{"id":47709,"date":"2023-06-08T16:29:54","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T20:29:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/?p=47709"},"modified":"2023-06-10T12:22:54","modified_gmt":"2023-06-10T16:22:54","slug":"best-river-cruises-in-europe-for-2022-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/2023\/06\/best-river-cruises-in-europe-for-2022-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Best River Cruises In Europe For 2023 & 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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We’re more than midway through 2023, but there’s still time to book river cruises this year. So if you’re looking to spend time in Paris before cruising the Seine, in Vienna before cruising the Danube, in Porto before cruising the Douro, you can still find reasonably priced airfare and space available on ships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few examples: AmaWaterways’ seven-night Paris & Normandy<\/a> sailing is going for just $3,449 per person on several dates during July and August, 2023. Avalon’s seven-night Danube Dreams<\/a> is going for $3,449 and up from now until the end of the year. CroisiEurope has some incredible rates for seven-night Douro cruises<\/a>, from $1,999 per person. Riverside’s eight-night rates for the Rhone<\/a> begin at $4,920 per person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking even farther out, all the better. For many folks, the challenge is to cut through the confusion. There are so many rivers in Europe, so many ships and so many itineraries. How do you cut through the clutter? Our story, How To Choose A River Cruise<\/a>, offers some help, but you still have to do the work yourself. Here, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ll start with popular cruises in the spring and proceed to popular river cruises in the summer, fall and winter. Yes, there are some wonderful river cruises in the cold parts of the year. Viking is even beginning year-round European river cruises<\/a> in 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the top 10 European river cruises for 2023 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Tulip Time Cruises<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Map courtesy of AmaWaterways<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the best river cruises in Europe<\/strong> is a themed voyage through Belgium and the Netherlands to witness the blooming of the iconic tulips. Also known as “Dutch Waterways” cruises, Tulip Time river cruises traverse a variety of smaller rivers; the Dutch Waterways are simply the inland seas and canals along the route.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Start your tulip time cruise with a stay in Amsterdam. Want to do it right? Read our story Snagging $600 Business Class & A \u2018Free\u2019 Stay At The Waldorf Astoria<\/a> \u00a9 2021 Ralph Grizzle<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

This is an ideal cruise for mid to late Spring, with trips generally beginning and ending in Amsterdam. Departing from the Dutch capital, you’ll generally float through Antwerp, Arnhem, Ghent and Rotterdam. Don’t miss the wonderful windmills at Kinderdijk or the pottery and porcelain produced in Delft. You’ll see plenty of tulips on this voyage. And after a visit to the world’s largest floral park (Keukenhof Gardens), you’ll see first-hand why this is one of the best river cruises you can do in the spring – or anytime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Douro Cruises<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Scenic Azure on the Douro. \u00a9 2017 Ralph Grizzle<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Douro is one of our favorite cruising regions.<\/strong> The river is a hidden gem filled with stunning scenery, warm and friendly people, and charming towns bordered by vineyards, and of course, barrels of fine Portuguese wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beauty abounds on Douro River Cruises. \u00a9 2014 Ralph Grizzle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If Lisbon and Porto are not your travel wishlist, they should be. And if you’re a wine lover, you’ll be extra enthusiastic about booking this trip. The Douro River Valley is one of the world’s oldest wine regions. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Center.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, you may already know these things about the Douro, but here’s something you may not know. All cruising has to be done during the day on the Douro; after dark cruising is prohibited by law. That’s a plus in our book giving you plenty of daylight hours to take in the sites as you sail along the river. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A couple of the highlights? When cruising the Douro, you’ll transit the world’s deepest lock (Carrapatelo) and take an all-day tour to Salamanca, Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the cruises along the Douro start or end with an overnight stay in Porto, also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy wandering the streets and exploring the colorful and lively city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Moselle Cruises<\/h2>\n\n\n
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If I were to choose the perfect river for autumn, it would be the Moselle. Scenes like this one, near Bernkastel, are common during the fall. \u00a9 2019 Ralph Grizzle<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

We’ve called it Europe\u2019s Most Beautiful River \u2013 At Least During The Fall<\/a>. That’s when the wine harvest takes place on the gorgeous Moselle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Moselle gives you the impression that you are sailing through a gorge, flanked by vineyards running up steep slopes. Your ship will dock in fairytale villages, such as Bernkastel and Cochem. Resplendent autumnal landscapes make the cruising pleasurable along the Moselle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cochem during my October 2021 trip on the Moselle. \u00a9 Ralph Grizzle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Typically roundtrip Amsterdam, Moselle River cruises transit the Rhine before “making a left” in Koblenz, Germany. On a river cruise along the Moselle during October of 2021, the wine harvest was in full swing, with workers plucking grapes from vineyards that seemed to run straight up the steep hillsides. The weather was stunning along the Moselle, with sunny days and blue skies. The Rhine, by contrast, was rainy and overcast as we cruised it (both ways) between Amsterdam and Koblenz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll have plenty of opportunities, whether on ship or ashore, to sample the Moselle’s magnificent white wines. The region is known for its supple grapes, and its environment is ideal for harvesting them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On some Moselle voyages, you’ll visit Luxembourg on tours from Trier, Germany’s oldest settlement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While cruising Avalon Waterways: Sunset on the Moselle in Remich, Luxembourg. \u00a9 2017 Ralph Grizzle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even ship captains say the Moselle is a top choice. Cruising the Moselle two years ago, I visited the wheelhouse early one morning as Crystal Bach’s Captain Douwe was navigating the misty river. \u201cIt\u2019s my favorite river,\u201d said the captain, who added that he had been sailing for 48  years. He told me that when there is low water on the Rhine, he\u2019ll sometimes deviate to the Moselle. He informs guests, of course, telling them that although the planned route needs to change, they would not be disappointed. \u201cThe Moselle is almost always a pleasant surprise for the guests,\u201d he said to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Main Cruises<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Early morning cruising on the Main River. \u00a9 2016 Ralph Grizzle<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

In 1992 the Main-Danube Canal<\/a> opened, connecting the Main (pronounced mine) and Danube rivers and allowing travel between the North Sea and Black Sea. That’s why you’ll typically, but not always, cruise the Main on river cruises between Budapest and Amsterdam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Main spans more than 300 miles and is the longest river located entirely in Germany. The river begins in the Upper Franconia region of Germany; however, the Main is only considered navigable between Bamberg<\/strong> and Mainz<\/strong>. For an enjoyable and informative read about Bamberg, check out Aaron Saunders Viking Vidar Grand European Tour Day 7: Bamberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My memories of the Main are of cruising a narrow river through bucolic countryside, visiting beautiful Bamberg, in the north of Bavaria and a UNESCO World Heritage Center<\/a> and exploring Wurzburg and its beautiful Alte Mainbr\u00fccke (the old Main bridge) with views of the fantastic Fortress Marienberg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To cruise the Main, you might have to do a long cruise, between Budapest and Amsterdam, but in our book, it’s well worth it, and one of best river cruises in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Elbe Cruises<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Paddle wheels allow CroisiEurope’s MS Elbe Princesse II to navigate the shallow Elbe. Courtesy of CroisiEurope<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It’s notoriously shallow, like the Loire, but at least one operator has figure out how to navigate the river. Strasbourg-based CroisiEurope runs two paddle-wheelers on the Elbe River<\/a> on trips primarily between Prague and Berlin. “Cross the cradle of Germanic culture and embark on a cruise to discover the heart of Europe<\/strong>,” the company’s website<\/a> says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CroisiEurope’s nine-day Elbe cruises call on Meissen, known for the fine porcelain; Dresden, called the “Florence of the Elbe,” because of its architectural monuments along the river; and Wittenberg, where you’ll visit Martin Luther’s house, a former Augustinian monastery that is now the Reformation Museum and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are other calls along the way, but the crown jewel just may be Prague, with its iconic Old Town, Charles Bridge and Prague Castle. Certainly, the Elbe, as fickle as it can be (CroisiEurope’s website says the Elbe is an uncontrolled river that may require ship transfer), ranks among the best river cruises in Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Danube Cruises<\/h2>\n\n\n
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AmaViola & AmaCerto docked in Vilshofen, Germany. \u00a9 2019 Britton Frost<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Danube River is always our number one recommendatio<\/strong>n for people new to river cruising<\/strong>. That’s because this storied river features so many of Europe\u2019s marquee cities<\/strong> – Nuremberg, Passau, Linz, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava (as well as a slew of charming villages). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Europe’s second-largest river, flowing through 10 countries, the river is often referred to as the “Blue Danube<\/a>,” immortalized in one of Austrian composer Johann Strauss’ most famous waltzes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typical itineraries<\/a> sail between Budapest, Hungary, and Passau or Vilshofen, Germany. Some trips begin in Prague, with transfers to the Danube. Highlights of a Danube river cruise include visiting the Vienna Opera House or Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg (and doing the “Sound of Music” tour). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A highlight for nearly everyone is spending extra time in Beautiful Budapest<\/a>. With so much to offer it’s no wonder that the Danube ranks among the best river cruises in Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Opera House in Budapest. \u00a9 2016 Ralph Grizzle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

7. Rhine Cruises<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Rhine Gorge. Photo courtesy of AmaWaterways<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Why the Rhine for our best river cruises in Europe? Because second to the Danube, it is the river that people ask us about most. And no wonder. The Rhine, while industrial along some stretches, can be jaw-droopingly beautiful, particularly the Rhine gorge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beautiful landscape along the Rhine. \u00a9 2016 Ralph Grizzle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The gorge runs between Koblenz and Bingen, a distance on the river of about 40 miles. For more than a century, the gorge has been a popular river outing. During the mid-1800s, sightseeing cruises became increasingly important for revenues as cargo increasingly shifted to the newly developing railway systems throughout Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lorelei is the most famous feature along the gorge. It\u2019s worth taking a moment to talk about the Lorelei, which you\u2019ll still pass during the daylight hours on many Rhine cruises. The Lorelei became a famous day outing following a poem penned by Heinrich Heine in 1824. Heine was inspired by a story about a beautiful woman betrayed by her lover, who accused her of bewitching men to their deaths. For her alleged crimes, she was sentenced to serve the remainder of her life in a nunnery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the way to the nunnery, she asked the three knights accompanying her if she could climb the Lorelei for one last look at her beloved Rhine. Gazing into the river, she thought she saw the lover who betrayed her and fell to her death. Her haunting story still echoes in the rock and the river below. In \u201cDie Lorelei,\u201d Heine depicted \u201cthe fairest of maidens \u2026 sitting up there \u2026 combing her golden hair,\u201d luring seamen to their deaths with her spellbinding song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AmaSonata on the Rhine. \u00a9 2016 Avid Travel Media Inc<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the gorge, the Rhine River runs for more than 700 miles through the Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. It is known as being one of the best river cruises in Europe because of its stunning scenery and enchanting castles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a typical seven-night river cruise<\/a> between Amsterdam and Basel, you’ll visit Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg, Breisach and possibly other ports of call. There’s lots of history here and plenty to see and do, which is the Rhine makes our list of best river cruises in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Seine Cruises<\/h2>\n\n\n
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CroisiEurope’s 22-guest Raymonde on the Petit Seine in France. \u00a9 2017 Lynne Harty<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

France is a wonderful river cruise destination, and if Paris is on your list, then you have to cruise the Seine. Many Seine river cruises operate between Paris and Rouen (or Honfleur, which only a few ships can do). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Seine runs north through Paris and trickles into Normandy and the English Channel. This means there is an abundance of interesting places for you to visit. You can see Normandy’s D-Day beaches<\/a> or visit Clause Monet’s famously lived city of Giverny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At Monet’s Gardens. \u00a9 2016 Ralph Grizzle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

All river cruises on the Seine offer all-day excursions to Normandy’s Landing Beaches like Omaha Beach. You’ll also get the chance to visit the Point du Hoc monument. Not to forget, the American Cemetery is on the list of places to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Related? Probably. At the American Cemetery. \u00a9 Ralph Grizzle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

9. Rhone Cruises<\/h2>\n\n\n
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AmaCello in Avignon. \u00a9 Avid Travel Media Inc<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Rhone is one of our favorite rivers. We\u2019ve heard the same from other travelers and even from river cruise company owners and employees. Why? One reason is that the landscape, cities and excursions are so good – as are the wines. What’s not to like? The excursions are also top notch. See Rhone River Excursions On AmaWaterways<\/a> and Getting Active + Discovering France With Avalon Waterways<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a smooth sail through Provence and Burgundy, a Rhone river cruise also ranks as one of the best river cruises in Europe for oenophiles and food lovers. All Rhone river cruises highlight the region’s super-rich wine heritage and include various tastings and vineyard visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Christmas Markets Cruises<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Visitors browse through one of many Christmas Markets in Cologne, Germany. Photo \u00a9 2013 Aaron Saunders<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

We’re taking you from early spring and Tulip Time river cruises to winter. Many people like to cruise Europe during the warmer months. While it’s true that Europe can be chilly in the fall and spring, and downright cold in the winter, Christmas Market cruises<\/a> are something that you won’t want to miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christmas Markets have a long-standing history in European cities, and these markets are not limited to just one river. Nearly every river cruise line offers Christmas Market cruises. These cruises are offered on the Rhine and Danube rivers. Some of the best markets are in Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, and France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best European River Cruises of the Year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There you have it, a full list of best river cruises in Europe <\/strong>for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Still stuck? Get Get Our River Cruise Recommendations<\/a>. It’s free, and it’s fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join Me On My ‘Dream Cruise’ Commencing In Autumn 2024<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What\u2019s a Dream Cruise?<\/strong> It\u2019s river cruise that pulls together the best of Europe. For me, that\u2019s traveling in comfort along enchanting waterways, with multiple opportunities for destination immersion, cultural encounters, pedaling and hiking \u2013 and sharing the experience with others who are passionate about travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also a river cruise of the proper duration. As our readers know, seven nights is just too short for a fully satisfying experience. My Dream Cruise spans 18 nights, with optional pre- and post-cruise extensions. If that\u2019s too long for you, opt for 11 nights. Read more and see staterooms, itineraries and pricing<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonus: Canal Cruising In France<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are river cruises<\/strong>, then there are barge cruises<\/strong>. The two are worlds apart, or at least waterways apart. River cruises take place on Europe\u2019s major waterways on vessels that typically carry from 100 to 200 guests. By contrast, barge cruises operate on small canals (you could skip a stone across many of them) and typically carry no more than two dozen guests. To say that the experiences are similar would be a quite a stretch. Sure, they both operate on water, but they are markedly different modes of transport. How so? In this post we\u2019ll take a look at 10 Reasons To Choose Luxury Hotel Barge Cruising<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2020<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Looking to do a river cruise in Europe but confused by all the offerings? We make it easy for you. whether it’s your first time on a river cruise or you’re a veteran river cruiser. We’ll start with popular cruises in the spring and proceed to popular river cruises in the summer, fall and winter. Here are the top 10 European river cruises for 2023 and 2024.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53749,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22,72],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47709"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47709"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47709\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}