​by  Manitou Rey



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Viking River Cruises

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Featured River Cruise Partners

Amazing River Cruises Through Europe & Asia

It is hard to curate this list of cruises, because they are all wonderful! There is a reason so many people are taking advantage of the greatest trend in travel! When you take a river cruise, you can see so many wonderful locations without having to pack and unpack every single day, leaving you way more time and energy than when you take the train or rent a car. For this year's featured European River Cruises, we are concentrating on itineraries to our favorite destinations from a few of our favorite partners. We have tried to include some less expensive options, which are sometimes shorter itineraries.


River Cruises in Europe and Asia are such a fantastic solution for people who hope to visit a bunch of different cities, but have limited time and are also hoping to actually get some rest during their vacation time. The river cruise concept is simple: Travel to multiple destinations without actually thinking you are traveling and only staying in the same hotel the whole time. So, you get all of the bucket list experiences without taking the time to pack and repack every day, wait at the train station or take taxi's to the airport and deal with checking luggage..


The cruises also have all of your excursions organized and world class restaurants on board, although you may choose to eat in town if that is what you want to do. Many of the cruises have bicycles available to make your tour around town more exciting. Whether you have always wanted to visit castles in Europe or visit temples in Asia, the river cruise can be a spectacular bucket list solution for you.


Here are some Great Cruise Itineraries for 2015


12 Day Cruise Along the Romantic Danube

Glide past fairy-tale castles and medieval villages on one of our most popular Danube River cruise journeys. Explore Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Cesky Krumlov, Bratislava and Budapest – plus the castle-studded Wachau Valley – taking in views of the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Attend a private Imperial evening with dinner and music at a palace in Vienna... a wine tasting in Dürnstein... spend a day in Mozart's Salzburg or medieval Cesky Krumlov... take an exclusive private tour of Baroque monastery libraries in Prague... discuss contemporary issues and historic events in Slovakia with a resident expert... and enjoy evenings of cultural entertainment on and off your riverboat. In Vienna, see the Imperial apartments at the Hofburg or tour opulent Schönbrunn Palace. Admire frescoes, stained glass windows, and stunning architecture as you spend two nights each in Budapest and Prague in city-center hotels, checking out remarkable bridges, cathedrals, museums, and grand Habsburg palaces... it's a Danube River cruise to remember! And a great way to knock some of the great cities off of your Bucket List.


10 Day Netherlands and Belgium River Cruise

Tauck treats you to a ringside seat for nature's spectacular annual springtime show on a memorable 10-day trip including an 8-night cruise through the inland waterways of Holland and Belgium aboard a premium Tauck riverboat. Everywhere, a spot of local color... throughout your cruise in Belgium and the Netherlands... from tulips, daffodils and hyacinths abloom in flower boxes or in grand gardens... in historic windmills and fishing villages preserving a vanished way of life... at a chef-topped lunch in a terraced countryside castle... in gabled houses dressed in maritime lore along Amsterdam’s tree-lined canals... in Flemish paintings, chocolate and bier... Check out Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands' bulb country. Take a scenic boat cruise through Amsterdam's canals and experience the past at the Zuiderzee Museum. Visit a windmill museum and observe cheese-making in Holland's Alkmaar region. Tour renowned art museums and World War II sites, and visit Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Maastricht, Antwerp, Middelburg, Brussels and more on one of our most popular European river cruises – and enjoy Tauck Exclusives such as an interactive culinary experience at the fabulous Château Neercanne. This is another great cruise plan for seeing cities that you have on your Bucket List.

10 Day Cruise Through France

When it comes to France cruises, it’s hard to imagine a more enjoyable one than gliding along the Rhône through the vineyard country from which come some of the world’s most exceptional wines. But first, spend two nights at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris, and perhaps discover things you don’t yet know about the "City of Light." After riding the high-speed TGV through the French countryside to Lyon, embark  to begin this crème de la crème of France cruises, as centuries-old towns, each with its own unique personality, compete for your attention... with private wine tastings at the source in Beaujolais and Châteaneuf-du-Pape... a tasting experience in Lyon’s historic indoor food market... a cooking demonstration and wine and cheese tasting at a cooking school owned by an award-winning chef... dinner overlooking the Pont du Gard... and so much more! France has such great wines and history. There is no doubt that you should include a tour through France on your Bucket List.


14 Day French River Cruise Escape

one of the most enjoyable France river cruises you could imagine, journey from the jet-setting capital of Monte-Carlo into Provence to Arles to board ms Swiss Emerald for a cruise along the Rhône River to Lyon and then along the Saône. Travel into the countryside past vineyards where some of the world’s best grapes become some of the world’s best wines, stopping to taste some of them. Discover river towns with Roman roots and lingering traces of medieval magic in their streets, experience the cowboy traditions and cuisine of La Camargue, and sample the pleasures of regional cuisine and wine throughout your trip. Explore a palace fit for a pope and an abbey that was once one of the most powerful in Europe. You'll find something new, something wonderful every day. And during two nights in Paris, you'll dine at chic Fouquet's on the Champs-Élysées!


7 Day Family Castle Cruise on the Rhine River

Create cherished family memories on our new-for-2015 unforgettable 7-night cruise along the Rhine River between Basel and Amsterdam aboard the new ms Inspire, visiting Switzerland, France, Germany and The Netherlands. You can be the first to see this new family river cruise itinerary by signing up for our Sneak Peek! Family travel experiences include a bicycle ride through forests and vineyards along the Rhine riverside; a taste of fondue, Swiss folklore and more in lakeside Lucerne; a ride aboard the world’s steepest cogwheel train to the top of Mt. Pilatus in the Swiss Alps; exploring the fascinating ruins of hilltop Heidelberg Castle in the medieval university town of Heidelberg; learning about the Lorelei and other Rhine River legends while keeping an eye out for fairy-tale castles; discovering the art treasures and historic canals of Amsterdam; an exclusive gala dinner for Tauck guests only at thousand-year-old Reichenstein Castle, high above the Rhine; becoming “French for a Day” aboard the riverboat with French language lessons, songs, a cooking demonstration and a chocolate tasting; a close-up look at the importance of the Carnival season to Köln (Cologne), Germany, and much more!


7 Day Blue Danube Family River Cruise Tour

There is no better way to experience the heart of Europe with your family than on a leisurely river cruise along the "River of Kings" aboard your well-appointed Tauck riverboat, ms Swiss Jewel or ms Savor. Unpack only once as you travel from Budapest, Hungary, to Slovakia, Austria and Germany, enjoying action-packed shore excursions specially designed for Tauck Bridges families. Play medieval games on a visit to Devin Castle in Slovakia. Soar over Vienna on the Riesenrad (giant ferris wheel) in the Prater, the city's famous amusement park. Learn how to make strüdel aboard the riverboat. Visit Schönbrunn Palace, which Empress Maria Theresa and her daughter Marie Antoinette once called home. Go bicycling along the Danube and discover tricky secrets – and The Sound of Music locations – at Schloss Hellbrunn in Salzburg. End your family's fun Danube River tour in Passau, Germany, by checking out Europe's biggest pipe organ and making your own tasty marzipan creation!


11 Day River Cruise from Bucharest to Budapest

Let us take you to the cities, towns and natural wonders of Eastern Europe, where so many fairy tales began. Experience two nights in bustling Budapest, cosmopolitan capital of Hungary; sail past dramatic natural wonders like the soaring white cliffs of the Iron Gate region; visit the Serbian capital of Belgrade and the Croatian town of Osijek; discover historical treasures of Bulgaria; and admire the graceful charms of the Romanian capital of Bucharest where you will enjoy one overnight stay. This itinerary is, quite simply, a revelation.


8 Day Danube River Cruise

This 8-day itinerary takes you through four of Europe’s most enchanting countries along the storied Danube River; Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia. Explore Budapest’s imperial and Art Nouveau delights, and take a comprehensive tour of beautiful Bratislava’s baroque and Gothic buildings and fountains. In Austria, discover why Vienna is “the waltz capital,” sail through the spectacular Wachau Valley, and explore the cobblestone streets and charming town squares of Dürnstein. And in Germany, admire Passau’s ancient fortress and Italianate architecture. Includes a tour of the 900-year-old baroque Benedictine abbey at Melk and a full-day excursion to the scenic city of Salzburg.


12 Day Bucharest, Istanbul and the Black Sea River Cruise

Ancient Vikings navigated Danube and Black Sea waters all the way to Constantinople of old and back. You’ll trace a similar route on this unique 12-day itinerary, its centerpiece a cruise on the western Black Sea. Here, the tides of history have left fascinating vestiges from ancient civilizations on Romanian and Bulgarian shores. You’ll also witness the lush preserve of Romania’s Danube Delta. And during overnight stays, enjoy ample time to explore Bucharest, Romania’s cosmopolitan capital, and Istanbul, where East meets West on the glorious shores of the Bosporus Strait.

14 Day Hanoi to Ho Chi Min City Mekong River Cruise
Explore the stunningly scenic and culturally distinctive lands that lie along the remarkable Mekong River. On this 15-day cruisetour, discover two countries, two cultures and two ways of life linked by Indochina’s most important river; from Vietnam’s bustling cities to the tranquility of Cambodia. Encounter ancient Khmer monuments at Angkor Wat and the elegant French colonial capital of Phnom Penh in Cambodia; and in Vietnam, visit the floating markets of the Mekong delta, experience the intimate charm of Hanoi’s old city and tour dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. Here you will find gracious hosts and some of the finest cuisine in the world, while enjoying the natural beauty and rich history just beyond the banks of the magnificent Mekong.

13 Day Biejing to Shanghai Norther China River Cruise
This phenomenal itinerary presents China’s key highlights in just 12 days. Explore cosmopolitan Shanghai, China’s most cutting-edge, modern city. Cruise the legendary Yangtze between Wuhan and Chongqing through the scenic Three Gorges and wildly beautiful Lesser Gorges. Tour the Three Gorges Dam, an engineering marvel that has changed the face of China. Visit the necropolis at Xian, where you encounter thousands of Terra Cotta Warriors. In Beijing, explore imperial treasures like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, and walk through historic Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public venue. The hospitality of distinctive hotels and the fabulous Viking Emerald round out an amazing trip.

18 Day Egypt River Cruise Tour
Egypt is the gift of the Nile, according to the Greek historian Herodotus. The great city of Cairo, the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, and the unearthed secrets of desert sands are all set on or near the banks of the nurturing Nile. Cruise the river in comfort and style, and sail across Lake Nasser to the monumental statues of Rameses II and Nefertari at Abu Simbel. Touch the pyramids and see the eternal Sphinx, walk through ancient temples and meet the friendly people of today’s Egypt on this fabulous 12-day cruisetour.

13 Day River Cruise from Moscow to St Petersburg
Thinking of Russia, two great cities immediately come to mind: Moscow and St. Petersburg. This monumental 13-day itinerary includes multiple days in both cities, touring such landmarks as Moscow’s Kremlin and Red Square, and the Catherine Palace and Hermitage in St. Petersburg. But, there is another side of Russia; quaint Golden Ring towns like Yaroslavl and Uglich that only a river cruise can provide. See opulent palaces, discover fortified monasteries and visit beautiful churches and cathedrals. It is an unforgettable way to experience the history and culture of this unique and mysterious country.

14 Day Golden Treasures of Myanmar River Cruise Tour
Your journey begins in Yangon, followed by a 10-night upstream cruise embarking in Pyay. Visit sacred sites, small villages, craftsmen’s workshops, markets and Buddhist monasteries, and enjoy a full-day tour of Bagan and its rich collection of stupas, temples and pagodas. Take in the stunning view from atop Mt. Popa and visit the Golden City of Mandalay before returning to Yangon via plane for another overnight stay.

16 Day Stars of South Africa River Cruise and Tour
This 16-day itinerary starts with three nights in Cape Town, a 4-night wildlife cruise aboard the Zambezi Queen on Botswana’s Chobe River, game drives in Chobe National Park, and two full nights at the legendary Victoria Falls. From there, you will fly to Johannesburg for an overnight stay, then head to the game-rich country near Kruger National Park. Spend three unforgettable nights at a game lodge in this premier eco-tourist destination, known for some of the best “Big Five” viewing in South Africa. Experience the thrill of daily game drives, while evenings bring you breathtakingly clear skies – the perfect opportunity to see the Southern Cross and other constellations of the southern hemisphere.

18 Day Northwest Africa Tour from Johanesburg to Nairobi
Your journey begins with an overnight stay in Johannesburg (or an optional 3-night extension in Cape Town). Next, fly to Kasane and board the Zambezi Queen. Your wildlife river cruise ship on the Chobe River provides elegant accommodations surrounded by an incredibly diverse population of animals. Enjoy two nights at Victoria Falls, fly to Johannesburg for a night, then on to Nairobi, a time-honored starting point for safari adventures. After an overnight stay, you will fly to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive and overnight stay before continuing on to Ngorongoro. Your two-night stay includes a full-day crater game drive in this renowned wildlife area. Onward to the fabled Serengeti National Park, the jewel in the crown of Tanzania’s protected areas, with the greatest collection of animals on earth. You will spend three incredible nights in ultra-luxurious accommodations here before returning to Nairobi for your return flight home.


Some Key Cruise Planning Thoughts to Consider

How to Decide on a River Cruise?

There are so many more options for planning River Cruise Itineraries. And so many dates. Cruises often also feature celebrity speakers and themes. The best way to plan a river cruise, whether in Africa, Europe, Central Asia, Egypt or China is to identify your timing and your priorities for the window and we can offer you an assortment of River Cruises to choose from. Contact us with your thoughts and we will pull together some great options for you.


What should I expect to pay for a River Cruise?

There are several variables which will determine the price of your river cruise. The length of the trip is the greatest determining factor. After that, the quality of the travel company, the seasonality of the cruise. If you think sort of between $250 - $600 per day per person plus transfers, that should give you a sense of the price. But there are often deals and special pricing that can be taken advantage of. That is why it is so important to work with our cruise specialists to figure out the best plan for you.


Should I buy Travel Insurance for a River Cruise?

There is one answer to this question. YES. Here's is why. Typically, cruises are booked well in advance of your actual trip. Many things can happen in between. But the other consideration is weather. If you are travelling to Paris for a summer cruise, but there is a big storm at home, you will end up potentially needing to meet your cruise somewhere other than the starting point. Or there could be a storm where the cruise is starting and you cannot land nearby. Either way, it is a very good idea to add travel insurance to any cruise itinerary.


What if I have a larger group?

If you are hoping to do a family reuniuon or larger group of friends tour, then it is important to let us know that in advance. That will help us identify what sort of special ammenities can be arranged for your group. We can also provide a guide for you if that makes your travel more comfortable. Definitely reach out to us if you have a group of 8 people or more.


How can I incorporate my Bucket List with a River Cruise?

This is one of the greatest reasons to work with our team of experts on prioritising your Bucket List Ideas into a Bucket List Plan. We can build an itinerary that allows you to get more out of the airfare investment every time you take a trip. For example, you might fly to Egypt via Paris. So, we would have you spend a day in Paris if the Eiffel Tower is on your list. That is a simple solution to to including your Bucket List Ideas, but our team can really be aggressive about including items on your bucket list.


What is the best way to get a proposal for a River Cruise?

Send us a note including your phone number, your email address and a general description of what you want to do.


admin@bucket-list-planner.com


OR


Use our contact sheet for to reach out to us with the same information. Our team will get back to your within 24 hours to identify what your goals are and get started.



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