River Cruising – A New Way to Travel Through Europe
Cruising at a leisurely pace through the famous rivers crisscrossing Europe and experiencing the scenic European countryside
With the summer season approaching, many families are chalking out plans for holidays in Europe. Europe is such a vast continent with so many countries plus so much to see in all the countries. Picking and choosing the destinations and creating an itinerary for travel in Europe is quite difficult. Many people prefer to book an escorted group tour of a travel company which covers many countries in a short duration so that they cover major part of Europe and its main sightseeing locations. The more adventurous tourists create their own itinerary after extensive research or use a travel agent’s expertise and prefer to cover only one or two countries and see those countries in detail. Such people normally use a Eurail pass that can be used on the extensive railway network that covers Europe or they travel by a small 7 – 10 seater van.
Is there any other way to plan an itinerary to see Europe? There seems to be no other way!!
Introducing River Cruises in Europe – a very unique and interesting way to cover many cities of Europe that too at a leisurely pace, enjoying the vibe, culture and cuisine of the city you are visiting, plus covering most important sightseeing locations also!!
What is river cruising?
River cruising is somewhat similar to sea cruises like Cordelia, Star cruises, Princess Cruises etc. The only difference being the boats used in River cruises are smaller, and the cruising is done through the river channels of major rivers!! How is it possible? Aren’t river channels narrow, how can a big cruise ship possibly navigate through them?
Mainland Europe (leaving aside Scandinavia and UK) is a vast area and there are more than 40 small and large rivers that originate here and flow through various countries before joining either the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, Black Sea or the Adriatic Sea. Out of these rivers, there are a few rivers which are notable for their length and the fact that they pass through a whole lot of countries. These major rivers are Rhine, Rhone, Danube, Seine, Maine, Duoro, Moselle and Saone. The river channels are quite broad and deep, so cruise ships can easily sail through them.
There are various cruise companies offering river cruises in Europe, but the leading cruise company is A-ROSA.
Why A-ROSA?
A-ROSA has some of the most comprehensive itineraries of river cruising covering most major cities in Europe. They have cruise ships traversing through the rivers of Rhine, Danube, Rhône, Seine and Douro. These 5 rivers cover most of Europe from Romania and Bulgaria in the east to Spain and Portugal in the west and from Netherlands in the north to Southern Germany and the scenic southern coast of France.
A-ROSA is the first choice cruise company for a variety of reasons:
- In all the itineraries, ships take you to the heart of the town which is the cultural and heritage hot spot in any European town.
- So when you arrive in a destination, just grab your handbag or backpack, and get going! Take photos, make memories, experience a new place! Alone or on the wide variety of shore excursions and guided tours.
- On some ships, a limited number of free e-bikes are available on a first-come, first-served basis which you can use for self-exploration of the city.
- Most importantly, all cabins are outside cabins with a view, compared to sea cruises where the basic room is an Inside stateroom with no view! Plus the cabins are very spacious, elegantly furnished, with most cabins having a Juliette balcony. So as your cruise moves through the river, taking you from city to city, you have everything on the ship that you would expect from a premium hotel– views of the spectacular landscape, delicious drinks, leisure and recreation activities on board, and a lot of sunshine. Plus the indescribable experience of the views when passing through the lush European countryside with its quaint riverside villages and then a major city slowly unfolding before you as your cruise ship gently enters the city and docks close to the city center.
Now what about the sightseeing tours?
Not to worry. A-ROSA has curated more than 500shore excursions set up on various themes in all the ships cruises put together. Guided City sightseeing Discovery tours by a coach, DIY sightseeing tour on bikes and e-bikes especially in cities like Amsterdam, Gourmet tours to experience and learn about local cuisine, visits to zoos and theme parks especially if you are travelling with kids – all this and more is available to you in the shore excursions menu.
Highlight of A-ROSA is of course the food.
All meals are included and there is a lavish buffet spread for breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets with live-cooking stations, as well as an embarkation snack and daily tea time. Plus for the late nighters, midnight snacks are also available. Regional delicacies of the country that the ship is cruising through are also included.
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included all day, every day. Tea, specialty coffees, water, soft drinks, beer as well as a selection of wines, cocktails, and long drinks (also available outside dining hours).
Free Wifi is available on board. There is a special Guest Relations Management team on board every ship to look after your every need plus Destination Scouts to provide insider tips about the itineraries and shore excursions.
To give tourists a cultural experience, there is a wide variety of on-board entertainment using local artists of the countries the ship is sailing through.
For Families with kids – GOOD NEWS – Children up to 15 years can travel at heavily discounted rates. Discounts range from 100% to 30% depending on the itinerary and season.
A few cruise ships also have Free room service. For the health-conscious travelers, you are allowed free use of onboard facilities such as swimming pool, sauna and gym, plus a 15% discount on Spa treatments is offered on some ships.
Most importantly, free transfers from/to station and port are included in the cost. On most ships, there is a Kids Club to take care of small kids while the parents enjoy.
CRUISE ITINERARIES OF A-ROSA
There are currently 15 ships operated by A-ROSA – which traverse the major rivers of Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Rhone, Saone, Seine and Douro.
RHINE MAIN MOSELLE
Cruising through these rivers gives the tourist access to major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Bonn, Koblenz, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Trier, Strasbourg, Basel and a lot of other smaller towns on the way.
DANUBE
Interested in visiting the cities of Eastern Europe like Belgrade, Bucharest, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, then a cruise through the Danube river is what you need to do.
RHONE and SAONE
Bid farewell to your daily routine, and say salut to savoir-vivre! With delicacies from Lyons and wines from the Côte d’Or, Beaujolais and Burgundy, the south of France is bound to suit your tastes. What’s more, the landscapes you’ll see on these cruises are also an absolute delight. Discover the beauty of every single port of call on your A-ROSA river cruise on the Rhône & Saône. The culinary experience of Lyon and the wine regions of south of France including Avignon and Viviers are the highlights of these cruises.
SEINE
Want to visit Paris and see the verdant northern France – then a cruise on the Seine River is for you. Discover the most beautiful areas in France during your cruise on the Seine. The starting point of every trip is the city of love – Paris. This city’s indescribable flair is in sharp contrast to the idyllic romance of the Seine valley. Numerous turns and meanderings lead you to the orchards used for Calvados, lavender fields, vineyards and palaces. This cruise brings Monet’s paintings to life. In the ancient Seine town of Vernon, the signs are green. Landscaped gardens bloom everywhere, meadows and hedges stretch out. All this makes Vernon the “green garden of Paris”.
DOURO
The westernmost countries of Europe which are known for their vibrant culture and heritage sites and of course religious places – Spain and Portugal. The Douro river passes through these countries. Porto is the port of departure and arrival for the Douro cruises. Which means you’ll have plenty of time to stroll through the splendid old town, take in the view from Portugal’s highest church tower and sample bacalhau, the country’s favourite dried fish. It is said that there are 365 ways to cook it. While you are there, don’t miss the opportunity to go on an excursion to Salamanca in Spain. With its 13th-century university, the city is one of the most important educational centres in Europe and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
CONCLUSION
European River Cruises are the best way to explore Europe at a leisurely pace while enjoying all the luxury and convenience of a premium cruise experience. It offers a unique blend of sightseeing, cultural immersion, and relaxation, with the added advantage of an all-inclusive experience. Whether you’re interested in the historic cities of the Rhine, the romantic scenery of the Danube, or the culinary delights of the Rhône and Saône, there’s a river cruise itinerary that fits your interests. With A-ROSA’s extensive network of cruises and amenities, you can be assured of a memorable European holiday. So, why wait? Start planning your European river cruise adventure today and experience the charm and beauty of Europe like never before!
