About River Cruises

A River cruise is a voyage along inland waterways.

You will find a useful introduction to River Cruising below.  To find specific information please use these helpful quick links :

Introduction, Where can you go, Viking River Cruises, Page & Moy River Cruises, Peter Deilmann Cruises, AMA Waterways, African Safari Club Nile Cruises, River Cruise Review 

River cruising is one of the fastest-growing trends in travel, perfect for experienced or novice travellers alike. Once you’re settled aboard your River Cruises ship, you’ll glide along the world’s most legendary rivers and watch the world come to you.

You’ll see exciting destinations in Europe, Russia & Ukraine, or China up close. With each of our trips, you’ll enjoy a varied itinerary and unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in local cultures and traditions and you’ll experience it all without the 'work' of travel.

Unlike a coach tour where you spend more time on the road than in your destination, or an ocean cruise with endless hours at sea, with River Cruises you’ll visit a port a day on virtually every itinerary. You’ll be surrounded by ever-changing scenery right in the heart of your destination. And your ship will often dock right in the town centre, allowing you to walk off your ship into the heart of your destination.

When you go onboard one of the modern, deluxe ships, you’ll find:

•      A knowledgeable Cruise Manager and English-speaking crew
•      The highest standards of friendly, attentive service consistently throughout our fleet
•      Fine gourmet dining featuring traditional favourites and regional specialties
•      Accommodation in outside, river-view cabins with private bathroom and shower
•      Many cabins with hotel-style beds and large picture windows that open
•      Beautifully appointed public areas with a single-seating restaurant, bar and lounge
•      A non-smoking environment

During river cruises the countryside is usually in view, so they are especially relaxing to those who prefer land nearby. River cruises usually last from 7 to 15 days.

Many River Cruise Ships resemble five stars hotels, with sun decks, dining rooms, lounges, fitness facilities, swimming pools and other entertainment.

Most River Cruises have a variety of onboard and off board activities. The latter include guided tours to historic and cultural sites, visiting local attractions, museums and galleries, and other places of interest.

Just picture yourself cruising along the legendary rivers of some of the world's most fascinating countries. Before long, you no longer feel like a visitor as you become completely immersed in a different culture.

Nearly every port of call gives you opportunities to expand your journey through enriching shore excursions, which are often included with your cruise.

Where can you go on a River Cruise ?

Popular River Cruises include trips along the European waterways of the Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Danube and Elbe.  Plus cruises down the Nile in Egypt, and further a field you can cruise down the Yangtze in China.

European Water Ways include the Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Danube, Elbe plus many more

The Nile for perfect views of Egypt

 The Yangtze for Exploring China

River Cruises can be booked from either Viking River Cruises (Europe and China), Peter Deilmann (Europe) and African Safari Club (Nile).

More information can be found about each of these operators below :

Viking River Cruises

For more than a decade, Viking River Cruises has taken discerning travellers on voyages of discovery along the great rivers and waterways of Europe, Russia, Ukraine and China. From thriving cities to charming villages and timeless pastoral landscapes to extraordinary natural wonders and fascinating historic sites, Viking River Cruises offers authentic, deeply rewarding travel experiences and cultural encounters—all graciously underpinned with world-class accommodation and amenities, impeccable service, and unparalleled industry experience.

Viking River Cruises was founded in 1997 by industry veteran Torstein Hagen, who continues to serve as chairman and CEO. A Norwegian of Viking descent, Mr. Hagen discovered river cruising after many years spent travelling the world by land, air and sea; it quickly became his favourite way to see the world. Mr. Hagen’s Viking heritage and his first voyage of discovery as a river traveller played a key role in the founding of Viking River Cruises. The company began with the purchase of four ships in Russia then expanded significantly in 2000 with the acquisition of KD River Cruises, a European company with over 180 years of river cruising experience.  Learn more about life onboard a Viking River Cruise

Today, Viking is the world’s leading river cruise company, with a fleet of 21 deluxe ships and more destinations than any other river cruise line. Viking River Cruises has also consistently been the recipient of industry awards, customer accolades, and praise from travel agents. A multiple recipient of the prestigious Travel + Leisure ‘World’s Best’ award, Viking River Cruises has also made the Conde Nast Traveler (US) 'Gold' List on numerous occasions and was voted ‘Best River Cruise Line’ by CruiseCritic.com for two consecutive years.  Learn more about Viking River Cruises

Page & Moy River Cruises

Come aboard the MV Serenade 1 for a unique river cruising experience. Page & Moy’s extensive range of holidays will take you along the three great rivers of Europe - the Rhine, Danube and Moselle - through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, and all in the comfort of their well-equipped cruise ship. Visit somewhere new each day and take your hotel with you, knowing there's no additional travelling, no dashing from place to place and you'll only have to unpack once

Your dining experience
Dining is one of the great pleasures of life and an integral part of any cruise. The MV Serenade 1 upholds this tradition with tantalising menus created by their experienced chef. They also have an on board baker who bakes freshly every day.
Start the day with a sumptuous breakfast in the elegant dining room, followed later by a delicious lunch. Combining international menus and the best ingredients, the food is something to be savoured and enjoyed. Enjoy your 5-star evening cuisine while watching the sun begin to set over stunning river scenery. Your holiday will start and end in style with the Captain’s Welcome Dinner and the Farewell Gala Dinner, both offering fantastic menus.

Everything is entertaining
Evening is when the ship’s restaurant is at its best. In a sophisticated setting, you can savour traditional favourites, cosmopolitan specialities, fresh salads and sumptuous desserts accompanied by a carefully selected wine list. So sit back and enjoy the delightful ambience, superb cuisine and personal service of the MV Serenade 1.

Unique to Page & Moy customers aboard the MV Serenade are entertainers Debbie and Adam, otherwise known as ‘Angel and Korel’. This dynamic duo offer evening entertainment to help laugh the nights away, including singing and dancing with something for everyone, quizzes and even game show games. During the day, they also offer an array of things to do. These include light exercise in the form of power walks, Tai Chi, table tennis tournaments and tea dances, exercise for your brain with fun quizzes or relaxing beauty demonstrations. So whether you choose to sit on deck and watch the world go by, or join one of the activities, you are sure to have a holiday to remember.

Life ashore
Cruising means discovering new and exciting ports of call whilst relaxing en route – all you have to think about is enjoying the sights.  Tour Managers are always on hand for information and advice about a destination if you want to explore independently, otherwise carefully planned trips with knowledgeable local guides are arranged to get the most from each port of call.  Learn more about Page & Moy River Cruises and MV Serenade 1
 

Peter Deilmann Cruises

For more than 25 years, their family-owned business has been offering Stylish River Cruising in the heart of Europe to many satisfied guests. This is a tradition they are continuing with friendly and experienced staff who will attentively serve you the finest regional wines and cuisine, extending their warm hospitality to your every moment whilst onboard.

Peter Deilmann River Cruises bring together the dramatic landscapes and fantastic sights of Europe's greatest cities in Peter Deilmann comfort and style. Europe's twelve major rivers - plus the Main-Danube Canal - connect the Continent's great cities, from Berlin and Paris to Prague and Budapest. These great rivers, whether the Danube, the Elbe, the Rhine, the Rhone and Saone or the Seine, enable you to enjoy awe-inspiring scenery, from gently rolling vineyards or deep gorges crowned with medieval castles, to some of Europe's most dynamic cities.

There can be no more relaxing way to enjoy the sights and sounds of Europe other than on a Peter Deilmann river cruise.

Peter Deilmann's ships offer the ambience of a country house hotel, where unparalleled service and the finest cuisine afford guests a leisurely haven from which to explore Europe's great rivers. Public rooms are adorned with original works of art hanging on walls panelled with polished woods.

Inviting bars and elegant lounges are ideal for relaxing after a day's exploration in intriguing ports of call. Luxurious restaurants offer the perfect setting to enjoy superb cuisine served during leisurely single-seating dining, whilst soaking up the views outside.

The Sun Deck on each ship is the perfect spot to enjoy the slower pace of life as you cruise past historic cities & stunning scenery, like medieval castles or halt-timbered villages nestling by the side of the river. So, sit back, relax and let your floating country house hotel take you stylishly into the heart of Europe.  Learn more about Peter Deilmann Cruises

AMA Waterways

AMA Waterways is pleased to announce the 2009 debut of their newest ships, the MS Amadolce and MS Amalyra. The vessels will join Europe's most luxurious and state-of-the-art fleet, comprised of the MS Amadante (2008), MS Amacello (2008), MS Amalegro (2007), and MS Amadagio (2006). Renowned for their innovative, award-winning ships, personalised service and signature features not found aboard any other cruise line, AMA Waterways offers an array of unparalleled cruise holidays on the legendary rivers of Europe. They also proudly offer magnificent itineraries in Portugal and Spain, Provence and Spain, and the fascinating waterways of Russia.

EUROPE : Experienced travellers agree that a European river cruise is one of the most enjoyable and hassle-free ways to explore Europe's castles, cathedrals and picturesque villages. And with AMA Waterways, your opportunities to discover the very best these destinations have to offer are endless.

RUSSIA : Enjoy a spectacular voyage through the heart of Russia along its colourful and historic waterways. Explore bustling and excitement-packed Moscow, then cruise north and visit the enchanting Golden Ring cities of Uglich, Kostroma and Yaroslavl. Continue along the Volga-Baltic Waterways and through Europe’s two largest lakes, Onega and Ladoga to St. Petersburg, one of the worlds most beautiful cities, spread over 101 islands and 66 canals.  Learn more abour AMA Waterways

African Safari Club

Join their Nile River Cruise on a journey of discovery as you visit some of Egypt's finest ancient monuments along the banks of the Nile.

In 2006 African Safari Club began a year round programme of Nile Cruises aboard the M.S. Star of Luxor. Their fleet now also includes the five star M.S. Da Vinci and the four star M.S. Fleurette. All of their cruises include 10 excursions and are accompanied by qualified Egyptologists.

Nothing is left to others, or indeed to chance, as all aspects of our cruises and holidays are managed and personally controlled by our own well trained and highly motivated staff.

The M.S. Da Vinci was built in 1993 and refurbished in 2006. Carrying a maximum of 136 guests she provides a warm and friendly atmosphere onboard.

From the moment you enter at reception, with its marble floors, two seating areas and ornate marble staircase, you will be assured a warm welcome and friendly smile from all staff onboard.

All cabins are equipped with a private shower and wc, hair-dryer, an internal telephone, fridge, taped music, television (with in-house videos) and large window.

A sample Nile River Cruise Itinerary is shown below

Day 1: Monday. UK - Luxor.
Depart Gatwick or Manchester for your flight to Luxor. On arrival, transfer by coach (approx. 30 minutes) and embark M.S. Da Vinci. In the evening, sail for Edfu.

Day 2: Tuesday. Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan.
At Edfu there is a visit to the Temple of Horus, probably Egypt's best preserved temple. Sail to Kom Ombo for a visit to the Temple before sailing to Aswan.

Day 3: Wednesday. Aswan.
In the morning you visit the High Dam and the Philae Temple which was dedicated to the gentle Goddess Isis. In the afternoon you can view the Aga Khan's Mausoleum and Botanical Garden whilst enjoying your trip on the Nile by felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailing boat. In the evening, there is an opportunity to see the Sound and Light show at the Philae Temple (approx. £18 per person).

Day 4: Thursday. Aswan - Edfu.
Spend the morning at leisure in Aswan. Perhaps enjoy a trip on a horse-drawn carriage from the Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote "Death on the Nile". Or take an optional sightseeing excursion by road or air to Abu Simbel (approx. £55 per person by road/duration approx. 9 hours; approx. £100 per person by air/duration approx. 5 hours). In the afternoon sail to Edfu for an overnight stay.

Day 5: Friday. Edfu - Luxor .
In the morning, relax on board as you sail back to Luxor, passing through the Esna lock en-route. In the afternoon you visit the famous Karnak Temple, a superb example of ancient Egyptian architecture depicting life around 1600 BC, and the well-preserved Luxor Temple which is situated in the heart of town.

Day 6: Saturday. Luxor.
A day to explore this bustling and colourful town at your leisure. Time to shop for those last minute souvenirs and take those final memorable photographs. Or take an optional full day excursion by air to Cairo and visit the Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities and the bustling Khan-el-Khalili bazaar, with lunch included (approx. £130 per person).

Day 7: Sunday. Luxor.
In the morning, you cross to the West Bank and visit the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the imposing Colossi of Memnon. Afternoon at leisure. Do not miss the Sound and Light show at the Karnak Temple (approx. £16 per person).

Day 8: Monday. Luxor - UK.
Morning at leisure. For an unforgettable end to your holiday, why not take an optional hot air balloon flight at sunrise over the West Bank (approx. £70 per person, approx. 45 minutes in the air).

After lunch on board, transfer by coach to the airport for your return flight to Gatwick or Manchester.  Learn more about African Safari Club

River Cruise Review

Our Cruise Advisors have first hand experience of River Cruising, below is a review of a recent River Cruises taken by Karen and Kate.  This was their first River Cruise.

During my 12 years with Cumbria Cruises, I have been fortunate enough to travel on a number of cruise ships including; Celebrity Century, QE2, Ocean Village, Black Watch, Boudicca, Oriana, Oceana, Aurora, Freedom of the Seas, Arcadia, Silvercloud, QM2, Norwegian Crown and the Norwegian Dream. My colleague Ashley has been with the company for 4 years and had previously been on the Airtours Sundream, Thomson Destiny, Freedom of the Seas, Sea Princess and the MS Maasdam.

Despite these previous cruise experiences, neither of us had been on a River Cruise before so to be offered the opportunity to cruise the Rhine was extremely exciting.

So, luggage in hand it was off to Manchester airport on Sunday 18th November, to join the Viking Pride.

The Viking Pride is a member of the Viking River cruise fleet and holds 150 passengers. Our outbound flight to Dusseldorf, departed at 1.15pm and was with Flybe who provided a very comfortable service. On arrival into Dusseldorf, we were met by a Viking Cruise representative and transferred by coach to the ship to begin our Rhine river cruise adventure.
 
The ship was moored next to a public walkway and was just a stones throw from local eateries, bars and shops. On embarkation we were greeted by the crew and shown to our cabin, which was an ‘A’ grade, located on the upper deck. The cabin was comfortable, light and airy and I was really impressed that you could actually open the windows! (It’s often the small things that make a difference!).

Although the ‘Pride’ was much smaller than most cruise ships we had sailed on before, it was extremely enjoyable and the facilities onboard were more than adequate. The bar (most importantly!) sold a wide range of wines, beers and spirits in pleasant surroundings and there is often local entertainment in there after dinner.

The beauty of a river cruise is that you are ideally positioned to explore the places you are visiting as the ship always docks close by local bars, restaurants etc…

The dining onboard was open sitting and provided guests with an excellent choice and outstanding service.  We were both extremely impressed with the quality of food throughout the trip.

The following morning we cruised along the scenic River Rhine to Cologne.

After disembarking the ship in Cologne we were taken on a sightseeing tour of the city by a local guide. (It is worth noting that all excursions provided by Viking are included in the cost of your cruise.)

After lunch at a local pub we were given some free time to explore this fantastic city and of course, this meant a spot of retail therapy! The whole cruise was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys comfort, freedom and good quality food in really pleasant surroundings.

River cruising really is an excellent way to visit some beautiful cities and places of interest in comfort and style.