If you’ve always wanted to try out river cruising, but aren’t quite ready to commit to a voyage lasting a week or more, there’s a compelling way to test out this increasingly popular method of cruising.
Like their deep-ocean counterparts, river cruise companies also offer short cruises, though they’re not as prevalent as on the big ocean liners. Still, Avalon Waterways is offering up some short voyages along the Danube both this year and next that are worth looking into, particularly if you will be travelling to Europe in the next few months.
This year, a handful of four and five-night cruises are still on offer aboard Avalon Tapestry. Four-day voyages begin in Vienna, Austria and sail down the Danube to Melk and Durnstein before trading Austria for the Solvakian town of Bratislava. The cruise comes to a close after arrival in Budapest, Hungary.
Alternately, guests can sail for five nights from Budapest to Vienna, with calls on Bratislava, Durnstein, Melk, Linz and Grein.
Next year, Avalon is also offering five-night cruises from Zurich to Frankfurt and reverse. Dubbed Christmastime in Alsace and Germany, these innovative sampler cruises offer guests the chance to experience Europe’s renowned Christmas Markets, with calls on Breisach, Germany; Strasbourg, France; and Speyer, Germany.
While we don’t advise flying all the way to Europe for a four-day cruise — at least not without a land stay on either end — these shorter voyages make a great accompaniment to any European visit, and are a fantastic way to sample river cruising.
On this side of the Atlantic, the American Queen Steamboat Company has some enticing getaways aboard its classically elegant America Queen, which plies the Mississippi River, among others.
Next year, the line will be offering a series of four, five and six-night voyages coupled with a single-night’s hotel stay. Departing at various dates in April, July and August of 2013, there’s never been a better way to experience this innovative line in its first year of operation or the grandeur of “steamboating.”
So give the short cruises a chance; they can be a great way to experience the wonders of river cruising. But be forewarned: You’ll be back.
