River cruising

River cruising is by far the most convenient way to experience magnificent cities and historical sites along the world's great waterways including the Rhine, Danube, Nile, Amazon, Yangtze, Mekong and Volga. Passengers on a river cruise are given an insider's view of otherwise challenging destinations and the opportunity to travel through a country or region without the ongoing hassles of finding accommodation, transport or parking.

Cruise famous loop Moselle river

River cruising provides an intimate connection with a destination that other modes of transportation do not, and is inextricably linked to political and environmental factors. For example, river cruising on the Danube has enjoyed enormous popularity since 2001, when the section between Croatia and the Black Sea reopened to river cruise vessels following the removal of debris from the Serbian conflict of the late 1990s.

arger cabins, balconies and top quality cuisine define luxury on river cruises, and you'd be hard pressed to get seasick on a river cruise ship. River cruises generally attract passengers who are open to new experiences and value cultural diversity.

River Cruises

Every river has a tale to tell. So relax, float downstream and immerse yourself in the magic of the world's most beautiful waterways.

River cruising is a relaxed, one-stop, soft adventure holiday. Your hotel travels with you as the world drifts past your door. You moor in fabulous locations, often in the heart of the world's most historic towns.

The most popular itinerary is one in which history is played out against a scenic landscape. Think Europe and Egypt: the Danube, Rhine and the Nile. In France, along the Rhone, Saone or Seine, the focus falls as much on regional food and wines as on chateaux.

Splendid sights and intriguing tales also unfold along the Moselle and Elbe in Germany, the Volga in Russia and the Douro in Portugal. In recent years, low water has impacted river tourism on Poland's Vistula and the Po in Italy, although the Venice Lagoon is an Italian highlight for 2005.

You could even choose to board in Amsterdam and sail right across Europe via a network of connecting canals, to reach the Black Sea in Romania. The European season lasts from March until early October with occasional special Christmas cruises.

Elsewhere in the world, you can cruise the Ayeyarwady in Myanmar, the Yangtse in China or the mighty Mississippi in the USA. Wilder times can be had on expedition-style cruises in remote regions such as the Amazon and the Sepik. As river cruising grows in popularity and the passenger demographic broadens, so the global choices increase.

Like ocean cruises, your room and board, entertainment and travel costs are all rolled into one. Navigational restrictions limit ship size and therefore passenger numbers. A hotel barge might take only six passengers whereas a river ship might carry 150.

What really counts is what you'll see in daylight hours. So make a close study of the itinerary and maps. Stretches of river which are not very interesting are best done at night.

You can expect to pass through lots of locks and make stop-start progress. But hey, what's the hurry? The whole point of a river cruise is relaxation and enjoyment.