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The 40-passenger Aqua Mekong was designed specifically for the Mekong River in Southeast Asia, and the décor and cuisine reflect the region. Guests enjoy mango salads, chili-crusted prawns, sautéed catfish with plenty of ginger, curries rich with coconut milk, and savory rice noodle dishes onboard. Don’t be tempted by the relatively low headline price – you’ll have a better time with any other cruise line. Passengers were unimpressed by the facilities on board, while cabins and meals (described by one guest as ‘a bit school dinners’) tended to be mediocre. Reliable Riviera has classy cruises at a good price, and really looks after its customers. That said, with nearly all meals taken on board – and usually only one dining option – you’ll want to make sure the food and drink is good quality.
The 10 Best River Cruise Lines in Europe for Every Traveler - Cruise Critic
The 10 Best River Cruise Lines in Europe for Every Traveler.
Posted: Fri, 22 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Pandaw’s Mekong River CruiseX
Don't be surprised if you find yourself lounging in a room decked out in animal prints. Catherine on the Rhone and Saone, for instance, boasts a $1 million art collection. From Memphis blues and Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes" to Kentucky bluegrass and New Orleans jazz, American Cruise Lines' eight-night Music Cities Cruise sails you through a chronology of the U.S. music scene. You'll traverse three rivers (the Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland) en route from Memphis to Nashville, or vice versa. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. With all those caveats in mind, take a look at our top picks for budget river cruising.
Viking River Cruises’ Romantic Danube
Despite being one of the more reasonably priced brands in our survey, it scored full marks for its elegant cabins and meals, buffet-style lunches and four-course dinners. These cruise lines not only promise scenic beauty and cultural immersion but also ensure comfort, exceptional service, and memorable experiences, making them standout choices for river cruising. The cruises are known for their focus on local cuisine, varying by itinerary, and the vessels boast various amenities including a main dining room, entertainment hall, and sun deck. Prices often do not include airfare, taxes, and other fees, so it’s advisable to check for hidden costs.
AmaWaterways
Some of my favorite cruise experiences include sailing the Rhine during fall or a transatlantic voyage on the Queen Mary 2 during summer. I adore my home city, London, the west coast of Ireland and New York, where I once spent a summer living in Brooklyn Heights on a work abroad program. Outside of travel, my passions are my veggie patch, my record collection and spending time with friends and family. The 196-passenger, Danube-based AmaMagna is a standout among the cruise line’s well-equipped offerings.
This Is the Smartest Way to Vacation in 2024 — and It's Not What You Think - Travel + Leisure
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There's eagle spotting in Red Wing and agricultural innovation in Quad Cities, Iowa. You'll enjoy Mark Twain lore in Hannibal, Missouri, and architectural landmarks, such as the soaring Gateway Arch, in St. Louis.
These are the best river cruise lines, sorted by price from low to high.
Its Longship fleet of ships is beautifully designed, and its crews are attentive and friendly. Food often has nods to regional specialties, and first-time river cruisers will no doubt love Viking’s attention to the little details, like heated bathroom floors and plenty of cabins with full, step-out balconies. All are part of the stunning enrichment program Tauck rolls out on its European river cruise journeys – and all are done with considerable flair. These are experiences you couldn’t buy your way into or arrange on your own, and they add significant value to Tauck’s European river cruises by simply providing authentic experiences unlike any other you’ll find elsewhere.
Emerald Cruises
Staterooms boast floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views from every bed and chair, and the brightly colored textiles evoke regional handicrafts. Its péniche (barge) tours in France carry 20 or so guests around Provence, Bourgogne and Alsace, while its Danube cruise is on a plush 16-cabin boat that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip sailed on. Guests were equally impressed by the ‘friendly’ and ‘helpful’ staff for whom ‘nothing was too much trouble’. Drinks with meals, on-board gratuities and an escorted tour in every port are included. The cruise line sails along popular rivers such as the Danube, Rhone, Seine, Nile, and the Mekong. It attracts English-speaking cruisers typically in their 50s and 60s, with children ages 8 and older welcome on board.
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Guests stay in one of 95 staterooms; suites offer two full-size rooms with both a veranda and a balcony. Odds are you will not get motion sickness on a river cruise since large waves or currents do not hit the ships. Because most people travel in pairs or a family on a cruise, rates are based on double occupancy.
Colombia's Magdalena River with Amawaterways
Sail the Seine from Paris to Normandy aboard Tauck’s intimate 98-passenger MS Sapphire to explore destinations such as Caudebec-en-Caux, Les Andelys, Mont-St-Michel and Étretat. The cruise features a number of thoughtful, exclusive excursions, like dinner at the 16th-century Château du Taillis and a walking tour in Rouen to Joan of Arc Square and the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen. Most poignant, however, is the chance to pause at the D–Day Beaches, with 2024 marking the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy.
Limber up for a game of pickleball on the full-size court that was just added in 2023. Passengers can work out solo at the Zen Wellness Studio or join an open-air spin class, while drinking in scenic river views. The ship's ample deck space also offers passengers the chance to unwind in the heated pool and indulge in a nap-inducing massage in one of two treatment rooms. The UK’s biggest provider has landed one of the top spots in our past five surveys. Riviera charters a dozen ships in Europe, carrying 120 to 169 passengers, and it uses local companies for its Egyptian and Vietnamese cruises.
Avalon Tranquility II features wall-to-wall panoramic windows, a Sky Deck with a whirlpool and deck game area, elevator service and a well-stocked library. Staterooms come with Egyptian linens, L’Occitane bath products, free Wi-Fi and plenty of storage space. Adventures by Disney is the best option for families since they curate their onboard and onshore activities with kids and teens in mind. Uniworld is also a good choice with an array of added perks for kids of all ages.
As for the bed itself, guests can choose their own mattress and pillow firmness from Avalon's Comfort Collection. It lacks the grandeur of the suites, and is small at about 172 square feet, and has small windows peaking above the waterline. This year's World's Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year's honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world. Avalon is owned by the Globus Family of Brands, a tour operator company, and that experience comes into play on shore, with such VIP experiences as skipping the line at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
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