With river cruising becoming ever more popular, it’s exciting to see more and more people trying out the experience. The question for some, however, is where to start? There are so many river cruises available that choosing just one to kick off a love affair with waterway sailings seems a bit inadequate.
Never fear however, as here at River Voyages we’ve compiled a list of the best river cruises to choose if you’re ready to dive in and enjoy a different kind of holiday experience. Even if you’ve never been on a river cruise before, there’s no reason you can’t embark on your very first, very soon.
The Rhine
Even if you have only a slight interest in river cruises, there’s no doubt that you’ve heard of the Rhine. This massive river is absolutely perfect for beginners because of how much you can pack into just one cruise.
The Rhine is over 760 miles and flows from the heart of Switzerland right through to the North Sea in the Netherlands, so the beauty of central Europe is more than well covered by a trip down this majestic river. Don’t take our word for it – fairy tale castles, sweeping valleys and towering waterfalls are all part and parcel of a single trip down the Rhine.
The Danube
If you were looking for an historical getaway with a sophisticated difference, the Danube is the river cruise for you. This is mostly because two mainstays of Danube journeys are the brilliant cities of Vienna and Budapest, so this is ideal if you’ve been on city breaks in the past.
What can’t be discounted however is the natural beauty on display. Many river cruisers on the Danube will have the chance to see the Danube Delta, a World Heritage Site admired around the world, and full of colourful bird colonies and endlessly enchanting canals.
The Seine
This is undoubtedly the best known river in the whole of France, but is mostly revered for one reason – it flows straight through the heart of Paris. Ending up in the capital of romance is a perfect end to a cruise route which takes you past medieval townships, massive vineyards and the gilded spires of chateaus. For any beginner river cruiser, this is bound to inspire many journeys more.
The Volga
If you’re going to start river cruising, then where better than the longest river in Europe? A tour down the Volga is a brilliant way to visit cities such as Moscow, Ulgich and Yaroslavl from a completely new angle.
Not only is the Volga linked to the black sea, but the various networks of waterways conjoined along the stretch of the river means you can pretty much reach any of the best cities in Russia while on your river cruise. It might seem intimidating to start with such a huge waterway, but believe me; this particular river lets you experience vast amounts of Russia’s greatest sights.
The Yangtze
With so much emphasis on European river cruises, it’s easy to forget that you can river cruise as far abroad as China too! Exploring the Yangtze River means sailing on the largest and longest river in the whole of China, as well as one of the most magnificent waterways in the entire world.
Not only could you have the opportunity to visit grand canyons, massive rock formations and cosmopolitan hubs like Beijing and Shanghai, but there’s also the truly impressive sight of the Three Gorges Dam to look forward to. This is an ideal jumping off point for those more used to exotic destinations in their land travels.
