Taking a cruise down a river is one of the most underrated vacation plans. It offers a lot of the fun of an ocean cruise while seeing a lot more sites. Many of these rivers can span across entire continents, it’s a fantastic way to see many things you wouldn’t see using more conventional means of travel.
The Mighty Mississippi
The Mississippi River runs a total of over 2,000 miles and spans the entirety of the USA. It runs north to south, starting in Minnesota and ending in the Gulf of Mexico.
The best part of a Mississippi cruise is the customization. You can do a cruise lasting 22 days that visits all 9 states or you can do a week exploring a section of it.
The Mississippi River played an important role in American history; stops along the river include famous historical landmarks, exploring the heart of Dixie and the excitement of the Big Easy.
The Danube
Formerly an important border of the Roman Empire’s frontier, the Danube today stretches through 10 countries. Originating in Germany, it stretches southeast to Ukraine and into the Black Sea.
A tour down this river will hit some of Europe’s most famous and stunning cities. A stop into Budapest and Vienna is a must on any Danube cruise.
There are also some spectacular natural vistas along its path. Wachau Valley, a UNESCO world heritage site, gives you a peak into what life was like in the 12th century. The Danube Delta in Romania is a calm, beautiful area that is home to over 300 species of birds and 45 species of freshwater fish.
A Danube cruise is a great way to explore the best that Eastern Europe has to offer.
Adventure down the Amazon
If you’re feeling really adventurous, an Amazon River cruise is for you.
Start in Peru, where the vast, untamed wilderness of the Amazon begins. This area has been mostly untouched and it is where the biodiversity is the greatest. Enjoy swimming with pink dolphins, visit the natives and see wildlife like you’ve never seen before.
A stop in at Lima will let you explore all local flavors from cuisine to architecture to fashion. Many of these river cruises also include a trip to Machu Picchu.
An Amazon cruise will leave you feeling like an explorer discovering a new land.
Become a Viking
No place is more majestic and beautiful than the Viking homeland of Scandinavia. Tours through this area will typically hit all of the major metropolitan areas: Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki and Tallinn.
Cruises are offered in both the summer and winter; no matter what time of year, there is so much to do.
In the summer, you’ll glide down the beautiful Norwegian fjords. These lands have some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in the world. In the warm months, the local towns come alive. Enjoy many of the celebrations and festivals celebrating the summer and Scandinavian heritage.
During winter, exploring the arctic, watching polar bears, sleeping in an igloo and racing a dogsled is all up for grabs. If you time your trip right, you can watch the stunning Northern Lights. The Aurora Borealis is a must for everyone’s bucket list.
Scandinavia is a great place for a cruise any time of the year.
The Ancient World
A cruise down the Nile River will take you back in time. Many of the Nile River cruises begin in Cairo, a city as old as civilization itself. There is plenty of amazing things to see such as the Citidel and the Egyptian Museum, filled with lots of ancient treasures.
These cruises feature a lot of time spent on land as many of the monuments and temples are located across the desert. So bring appropriate footwear and be ready for the time of your life.
Whether you want to explore sites that are a few hundred years or a few thousand years old, you can find a river cruise that is right for you. You don’t need a lot of vacation time either to enjoy one, trips can range from a week up to a whole month. It’s an adventure you can’t afford to pass up on.
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