The Rhine River flows through one of Germany’s most scenic regions.
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Cruise Five Storied Rivers
By Maria Lenhart
River cruising has become a top choice for travelers seeking cultural immersion without sacrificing comfort and security—and for good reason. The great rivers of Europe, Africa and Asia unveil each continent’s heart and soul as they navigate past ancient citadels, terraced vineyards, timeless villages, places of pilgrimage and bustling port cities. Thanks to a new generation of sleek, innovative ships appointed with spacious suites, expansive viewing areas and exquisite cuisine, experiencing the world of rivers has never been more accessible and appealing. Which waterway should you choose? There are many to consider, and each offers its own experience, but you can’t go wrong with five of the most storied: the Rhine, Danube, Douro, Nile and Mekong.
The Rhine
For anyone seeking the essence and geographical diversity of Western Europe, a journey along its longest waterway is a good way to find it. Rising from brooks high in the Swiss Alps, the Rhine makes its way past Liechtenstein and Austria, carves a natural border between Germany and France, and continues northwest to the Netherlands where it spreads into a vast delta that empties into the North Sea. The most famous stretch of the river, often called the Romantic Rhine, is a gorge between the German city of Koblenz and the winemaking town of Rudesheim, along which turreted castles are perched in the hills high above. Perhaps its most legendary feature is the Lorelei, a soaring rock where a siren was said to have lured unwary sailors to their deaths.
Among the many itineraries available, a classic choice is AmaWaterways’ seven-night Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps cruise between Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Basel, Switzerland. The majestic ports along the way include Cologne, Germany, where relics of the Magi are said to reside in the city’s twin-spired Gothic cathedral, and Strasbourg, Germany, home to an intriguing mix of Germanic and French culture. The latter’s cobblestone streets and half-timbered shops look like they've been lifted straight out of a children’s book.
The Danube River, Wachau Valley, Austria
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The Danube
Just as the Rhine encapsulates much of Western Europe, the Danube, flowing from Germany’s Black Forest to the Black Sea on Romania’s coast, does the same for Central and Eastern Europe. Among its many pleasures are Strauss waltzes, Hungarian rhapsodies, sumptuous chocolate tortes and hillside vineyards producing crisp white vintages.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ eight-day Enchanting Danube, which sails from Budapest, Hungary, to Passau, Germany, is highlighted by several capital cities—including Vienna and Budapest, both justly famed for their romantic spires and delectable desserts. A lesser-known capital, Slovakia’s Bratislava, is an unexpected delight with its pedestrian-friendly historic center, where a medieval town hall and palaces with baroque elements share space with lively bars and cafes. The region’s rich and varied musical heritage brings the chance to enjoy a concert featuring the music of Strauss and Mozart or to hear Europe’s largest pipe organ in Passau’s magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Dom Luis Bridge spans the Duoro River in Porto, Portugal.
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The Duoro
Called the River of Gold, the Douro River has been intertwined since Roman times with wine production. In the 17th century, the river was then used to transport Portugal’s most famous export—port wine. Flowing from Spain into Portugal, the river travels past steeply terraced hillside vineyards, almond groves, ancient pilgrimage sites and mountaintop manors.
The city of Porto, on the Atlantic coast, is the embarkation point for many cruises, including Uniworld’s Douro River Valley, an eight-day, round-trip journey through Europe’s oldest demarcated wine region. The cruise line’s “Do as the Locals Do” excursions, such as exploring Porto’s medieval alleyways or riding a tram up to the Clerigos Tower for spectacular views, provide an introduction to the Portuguese wine capital.
Heading inland, cruise ships enter the Douro River Valley, with stops along the way to visit quintas, family-owned wine estates where passengers meet the winemakers and sample port and other wines, as well as cheeses, smoked meats, almonds, honey and other regional specialties. One of the Douro’s picturesque sights is Castelo Rodrigo, a ruined mountaintop citadel that for centuries played a role in Portugal’s territorial disputes with Spain. Crossing into Spain, an excursion to Salamanca reveals a golden city of sandstone structures; Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture; and Spain’s oldest university, dating back to 1218.
The Great Sphinx of Giza, near Cairo, Egypt
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The Nile
What river has spawned a more storied civilization, whose ancient temples and royal tombs still stand in splendor, than the Nile? Guests on Alexander + Roberts’ 13-day Between the Paws of the Sphynx itinerary are privy to rare, behind-the-scenes experiences as the timeless magic of Egypt and the Nile unfolds before their eyes. The amazing tour, which also visits Cairo, Alexandria and Giza (with a chance to stand between the paws of the Sphynx), includes a four-night cruise on the luxurious Oberoi Zahra, which enjoys private docking facilities removed from the crowds. Guided by expert Egyptologists, guests descend into a pharaoh’s tombs at the Valley of the Kings to view astonishing paintings of birds, snakes, boats and other symbols in eye-popping colors. The many Nile treasures also include the Temple of Kom Ombo, built to honor the fearsome crocodile god Sobek, and the mighty Temples of Abu Simbel, constructed to honor Ramses II and now standing guard above Lake Nasser and the Aswan High Dam, two modern wonders of the Nile.
Vietnamese woman selling bananas on floating market, Mekong River Delta, Vietnam
The Mekong
The almost mythical Mekong of Southeast Asia flows approximately 2,700 miles from the Qinghai province in China through Cambodia and Vietnam to the South China Sea. Along the way, a panoply of sights touch the soul, including Buddhist monasteries, floating markets, museums that shed light on the region’s grim past and lush fields where water buffalo graze.
AmaWaterways’ Riches of the Mekong, a seven-night sailing from Siem Reap, Cambodia, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, offers plenty of opportunities to appreciate cultural traditions. You can walk through Angkor Ban, a rare Cambodian village not destroyed under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s, where daily life among the wooden houses built on stilts carries on as it has for centuries. The bustling city of Phnom Penh boasts French Colonial architecture and tree-lined boulevards. Nearby, you can attend a blessing ceremony at a Buddhist monastery in the pilgrimage site of Oudong. Across the border into Vietnam, the small river town of Tan Chau is a serene place to ride a trishaw and browse for handmade silks and rattan mats.
Dreaming of cruising on a storied river? Take advantage of exclusive AAA Member Benefits when you plan and book your river cruise with a knowledgeable AAA Travel Agent.