Savvy cruisers, accustomed to sailing the high seas, are taking note of a relatively unknown opportunity. Namely, the experience of cruising down a meandering river in a venue even more laid-back than traditional ocean cruises. Drifting through beautiful landscapes, enjoying all the creature comforts of regional food and wine, experiencing chateaus and cathedrals, touring vineyards and sleepy villages left behind by time... this is the European River Cruise.
The countless amenities of ocean cruises have been well documented in numerous forums. However, cruising a river waterway brings a new experience that is both similar to, and very different from, ocean cruising.
Unlike ocean cruises, rivers provide easy access to city centers. Sail directly into the heart of each destination then walk right off the ship right in the middle of whatever city or town you're visiting. In other words, you spend less time getting there--and more time being there.
A river cruise allows for a more intimate experience, as well. Because most of these ships accommodate only 30 to 200 guests, it's easier to get to know your traveling companions. You can share a drink with the couple you met on the day's tour, or dine with interesting passengers in an open-seating restaurant. Another benefit: you can also forget about waiting in long lines to embark, debark, or have a meal.
It's no wonder that both experienced and first-time travelers are discovering the joys of river cruising. River cruises are currently one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry.
You can explore various river cruise itineraries on the CruiseCompete.com web site. We now feature a number of different river cruise lines, including Viking River, Avalon Waterways, AMA Waterways (which used to be Amadeus Waterways), and Uniworld.
As with other types of cruises on CruiseCompete, we provide tools and assistance to help you select the sailing that's right for you, and once you choose your cruise our member-agents will compete to offer you the best deal.
