As
much as we love the expansive feeling of cruising on a wide-open ocean, we
highly recommend the close-to-shore experience of a river cruise, too. There’s
so much to see along the interior waterways of the world: major cities, quaint
villages, castles and temples, mountains and valleys, and amazing cultural treats.
Where
can you take a river cruise? There are lots of possibilities.
In
Europe, the Danube is a popular choice for cruising. It flows along or through 10
different countries, so you can visit wonderful destinations from Germany to the
Black Sea on a single itinerary (though most cruises focus on just one of the
river’s three sections: upper, middle or lower). Vienna and Budapest are two of
the most popular ports on the Danube.
The Rhine
is another historic European river, flowing from the Swiss Alps through Germany
and the Netherlands to the North Sea. The river goes through areas of
outstanding natural beauty, with castles, churches and vineyards perched on the
hills above. Also, ask your professional travel advisor about cruises of the
Rhone (France), Douro (Portugal), Po (Northern Italy) or Elbe (Czech Republic)
Rivers.
You
can also explore the beauty and history of Asia on a river cruise. China’s
mighty Yangtze River was one of the first river cruise options in Asia, and
it’s still a great choice. The river flows from the Tibetan Plateau to the East
China Sea, but most cruises focus on the dramatic scenery of the Three Gorges
region.
Or,
consider the Mekong River, where cruises often begin or end with a visit to Cambodia’s
remote and spectacular Angkor Wat temple complex. In addition to gilded
Buddhist temples and floating markets, you’ll see some of Southeast Asia’s biggest
cities.
River
cruises are also available in exotic destinations like India, where you can
sail a portion of the Ganges, and Egypt, along the storied River Nile. There
are more options than ever before for cruises of South America’s 4,000-mile-long
Amazon River and its tributaries, with starting points in Brazil, Ecuador or
Peru.
Africa
will be the
next continent to develop river cruises, and you can already book a
short cruise on the Chobe River in Botswana, where elephants and other animals
come to the river to drink.
Remember,
there are close-to-home options, too, such as cruises of the Columbia,
Mississippi or St. Lawrence Rivers. To get started planning your river cruise
experience, talk with Anita, your professional travel advisor.
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