European River Cruising

by Greg Hrabec
January 2009

A view of the Danube River as it flows through the breathtaking city of Budapest photo provided by Greg Hrabec

If you are looking for an interesting way to see Europe as few have, and you enjoy cruising but don’t want to see the "same old" coastal routes as everyone else, consider taking a European river cruise as your next special vacation. River cruising is a niche of the cruise travel industry that is growing in popularity every year.

Some of the most beautiful cities in Europe can be reached by cruising the rivers and canals of Europe. Amsterdam, Vienna, Budapest, and Lyon are just a few of the amazing destinations available to those that are looking for a little something different. There are some major differences between the river cruise ships and the modern mega-ships that travel the open seas.

River cruise ships have their own unique charm. They rarely hold more than 200 passengers and most are built with only a few decks to allow them to travel under ancient (and very low) bridges. Besides mealtimes, which are on par in quality with the larger vessels, entertainment onboard is usually limited to shuffle-board or reading books and spending time with other guests.

While these ships are built to be comfortable for the guests, you won’t find the elaborate staterooms that adorn the mega-ships today. European river ships usually have no balconies, few cabins have televisions or Internet connections, and the bathrooms are small and functional.

Most itineraries typically focus on the largest rivers like the Main, Rhine, and Danube. The Danube is an excellent choice for first time river cruisers; a typical voyage would sail through Austria, Hungary, and Germany. The Rhine leads to Amsterdam, Cologne and Coblenz. France is gaining popularity, and most companies offer Lyon-based trips down the Rhone and Saone rivers, which features the region of Provence and wine country.

From spring to fall, you can visit Europe and cruise down the Danube or any of these other amazing rivers. It is a wonderful way to experience Europe while gaining a unique and different perspective than most other "big city-one stop" travelers.

Let me give you an example of a typical itinerary offered on the Danube this spring. It is a romantic eight-day river cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg. During this wonderful cruise you will savor the tastes of authentic local cuisine, learn about local legends, and see the inspiration for Strauss’s famous "Blue Danube" waltz.

Day 1 you will arrive in Budapest, Hungary’s vibrant capital divided by the Danube River. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your ship. After boarding, you will have time to visit both sides of the city — the traditional "Buda" and the cosmopolitan "Pest" or you can join the ships guided walk around the city as you start getting oriented to your next great vacation.

The Grand Staircase at the National Opera House in Budapest from flickr.com, by wprasek

Day 2 will begin with a tour of the Pest side of the city. Travel along the famous Andrassy Avenue and see the many 19th and 20th century mansions and the National Opera House. We will stop in Heroe’s Square to learn more about Hungarian culture and history. Later you will cross the Danube to tour the Buda side with a visit to the Castle District. Walk up the hill to see Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church and catch brilliant views of the city below.

After sailing during the night, Day 3 will be spent in Vienna. Our morning tour will visit some of Vienna’s lovely baroque architecture, then ride along the beautiful Ringstrasse with sights including the Opera House, Stadtpark and Hofburg Theatre. You then visit St. Stephan’s Cathedral. After returning to the ship for lunch, the afternoon is yours for exploring. Go shopping along the Kartnerstrasse or take an excursion to Schonbrunn Palace, home of Maria Theresa and summer residence of the Habsburgs. As always, your Program Director can help you plan your afternoon to your individual tastes. You may choose to complete your day in the "City of Waltzes" with an optional evening concert.

Melk and Linz are our stops for Day 4 of this amazing cruise. Melk is our first stop and we will have a guided tour through the ornate interior of this baroque gem of architecture, the Benedictine abbey at Melk. Take in its elaborate wall and ceiling frescoes and admire the library’s impressive collection of medieval manuscripts; take time to enjoy the terrace’s Wachau Valley views. We will rejoin the ship for lunch and an afternoon cruise along Danube.

Cruising through dinner, we will arrive this evening in Linz, capital of Upper Austria. Enjoy your evening at leisure with a stroll around town or sample some locally produced wines.

Regensburg — from flickr.com by Ferengo2.0

Day 5 we arrive midmorning in Passau, at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz, and Danube Rivers. Your guided walk along the town’s narrow streets takes you through the Old Town and past traditional patrician houses. You will see the Oberhaus Fortress and visit the impressive baroque St. Stephan’s Cathedral with its ornate interior. Inside, you are treated to a special concert played on the 17,000-pipe organ, considered Europe’s largest church organ. The afternoon is yours to explore.

After breakfast, Day 6 of our fabulous cruise we will explore medieval Regensburg, whose history dates back nearly 2,000 years to its founding by Marcus Aurelius. A walking tour through the city allows you to see the historic beauty of the city first hand as you visit the Old Town, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and the 12th century Old Stone Bridge. This afternoon, enjoy scenic cruising along the Danube River — or take an optional Danube Gorge excursion. Travel by road to Kelheim and board a ferryboat to the Danube Gorge’s dramatic scenery and spectacular 400-foot chalk cliffs. Visit Weltenburg Abbey, renowned for the dark ale brewed here by monks since 1050, then rejoin the ship in Kelheim in time for dinner aboard ship.

Very early on the morning of Day 7, our sail is highlighted by the engineering marvel of the Main-Danube Canal and its many locks. Begun as Charlemagne’s dream in 793, it was completed in 1992 with 16 locks that raise the water level 1,332 feet. Today it enables river travel from the North Sea to the Black Sea.

We will arrive during breakfast in Nuremberg, Bavaria’s second largest city. This morning our tour includes the Palace of Justice, site of the Nuremburg Trials, the Court House, and the Old Town area. The afternoon and evening is yours to explore the city at your leisure.

Day 8 leads us to disembark and begin our return home. You always have the option to add a pre or post vacation to Prague on this itinerary as well as customizing other cruise and land tour combinations to get the absolute most out of your vacation.

This is just one small sample of the wonders to be experienced through river cruising, whether you cruise in Europe, Asia, or even in our own backyard of the USA.

Greg and wife Jane Hrabec are avid cruisers and owner of a SeaMaster Cruises business. distinctivecruising.com.