Cruising the Rivers of the World

"No matter where you go, there you are."  Unknown

Our ship, The Amadaggio, disembarking in Regensburg, Germany

Another cruise option is the river cruise. All over Europe you will find the river cruise boats plying the rivers. They are only a few levels high, but very long. They are a lot more intimate then those huge ocean going cruise boats. You get to know almost everyone on board within a day or two. And they have all the amenities on board, the food is great and they make some interesting stops.

Danube River, Budapest, Hungary

The first river cruise I did was on a Christmas Markets cruise. We flew to Prague and spent 3 nights, then we boarded our boat in Nuremberg. The cruise went from there, down the Danube to Budapest. We made stops to visit the Melk Abbey, Regensberg Christmas Market, Vienna and Salzburg markets, and ended with an overnight in Budapest. Sailing into Budapest was particularly spectacular. The spires of the parliament buildings and the bridges, were magnificent. I have visited Budapest since, and it is one of the prettiest cities in the world, but nothing compares to the view as you sail down the river to Budapest. And they do have one of the nicest Christmas Markets. 

 

Victoria Queen on the Yangtze River

I also took a river cruise last year when my girlfriend and I visited China. We did the usual land cities, Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, but we also did a 3 day Yangtze river cruise on the Victoria Queen. The boat was similar to the ones in Europe. But of course, the food was mostly Chinese, as was the crew and entertainment on board. We had a wonderful guide that would be on the front of the boat as we were going through the gorges, and he would point out the sights and tell us the history. We had several shore excursions,which were all included in the price.  One of the excursions took us by small boats up one of the lesser gorges. The scenery was spectacular.

And our last stop was the new Yangtze River Dam, which is almost completed, and which the Chinese are very proud. We took a tour of the grounds. We had spent the night before going through the different locks of the dam. It was a fun cruise. 

There are river cruises all over the world, including the United States.  Cruising the Nile river is a popular way to see that area of the world.  Amazon River cruises are also popular. Russia is another place where cruising is a good option.  In the USA the Mississippi River has long had Paddle Wheel river boat trips, and the area I grew up in - the Columbia River - also has cruise ships that will take you up it to the Snake River.


Queen of the West-Columbia River

River cruising is something you should consider if you want to see an area that is connected by river. It is more intimate than the large ocean going ships, less formal, and you can get from city to city without unpacking. When you get to a port, a city tour is usually included in the price. You can watch the scenery go by from your window, it is relaxing and fun. And usually the places you stop are smaller cities which you will have time to explore while in port.