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Luxury River Cruise Lines of 2023
River cruises are vessels smaller than ocean liners, allowing them to dock in city and town centers of inland waterways. River cruises are typically overnight cruises that travel to an inland passage like a river, lake, etcetera, and are more often frequent at smaller ports with great privacy, intimacy, and security. The popularity of river cruising is increasing by about 10% annually. River cruises sail along with locations with plentiful opportunities to explore riverside towns and cities, exploring the captivating tourist industry in many parts of the world. Since these ships spend much time near cities, towns, and ports along the way, they often include shore excursions with guided tours to aid guests in being better acquainted with the culture, art, and history of such destinations. Before or after a guided tour, the guests can wander around local stops or maybe even arrange for additional personal shore excursions. Every port offers ample opportunities to find something to see and do, such as go to a local concert, explore a famous museum, or even visit an ancient castle. As you journey into the center of iconic cities and towns in your intimate and smaller cruise ship, you indulge in 5-star cuisines and accommodations.
- AmaWaterways
- American Queen Steamboat Company
- Aqua Expeditions
- Avalon Waterways
- Belmond Cruises
- Tauck River Cruising
- UnCruise Adventures
- Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
- Viking Cruises
River cruises are a great way to explore the beauty of nature while having fun with family and friends of all ages. You can enjoy stunning views while cruising down the river, and the experience can be enhanced with activities like fishing, kayaking, or swimming. River cruises also offer a unique way to experience the local culture and cuisine of the towns and cities along the river. Whether you’re in search of a relaxing escape or an adventure-filled journey, a river cruise is a great option to explore the world uniquely and excitingly.
In short, a river cruise is a leisure trip that takes you along inland waterways during stopping at several ports throughout each passage for seven or more days. Day river cruises, however, can range from under an hour to a full day cruise excursion, handling about a dozen guests, versus full river cruises on bigger ships where they accommodate from 100 to 250 passengers for a much longer cruise experience. Day cruises are most frequently based in cities that have rivers (i.e., Amsterdam, Bangkok, London, Paris) or they might be sailing in areas blessed with natural beauty, for instance, on the Hudson River, Rhine, the Danube, Seine, Douro, or Thames.
When it comes to dining choices, guests can decide where and what to eat. Most ships offer morning buffet breakfast, and others also serve breakfast lunch and dinners in their main restaurants. Individual luxury cruise ships allow for pen seating to enable their guests to meet other onboard passengers, or if they choose can enjoy dining with the same guests each day.
River cruises are packed with onboard luxury amenities. Staterooms face the river at times, equipped with hotel-style beds, private bathrooms, individual climate control, refrigerators, safes, and TVs. Higher staterooms typically have French balconies and verandas, and sometimes even provide separate sleeping and sitting quarters. Rooms square footage can change drastically on every cruise ship; however, guests always receive excellent and personalized service. Some luxury river ships have libraries, boutiques, pools/or sun decks, and most crafts have restaurants, lounges, bars, and even offer free Wi-Fi.
In conclusion, if you would prefer a more relaxed and intimate form of travel, then river cruising is meant to be ideal for you, especially if you have never been on a cruise ship before! Because river cruises minimize a river-bound trip with little chance of seasickness. Lastly, if you’re the type of passenger who is focused on a cultural exploration of specific locations, then river cruises are ideal for you as well. As the rivers of the world are each unique and each tells a different story, you are most welcomed to browse our collections of Luxury River Cruise Companies:
- AmaWaterways
- American Queen Steamboat Company
- Aqua Expeditions
- Avalon Waterways
- Belmond Cruises
- Tauck River Cruising
- UnCruise Adventures
- Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
- Viking Cruises
River Cruising is the HOT new vacation trend. This type of vacation planning also brings you to a new destination every day, in luxurious accommodations that present a more intimate experience while giving you a large variety of on-shore activities. It is for sure; boredom is not an option on a River Cruise!
Virtuoso Voyages is a collection of the best cruise experiences in the world, available through NorthStar Virtuoso travel advisers.
Virtuoso Voyages offers exclusive cruise benefits, insider access, and excellent value, such as:
- Private car and driver in port
- Behind-the-scenes tours
- Specialty dining options
- Shipboard and spa treatment credits
- Custom and private shore tours
Your next river cruise and exciting shore excursions are around the corner!
Best Excursions, Best Prices.
Guaranteed.