River Cruises

Explore The Worlds Rivers On Your Next Vacation

Rivers around the world have their own personality and the experiences you enjoy reflect the cultures and customs of the countries they flow through.

 

River cruises carry you places you never thought you’d see: French vineyards, Cambodian farms, Amazon villages, and Hungarian castles. As you explore at a gracious pace, you’re treated to fine dining, thought provoking lectures, and luxurious accommodations.

 

Cruising through Europe offers a vastly different experience than the rivers of Southeast Asia or navigating the Mississippi River, each with their own unique features and comforts. Europe (the most popular river cruise destination in the world) is home to sleek, narrow riverboats for all comfort levels. Intimate ships built to navigate the thriving rivers of Southeast Asia combine traditional and colonial influences. Grand paddlewheelers and steamboats recall a bygone era on the Mississippi and its tributaries. Discover what each one has in store.

European River Cruises

Voyages typically sail April through December on Europe’s storied waterways, connecting historic capitals and quaint villages. Europe’s main rivers offer rapidly changing scenery and cultural traditions that can vary greatly country to country.

 

The Rhine, Main, and Danube (allowing uninterrupted cruising from Amsterdam to Budapest and beyond to the Black Sea) are easily navigable and can be sailed on several cruise lines at every price.

 

With so many ships, itineraries, and rivers from Portugal to Russia, European river cruises are great for first timers and veterans alike.

African River Cruises African waterways offer an experience unlike anything else in the world. On the Nile River in Egypt, learn about the legacy of the Egyptian Empire between Cairo and Lake Nassar. Itineraries vary in length but generally visit both Luxor and Aswan as well as a selection of lesser visited archeological sites.

 

Cruises range from smaller, traditional boats to luxurious multi-decked riverboats with all ranges of amenities. Nile river cruises sail year round but the most popular time is when the weather is cooler from October to May.

 

For a different perspective, a number of cruises have begun sailing the Okavango Delta and the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers bordering Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These cruises can be thought of as an option to the traditional safari in Chobe National Park and do not have any ports other than their origin port of Kasane, Botswana. Ships are designed for wildlife viewing with fewer than 20 cabins creating a personal, intimate water safari.

 

During the wet season, riverboats are able to sail deeper into the parks, and the landscape comes alive with color and birdlife at its best. Beginning in April and lasting until October, the dry season is cool and sunny. The wet season, from November to March is the warmer, more humid time of year.

South American River Cruises

River Cruises in South America are centered on the spectacular scenery of the Amazon Rainforest and learning about the wildlife and the indigenous peoples who call this region home.

 

Sailing from Manaus, Brazil, or one of two ports in the Peruvian Amazon (Iquitos or Nauta), river cruises in the Amazon focus on an adventurous experience in the more remote sections of the rainforest.

 

More time will be spent on the water than on land: watching for wildlife along the shore and getting close to the river on motorboats and canoes.

 

Ships can range in size from 15 to 75 cabins and combine traditional Amazonian influences with modern amenities. Cruises sail all year long but vary depending on high season or low season. During the high season, from December to May, smaller tributaries are more accessible and you can travel farther into the jungle. The water recedes during the low season, sometimes up to 40 feet, for more walks along the jungle floor.

Asia River Cruises 

A recent uptick in cruise itineraries has helped remote villages and picturesque temples of India, China, and Southeast Asia become more accessible than ever.

 

The main river cruise destinations are: China’s Yangtze River, the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia, Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River, and the sacred Ganges River in India and Bangladesh.

 

Newer ships, combining the region’s cultural and colonial heritage with modern amenities, have been custom-built to navigate a river’s more challenging stretches that were previously inaccessible. These cruises are designed to provide an authentic and immersive journey focused on the people and the countryside as opposed to larger cities.

 

There are also a number of shorter cruises that are combined with longer land-based itineraries for a broader experience. Asia river cruises sail all year round with the largest options available between April and October.

North American River Cruises

 

Largely broken into two categories, North American river cruises unveil the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest’s Columbia and Snake Rivers or the history and culture of the Mississippi and its tributaries. Follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery on their journey toward the Pacific Coast or float along the Mississippi evoking Mark Twain’s literary legacy.

 

The entire length of the Mississippi is navigable, sailing from St. Paul, Minnesota, to New Orleans with ports in ten states along the way.

 

The ships cruising these storied waterways are reminiscent of the time when steamboats and paddlewheelers prevailed and offer itineraries delving into American history. Themed cruises include venturing to sprawling plantations, visiting somber Civil War battlefields, and following the path of Huckleberry Finn on the Mississippi River.

 

In the Pacific Northwest, expedition style voyages offer intimate experiences with the region’s mountains, canyons, and more.

 

Depending on the part of the country, North American river cruises generally sail April to November.

Just like larger ocean cruise ships, river cruise ships come in various flavors and price ranges. Offering wonderful lodging, cuisine, and shore excursions, a river cruise will satisfy the desires of the casual traveler and the most discriminant of luxury travelers alike.

An Experience You Will Never Forget...

Contact Driftwood Travel to plan a river cruise that you will never forget.

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