Amadeus Royal

Situated on the confluence of three rivers, the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers, Passau is commonly known as “The Three Rivers City”.

Passau’s location makes it an ideal stop for river cruises. The longer cruises such as the popular Amsterdam to Budapest cruises call at Passau as there are many things to see here, including the Passau Cathedral of St. Steven, with the world’s largest organ.

Passau is also the starting point of many shorter river cruises.  There are many river cruise operators that offer  Passau cruises.  The majority of these cruise companies are German operators who cater to the German-speaking market.

There are some cruises where the on-board language is both German and English. So for travellers who speak some German or those who do not mind multi-lingual announcements on board, some of the following shorter duration Danube River cruises may be of interest.

There is a range of cruise operators from Passau, from 3-star to 5-star, so be careful to not choose your cruise based on price alone – look at what each company is offering, the standard of their river boats, the day-to-day cruise itinerary and what sightseeing tours are included to see if they are comparable.

Examples of Danube River Cruises from Passau:

• Passau-Wien-Linz-Passau
• Passau-Budapest-Passau
• Passau-Belgrade-Passau
• Passau-Kalocsa-Passau
• Passau-Bratislava-Passau
• Passau Oltenita Passau
• Passau-Konstanza-Passau

For the comprehensive list of Danube cruises from Passau see here >

Avalon Tapestry © Travel Signposts

A visitor to our site recently emailed me to say that she was keen on doing a Danube River Cruise but complained that river cruises are very expensive.  She thought that she could do it cheaper by hopping on and off local river boats and arranging her own transport and land accommodation. She misses the point of what a river cruise is about.

For anyone who wants to experience a Danube River Cruise but don’t have the time or budget for a long cruise, the good news is that there is now a 4-day deluxe Danube River cruise that will give travellers a taste of cruising the  Danube River.

A 4-Day Danube River Cruise

The following is the itinerary of a 3-night Danube River Cruise with Avalon/Globus from Vienna to Budapest.  The highlights of this short cruise are cruising past the Wachau Valley, a guided visit to the famous Melk Benedictine Abbey, seeing Dürnstein’s baroque Stiftskirche and a guided visit in Bratislava.  If you do the cruise in the opposite direction from Budapest to Vienna, you’ll have an extra night on the river cruise.

Another river cruise operator that offers short Danube river cruises is CroisiEurope, a French company.  However, for a deluxe river cruising experience (and English as the on-board language), Avalon has the better class boats.

For more information on Avalon River Cruises see their website at www.avalonwaterways.com.

River Royale in Avignon - Courtesy Uniworld

Burgundy and Provence are two regions in France that are renowned for their wine and cuisine.  For anyone who’s keen on French wine and good food, a Rhône and Saône River cruise takes you through the heart of Provence and Burgundy, France’s top wine-making regions.

The Rhône is one of the major rivers in Europe. It originates in Switzerland and flows into the south-eastern corner of France, emptying into the Mediterranean Sea near Arles. The Saône river originates in France and converges with the Rhône at Lyon, where the Saône becomes the Rhône.

Rhône and Saône River cruise

On a Rhône and Saône River cruise, you’ll sail past acres of vineyards and have ample opportunities to taste the local drop as well as enjoy regional cuisine from these famous parts of France.

Several river cruise companies offer a 7-night Arles to Chalon-sur-Saône river cruise where you will arrive at Marseille International Airport and transfer to the ship docked in Arles, and at the end of the cruise you will leave from Lyon International Airport. The trip can also be done in the reverse direction,  Chalon-sur-Saône to Arles, in which case you will fly into Lyon and depart from Marseille Airport.

The river cruise companies also offer the option for passengers to extend their holidays with a day’s stay in Paris either at the start of end of the cruise. The fast TGV connects Lyon and Paris, so you can also choose to arrange your own pre- or post-cruise holiday extension.

Rhône River at Avignon

Typically, the Rhône and Saône river cruise calls at the charming town of Arles (which so inspired Vincent van Gogh to produce 300 paintings), Avignon (home to the famous Pont d’Avignon or Pont St-Benezet), Vivier (a small, walled city with buildings dating back to the Middle Ages), Tournon (famous for its wine and chocolate), Lyon (the second largest city in France and a capital of gastronomy) and Chalon-sur-Saône (Beaune) in the heart of Burgundy.

The following companies offer comparable 7-night cruises between Chalon-sur-Saône and Arles or Avignon.

• Avalon - Flavours of Burgundy and Provence – Between Chalon-sur-Saône and Arles
• Viking - Portraits of Southern France – Between Chalon-sur-Saône and Avignon
• Uniworld - Burgundy and Provence – Between Chalon-sur-Saône and Arles

In selecting your cruise, it is important to consider the experience you would like from your cruise and not base your choice on price alone. For instance, 2-for-1 offers are a great opportunity to save money on your holidays, but check that the discounted cruise will give you the experience that you want. Cabin type is very important.  It’s also important to compare the itineraries closely, see what shore excursions are included, is wine provided at lunch and dinner, dinner only or not at all, does the riverboat have free or affordable internet access, library, etc.

Below is a sketch sample itinerary taken from Uniworld’s 7-nights Arles to Chalon-sur-Saône cruise on their River Royale.

Keukenhof Garden in Spring

Spring is a beautiful time in Europe and for anyone doing a river cruise starting or ending in Amsterdam, there’s the added bonus of visiting the world’s most beautiful spring garden – the Keukenhof Gardens.

A number of river cruise companies offer 7-night cruises from Amsterdam and which travel down to the Romantic Rhine River. This cruise will allow passengers to see the magnificent spring flowers in Europe as well as get a taste of a Rhine River cruise.

The first two or three nights of the cruise are in Amsterdam before the river boat makes its way down the Rhine and finishing off at different cities.

• APT – Amsterdam to Trier (Amsterdam to Trier)
• Avalon – Amsterdam to Basel (Romantic Rhine)
• Uniworld – Amsterdam to Frankfurt (Springtime along the Rhine)
• Viking – Basel to Amsterdam (Majestic Rhine)

Although the above are all 7-night cruises, there are significant differences in the way the cruise prices are packaged. APT for instance quotes their price inclusive of gratuities. Uniworld’s cruise price covers a lot of included shore excursions, including the Keukenhof Gardens visit. So, in deciding which cruise is right for you, look at the what’s included in your cruise price section. Another important factor to consider is the river boat that is being employed for the particular cruise.

Below is a sample itinerary of Uniworld’s “Springtime Along the Rhine” cruise which I particularly like because of the included Keukenhof Garden visit and the many other included shore excursions.

An 1890 View of Gloucester Cathedral

Cruising the rivers of Europe on board a luxurious river boat is without doubt, one of the most pleasurable ways of enjoying the sights of Europe. Whether its cruising down the Rhine, the Danube, the Seine or one of Europe’s many scenic rivers, this is a fantastic way to discover the many wonders of Europe.

England has many rivers as well,  although we haven’t heard a lot about holidaying on English rivers – that is up till recently when Griff Rhys Jones set out in his canoe to rediscover the rivers of England in a BBC documentary.

If you’ve been inspired by Griff Rhys Jones paddling around the rivers of England but don’t think that canoeing is for you, there is a river cruise on the Severn River that you can do which requires very little effort on your part. While not the calibre of the luxurious river cruises on the Rhine or Danube, a cruise on the Severn River is cosier affair and takes passengers through the beautiful English countryside where you can enjoy walks, do some bird-watching and visiting some famous riverside towns.

The River Severn is the U.K.’s longest river, whose source is in Wales and it flows through famous English shires like Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.   English Holiday Cruises (www.englishholidaycruises.co.uk) runs river cruise holidays on the Severn River from Gloucester. Most of the cruises are short weekend cruises, however their flagship cruise is a six-night full river cruise on the Severn. Below is a sample itinerary for the cruise from Gloucester up to Stourport-on-Severn and back.

Contact:

English Holiday Cruises Ltd
Oliver Cromwell Paddlewheeler
Alexander Quay
Gloucester Docks
GL1 2LG
Tel:  01452-410411
Email:  sales@englishholidaycruises.co.uk

River Baroness - Courtesy Uniworld

If enjoying the sights of Paris, cruising on the Seine River and the opportunity to explore the Normandy coast sounds appealing, a Paris and Normandy Seine River Cruise may fit the bill.

Several river cruise companies offer a 7-night cruise to the Normandy coast. Although the cruise names sound similar and they all start in Paris and sail up to Normandy, there are major differences in their itineraries so it’s important to take a close look to ensure that you’re choosing the right cruise.

CroisiEurope for example goes to Honfleur and back and their cruise does not feature the Normandy Beaches. Avalon spends half a day on Normandy’s D-Day landing beaches. Uniworld and Viking are the two cruises that spend a full day visiting the historic beaches of Normandy. In addition, Uniworld takes passengers to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum where you’ll be able to see the amazing medieval tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings and King Harold’s demise.

Don’t base your decision on the price alone as some cruises include more comprehensive sightseeing than others and they may include more and a better quality on-board benefits.

Avalon       - Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches
CroisiEurope – Paris to the Normandy Coast
Uniworld    - Paris and Normandy
Viking          - Paris and the Heart of Normandy

Below is a sample itinerary taken from Uniworld’s 7-night cruise “Paris and Normandy” on their River Baroness.

This Seine cruise should be particularly appealing for travellers and history students who have an interest in the history of battles and wars. You’ll be able to see D-Day memorial sites commemorating the 6 June 1944 Normandy Beach Landing, see the Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Battle at Hastings and in Rouen, the site of Joan of Arc’s martyrdom.

But, the battlefield tours is only the icing on the cake, all passengers on this cruise will enjoy the incredible scenery of Northern France’s countryside, including Monet’s Giverny. And for art lovers, visiting the villages and homes of the Impressionists will certainly thrill.

Gondolas on the Grand Canal

One of the greatest charms of  Venice is its Grand Canal, intricate network of winding waterways and lagoons and all the art, history, culture and everyday live that exists on these waterways.

If you love being on the water, here is a five-night Venice cruise that will allow you to holiday afloat in Venice and the Po River Delta.

Anyone who knows Venice will know that hotels along the Grand Canal are very expensive and although this cruise doesn’t travel a great distance away from Venice, it can be a nice home on the water for your Venice vacation.

The river boat is moored in Venice for three nights of the 5-night cruise.

Following is a sample 5-night itinerary taken from CroisiEurope’s “Venice and the River Po” cruise on the MS Michelangelo.

CroisiEurope is a major player in the European river cruising industry.  This is a French-owned, family-run company so on this cruise you can expect a distinctly French touch on cuisine and services.

Cordoba's Mezquita

River cruising in Spain in the past has mainly been limited to the Douro River cruise – a cruise which starts in Porto in Portugal and which strays into Spain for a couple of days. However, now there is an exciting river cruise on two of Spain’s major rivers -  the Guadalquivir (the Great River) and the Guadiana rivers covering the historic Andalucia region.

This interesting cruise on the Guadalquivir and the Guadiana  rivers includes a section of coastal cruising along the Andalucian coast joining the two rivers.

A Sample Itinerary

The following itinerary for a river cruise on the Guadalquivir and the Guadiana rivers in Spain is from CroisiEurope’s “Charms of Andalucia Cruise” on the MS Belle de Cadiz.

This is a 7-night cruise which starts and ends in Seville.  Passengers board the river boat from Seville and cruise downstream on the River Guadalquivir to the Atlantic. From here the boat cruises along the coast of Cadiz Bay up to the Guadiana River on the Spanish-Portuguese border and then returning to the Guadalquivir River to cruise back to Seville.

On this cruise, you’ll get to explore Seville and Cordoba, cruise alongside the Donana National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage site, tour Cadiz and the Rock of Gibraltar  or go on an excursion to Tangiers.  At Alcoutim, Vila Real and Faro there’s the opportunity to experience a part of Portugal’s famous Algarve region.

About CroisiEurope

Bearing the Turkish Flag

The popularity of the Dawn Service at Gallipoli has grown and grown over the years and the significance of being at Gallipoli on April 25th resonates with both the young and old, especially with people from countries involved in the Gallipoli campaign. Most coach tours of Turkey have always included a stop at Gallipoli and tours around April 25th include a special dawn service component.

These days, river cruise operators and travel aggregators have also built Gallipoli visits into their river cruise itineraries. Many are just pre or post extensions of one of the popular 15-day European river cruises, for example the Amsterdam to Budapest or Budapest to Amsterdam river cruises.

The following two Australian tour operators in particular have Gallipoli cruises, but APT’s Gallipoli cruise is the only one that specifically travels during the April 25th period and includes a night camping out at Gallipoli so that passengers can attend the dawn service.

APT Tours‘ 24-day Gallipoli cruise begins with six days in the city of Istanbul. On April 24th, passengers travel to the Gallipoli Peninsula and visit the Gelibolu War Museum, go on a guided sightseeing tour of the war memorials, including Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair and 57th cemetery. Later in the day, head to Anzac Cove to settle in for the Dawn Service. Here, you will be accommodated in a secure outdoor area (sleeping bags are provided) and there’s entertainment and musical performances during the evening. APT’s experienced guides will accompany passengers throughout the evening and take part in the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at sunrise. Those who wish can take the opportunity to walk to Lone Pine for the Australian service.

After Gallipoli, passengers will explore the legendary ancient city of Troy before returning to Istanbul and flying to Budapest to board the MS Amadagio for the 14-night cruise along the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers to Amsterdam.  The holiday concludes with a 3-day extension in Paris.

As you can see, this Gallipoli cruise is essentially a three part holiday made up of the first 6 days in Istanbul + a 15-day Budapest to Amsterdam river cruise + 3 nights in Paris, but you do get to visit Gallipoli and experience the Dawn Service on April 25th.

Scenic Tours has a 30-day Amsterdam to the Black Sea River Cruise + Gallipoli. The first 15 days of the cruise is the popular Amsterdam to Budapest river cruise. On Day 16, the river boat follows the Danube down south to Serbia,  sails along the Serbian/Romanian border and then glides eastwards along the Romanian/Bulgarian border before reaching Bucharest where passengers disembark.  The rest of journey is by coach. The Gallipoli visit is on Day 26, so the arrival at Gallipoli is in late May.

Aggregators - An example of an aggregator’s Gallipoli cruise is a 29-day Istanbul to Paris trip which is a Danube River Cruise with a Gallipoli pre and Paris post cruise extension, i.e. 4 days pre-cruise visit of Istanbul + 21 day Rousse to Trier river cruise with APT + 3 nights post-cruise in Paris.

Zaanse Schans, Amsterdam

If visiting gardens and gardening is your passion, you’ll be pleased to know that you will be able to indulge in your passion and explore the gardens of Europe on a European River Cruise.

APT, together with Botanica World Discoveries, are launching a garden-themed cruise next Spring. The “Europe Garden Cruise” will travel the famous Amsterdam to Budapest river cruise route in May 2011.

Anyone who’s been on the Amsterdam to Budapest river cruise will appreciate the scenic landscape and enjoyment that this river cruise provides. As your river boat cruises down the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers, you will be sailing past stretches of the best vineyards and the shores of the river valleys are lined with church spires, castles, palaces and medieval villages shrouded in the mystery of ancient sagas. What’s more, on a spring sailing, splashes of colourful spring wildflowers add to the beauty and charm of the river landscape.

Guests on the Europe Garden Cruise can enjoy a choice of different sightseeing which includes some of the most impressive gardens in Europe. APT has a panel of guest lecturers who will share their gardening knowledge and experience with travellers. Some of the lecturers include a specialist in the field of garden design, a botanical artist, an author on the Great Gardens of Europe and others.

APT is well known in the European river cruising industry and Botanica World Discoveries (part of the APT Group) specialize in botanically-themed tours around the world. Put the two together and you have a European river cruise that gardening enthusiasts will most certainly enjoy.

You can find out more about this cruise and how to reserve a suite of your choice by emailing APT on Botanica@aptouring.com.au.

You can also find our more about the Amsterdam to Budapest River Cruise that we did and also see our river cruise photo albums on Germany, Austria, Amsterdam, Bratislava and Budapest here.