River cruises on Vantage’s revamped fleet offer state-of-the-art touches like free Wi-Fi, a rear-facing Captain’s lounge with retractable roof, and French balconies that let you enjoy the fresh air without sacrificing cabin space. Just about everything is included – accommodations, sightseeing tours, most meals (all meals aboard ship), Cultural Connections, transfers, baggage handling, and more. Shore excursions have English-speaking guides and include audio headsets so you won’t miss any interesting facts. A sample of cruise highlights include: a paprika bread-making workshop; wine tasting, and sausage tasting; a private concert and lecture on “Musical Vienna”; Wine Route tour in the Alsace wine region; a private dinner at Nelahozeves Castle in the Czech Republic; UNESCO World Heritage Sites, culinary demonstrations, and much more!
Founded in 1976 and based in California, Uniworld offers an array of award-winning luxury river cruises in over 20 countries in Europe, Russia, Asia and Egypt. Partnering with award-winning sister company Red Carnation Hotels, they boast to have created the world’s only floating luxury boutique hotels! Their all-inclusive 6-star luxury cruises include gourmet meals, unlimited beverages onboard, (an extensive selection of distinctive wines, craft beers, and spirits), entertainment, cultural enrichment programs, and carefully crafted shore excursions. Known for their fine dining, epicurean highlights in Europe include gourmet dinners paired with distinctive wines and craft beers, onboard culinary demonstrations and tastings, and private onshore wine and beer tastings. In addition to classic European river cruises, Uniworld offers exciting itineraries along the Nile in Egypt, the Ganges in India, the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia, and the Yangtze in China.
Specializing in adventure cruises, Un-cruise combines adventure tours with small ship cruises and river cruises, to include wilderness and wildlife exploration, as well as history, tours, and wine!
With fewer than 90 guests per cruise, small group travel is the heart of what they do. They provide a unique combination of activity, expertise, service, and exclusive encounters in places like Alaska, the Columbia & Snake Rivers, Central America, the Galápagos, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, coastal Washington, and British Columbia.
Activities include kayaking, whale watching, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), wilderness hikes, wildlife observation, snorkeling, inflatable skiff excursions, and glacier exploration, as well as historical and cultural encounters.
Expert guides lead guests on exciting adventures while their small guest numbers keep the experience up-close and personal.
A family-owned company started in 1925 by American Arthur Tauck, Tauck offers a wide variety of award-winning European River Cruises that include themed cruises, holiday cruises, family cruises and special savings for solo travelers. Explore Europe’s great waterways from the Rhine and the Danube to the French Rivers, Rhône and Seine on luxurious riverboats characterized by the Tauck Difference – all-inclusive river cruises featuring personalized cruising, an intimate, club-like atmosphere onboard, and the uncommon access to exclusive cultural experiences on their included excursions ashore. They also feature special Solo Traveler Savings on all river cruises; have a special program for group travel; and are the only river cruise line with dedicated multi-generational family cruises. Themed cruises include A Taste of France, the Christmas Markets along the Rhine and Danube, the art of Matisse, Monet and Cézanne on the Rhône and Saône, and Musical Magic along the Danube, celebrating Mozart, Beethoven, Bartók, and Liszt.
For over 30 years, this Austrian company has set new standards in luxury river cruising, including sustainable travel and environmental responsibility. Enjoy Austrian hospitality, folklore performances and enchanting scenery on a variety of European river cruises aboard these floating 5-star luxury hotels. Experience the mystical treasures of Myanmar on the luxury Irrawaddy Explorer, Lüftner’s elegant boutique river ship with 28 spacious outside cabins, or explore the fabled Mekong River on the 34-cabin Mekong Navigator, its design reminiscent the French colonial manor homes of old Saigon. Spacious suites provide individual climate control, televisions with on-demand movies, and spa-quality bath amenities. On every cruise, experienced tour managers escort guests on excursions to area’s most exciting sights. Cruises include large, outside river-view staterooms, most with French balconies or walk-out balconies, complimentary audio headsets for all excursions, an experienced Cruise Director, an onboard Concierge Service for more independent travelers, gourmet dining with wines from Europe’s famous wine regions, onboard entertainment including lectures, cooking demonstrations, live music, and complimentary use of their bicycles!
With their own fleet of 12 award-winning river ships, Grand Circle specializes in classic European river cruises, including numerous Christmas Market cruises. Because Grand Circle caters exclusively to Americans, US guests enjoy the comfort and camaraderie of like-minded travelers. They also promise the lowest prices per day in the industry with all-inclusive cruises that include international airfare (some exceptions), all accommodations, all onboard meals with complimentary beer & wine, gratuities, expert Program Directors (assigned to no more than 25 to 47 travelers), guided land tours, and exclusive Discovery Series events. For solo travelers they have a free roommate matching service, a Travel Companions online community, and promise the lowest single supplements in the industry. Founded in 1958 with a staff in Boston and 35 regional offices around the world, Grand Circle features the world’s most popular travel destinations plus lesser-known locales and places of interest, such as unassuming villages, family homes, schools, local workplaces, and farms. Known for their resident Program Directors, English-speaking residents of the countries you visit, who provide expert firsthand knowledge and insight of local history, and culture.
Imperial River Cruises specialize in the waterways of Russia and the Ukraine with a fleet of 20 ships. They are also known for offering special cruises catering to music lovers, orchestras, choirs, and other professional (or scholastic) music organizations. Russian cruise highlights include Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Bolshoi Theater, the ancient town of Uglich, the Kremlin, the Hermitage, Catherine’s Palace, the Cyrilo-Belozersky Monastery, the Church of the Transfiguration with its 22 onion domes, and the Summer Palace complex of Peter the Great, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ukrainian cruises include guided city tours, rural villages, the world famous Odessa Opera House, Kyiv Cave Monastery, the Aerospace Museum of Dnipropetrovsk, art museums, cathedrals, concerts, operas, ballets, and a Cossack horse show! These casual cruises offer simple yet comfortable accommodations, and include three meals per day, an array of sightseeing excursions and performances, transfers upon arrival/departure, cultural lectures, music lectures, nightly entertainment and dancing. Their affiliates World Quest Cruises offer expedition cruises to the Arctic and the North Pole, Antarctica, Iceland, Canada, Greenland and more!
Founded in 2009, Britain’s newest privately owned cruise line operates seven cruise ships, including three river cruise ships, with eight UK ports and offices in the United Kingdom and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. They offer a variety European river cruises on elegant ships along the Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Saône, and Rhône rivers, with a more traditional and leisurely style cruising experience. Shore excursions are optional and booked in advance. Onboard activities include lectures by expert speakers on a range of fascinating subjects, arts and crafts such as jewelry making, mosaic decoration, and calligraphy, live entertainment including specialty acts and guest entertainers, as well as a gym, yoga and more. All cabins have river views, air conditioning, private bathrooms, a desk, and satellite TV. Meals are freshly prepared by expert chefs. Guests enjoy full English breakfasts, leisurely lunches, and sumptuous five-course dinners, that include vegetarian and healthy options, and an extensive wine list!
