Rise of the riverboat trip
WATCHING some of Europe’s most beautiful scenery drift by is addictive in itself.
Throw in the prospect of a comfortable, easy‐to‐budget‐for holiday that takes in an impressive collection of places but only involves unpacking once and it’s easy to see why river cruising is so popular.
Until recently European river cruising was available from a handful of operators, all offering afairly similar product.
Now a new generation of boats and new themes mean that river cruising’s appeal is broadening. Budget is a major factor, too.
Most include all sightseeing excursions and wine with dinner so there are no hidden extras. So how do you choose the right product?
The boats look similar – long, thin and low‐slung, built to fit under the many ornate bridges spanning Europe’s rivers and canals.
As a result there’s a limit to on‐board facilities, unlike their ocean‐going sisters. The differences are more subtle and lie in the food, service and other passengers.
VIKING ON THE MARCH
Viking River Cruises (020 8780 7998/www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk) is the world’s largest river operator with 20 vessels plying the rivers of Europe and the Yangtze in China, as well as offering Christmas and New Year cruises on the Rhine, Seine and Danube.
The boats look similar – long, thin and low‐slung, built to fit under the many ornate bridges spanning Europe’s rivers and canals.
The fleet is expanding fast. The newest addition was launched this spring: the 189‐passenger Viking Legend.
Expect fellow guests to be from all over the world and aged 50‐plus. Viking is particularly strong in Russia, where it has the newest vessels and the highest standards.
Viking River Cruises offers a comprehensive 13-night Waterways of the Tsars cruise from St Petersburg to Moscow (or vice versa) from £2,135pp (two sharing), including shore excursions and return flights from Heathrow. Departs October 1.
FAMILY ADVENTURE
American‐owned Uniworld (www.uniworld.com) appeals to a broader age group than some of its competitors and even has a family programme on select summer itineraries. Food and service are geared to American tastes.
The company operates 10 ships in Europe on the Rhine, Moselle, Danube, Rhone, Saône and Seine. There’s also a ship based in the Douro in Portugal. Launched in March, the new River Beatrice sails Danube and boasts features more typical of an ocean‐going ship: fitness centre, spa, Jacuzzi, library, shop and French balconies in 80 per cent of cabins.
Perks include all shore excursions in the price, drinks with dinner, dining on deck on fine evenings, a fleet of bicycles for guests’ use and L’occitane goodies in the bathrooms.
Titan HiTours (0800 988 5823/ www.titanhitours.co.uk) offers a 10-day cruise on the Danube on the River Beatrice from £1,995pp (two sharing), calling at Salzburg, Passau, Linz, Dürnstein, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, including two nights in a Salzburg hotel, some meals, shore excursions and return flights from Heathrow or Gatwick. Departs July 10.
LUXURY VOYAGES
German‐owned Peter Deilmann (020 7436 2931/www.deilmann.co.uk), one of the longest‐established operators, puts the emphasis on luxury and top‐notch service on its eight ships.
They include the Mozart, regarded as one of Europe’s swankiest vessels, offering six meals daily, lavish dinner menus and even an indoor pool.
All the ships offer elaborate public rooms with elegant art deco touches.
This year there are options to join the cruise by rail. There are also themed music and cycling cruises, trips taking in Christmas markets.
A seven-night no-fly cruise on board MV Heidelberg starts from £1,165pp (two sharing), calling at Bernkastel, Mannheim, Cologne and Utrecht, including excursions and rail travel from London St Pancras. Departs from Trier in Germany on October 17.
NATURAL AFFINITY
Avalon (www.avalonwaterways.com) is a fast‐expanding American river cruise operator aimed at discerning North Americans and Brits in the 50‐plus age bracket.
The company’s eight ships are smart and contemporary, the youngest fleet in Europe.
The 138‐passenger Avalon Affinity launches this year and will cruise the Rhine, Danube and Moselle.
More than 70 per cent of the cabins have private balconies and the atmosphere on board is casual with open‐seated dining. wine and shore excursions are included in the price.
Archers Direct (0871 423 8425/ www.archersdirect.co.uk) offers an 11-day Eastern European Discovery Cruise on board MS Avalon Artistry from £1,464pp (two sharing), including excursions and return flights from Heathrow. Departs from Bucharest on September 26.
A SILVER LINING
Luxury cruise line Sea Cloud Cruises (www.seacloud.com), a German company with two beautiful square‐rigged sailing ships, also has two smart, Thirties‐style river boats. River Cloud I and II both feature teak decking and a salon with inlaid polished wood and a Steinway piano.
There’s a library, fitness centre, shop, sauna and a putting green on the top deck. wine is included with dinner, although shore excursions are extra.
Passengers are a mixture of Germans, Americans and other Europeans and the river boats sail the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube (all the way to the Black Sea), plus Dutch and Belgian waterways.
Global Cruising (0800 085 5354/ www.globalcruising.co.uk) offers a seven-night cruise on board River Cloud from £1,599pp (two sharing), calling at Freiburg, Strasbourg, Mannheim, Rüdesheim, Koblenz and Amsterdam, including return flights from Heathrow and transfers. Departs from Basel on July 18.
