverny – home of Impressionist Artist Claude Monet – as well as Rouen where Joan of Arc was martyred during medieval times. Lazy afternoons aboard ship offer you ample opportunities for sight-seeing while sampling regional cuisine such as sweet stroopwafels in Amsterdam or crunchier trdelniks in Budapest!
The Elbe 
The Elbe River runs for 583km in Germany and features many natural and cultural highlights along its path. Wildlife enthusiasts will appreciate exploring wetlands and woodlands along its length; history buffs can gain insight into Martin Luther at Wittenberg or Dresden’s transformation following World War II; while wine connoisseurs will revel in sampling local viniculture.
Although river cruises can take place year-round, their peak season falls from May through September when landscapes come alive with spring colors and temperatures remain milder. Peak season prices often come with crowds so shoulder months offer better deals and shorter lines.
Grand Circle Travel’s 14-day “Essence of the Elbe” itinerary aboard the recently refurbished River Allegro explores Berlin and Prague along the riverbanks, visiting historic palaces such as those found in Potsdam; offering beer tasting at Litomerice; introducing travelers to local families in Dresden; touring rococo Sans Souci Park and Baroque New Chambers provide opportunities for further historical insight; plus offering traveler an introduction into life on board ship.
The Danube
Be swept along by abbeys and castles while discovering captivating natural marvels on a luxurious Danube river cruise, with each itinerary likely taking in stops at some of Europe’s classic big cities such as Vienna or Budapest.
The Danube offers more cultural riches than capital cities alone. Stretching over 10 countries and draining 9 more, its vast waters boast many fascinating places for exploration.
Music fans will be inspired by Vienna’s grand architectural outlines, while history lovers will appreciate Nuremberg’s medieval streets and Victorian architecture. Nuremberg also offers plenty of medieval streets to wander through while nature-lovers will delight at Nuremberg’s medieval streets and Victorian buildings, not forgetting Wachau Valley in Austria with its blooming flowers as well as wildlife of Danube Delta in Hungary!
