Choose Your River

The river shapes your trip more than any other choice. Here is how Mister Cruise sums up each of the major cruising rivers — who it suits, what you will see and what to watch for.

The Danube: The Classic First Cruise

The Danube links some of Europe’s grandest cities — typically Passau or Nuremberg to Vienna and Budapest, with the vineyards and abbeys of Austria’s Wachau Valley in between. Coffee houses, classical music and evening arrivals into Budapest are the highlights. It suits almost everyone, which is why it is the river we suggest most often for a first trip. Some longer sailings continue east toward the Iron Gates and the Black Sea.

The Rhine: Castles and Medieval Towns

Most Rhine cruises run between Amsterdam and Basel. The highlight is the Middle Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of castles and steep vineyards, plus cities like Cologne and Strasbourg. Many itineraries add a few days on the Moselle, with its wine villages such as Bernkastel and Cochem. Great for history lovers and first-timers alike.

The Seine: Paris and Normandy

Seine cruises usually start and end in Paris, so there are no open-jaw flights to arrange. Days include Monet’s garden at Giverny, Rouen and a full day at the Normandy D-Day beaches. It is a shorter river with less scenic cruising than the Rhine, but the combination of Paris, art and history is hard to beat.

The Rhône and Saône: Food, Wine and Provence

Usually sailed between Lyon and Avignon or Arles, often adding the Saône for Burgundy. Expect market visits, wine tastings and Roman ruins, with lavender season in early summer. Ideal if your idea of sightseeing includes a long lunch.

The Douro: Port Wine Country

Portugal’s Douro runs east from Porto through terraced vineyards toward the Spanish border. The river has dramatic locks, including one of the deepest in Europe at Carrapatelo, and a slower rhythm than the big European rivers. Douro ships are smaller and the valley can be hot in high summer, so spring and early autumn are favorites.

The Nile: Temples by Water

A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan puts the temples of Karnak, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae on your doorstep, with the Valley of the Kings nearby. Most programs add Cairo and the Pyramids before or after. The cooler months from autumn through early spring are the most comfortable. Check the latest US State Department travel advisory before you commit.

The Mekong: Vietnam and Cambodia

Mekong cruises sail between southern Vietnam and Cambodia, visiting floating markets, villages and pagodas, and are usually paired with Siem Reap for Angkor Wat. Ships are small and the experience is more expedition-like than Europe. Seasonal water levels affect exactly where the ships can go, so routes can change by month.

The Mississippi and US Rivers

No passport, no long-haul flight. The Lower Mississippi between New Orleans and Memphis brings plantation history, blues and Civil War sites; the Upper Mississippi is about river towns and autumn color. American Cruise Lines and Viking both sail here, and other US options include the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Pacific Northwest and the Hudson in New York.

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