European River Cruises 2009

Grand European Explorer 29 Days Basel to Bucharest

from A$7677

Combine Eastern Europe Explorer and Grand

Sail the legendary Rhine, meandering Main, and enchanting Danube rivers from Switzerland to Romania. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Old Towns of Bamberg and Regensburg, and the majestic European capitals of Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade, and Bucharest. Discover Renaissance palaces, baroque and rococo architecture, and Roman ruins. Follow pastoral scenes along the Main River and through the engineering marvel of the Main-Danube Canal, before traveling the enchanting Danube through the dramatic Iron Gates and towards the Black Sea. Be amazed by ten countries, three rivers, and countless chances to touch history.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Those with a true sense of adventure will enjoy exploring more than 2,000 miles of sweeping history, great natural beauty, and diverse cultural heritage from Switzerland to Romania.

Castles Along the Rhine 8 Days Basel to Amsterdam

from A$1333

Celebrate the fairytale beauty and romantic spirit of the Rhine

This tour really lives up to its name with castles, castles, and more spectacular castles. Gracing the shores of the middle Rhine Valley are more medieval castles than in any other river valley in the world. The fairytale castles combine with the breathtaking landscape of terraced vineyards and old-world towns, will leave you awestruck.

Artists, musicians, writers, and poets from all over Europe have immortalized the Rhine’s unadulterated natural beauty in their songs, art, stories, and poetry. Byron, Dumas, Hugo, and Heine celebrated it in their writing. Beethoven, Schuman, Brahms, Schubert, and Wagner idolized it in their music, and Turner captured it in his paintings.

And even today, the Rhine continues to inspire those who visit—especially Germany’s upper middle Rhine Valley, spanning approximately 40 miles between Koblenz and Rüdesheim. This area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As you travel along the Rhine, each bend and twist affords new surprises that are certain to inspire you the way countless others have been inspired for centuries.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Romantics, history buffs, wine connoisseurs and nature lovers will rejoice in medieval wine towns, glorious castles, majestic cathedrals, world-class cities, and the romantic Rhine’s glorious natural beauty.

Tulips and Windmills 10 Days Amsterdam to Amsterdam

from A$1425

Seas of flowers, picturesque windmills, and the balmy days of spring combine for a memorable cruise

Whatever comes to mind when you think of the Netherlands and Belgium—countless colorful canals, whimsical windmills, vibrant tulips, the art of Rubens, Rembrandt and Van Gogh, rich maritime history—you will experience them in all their real-life glory.

This perfectly paced springtime cruise takes you to the historic windmills of Kinderdijk, the Belgian treasure of Bruges, the 70-acre Keukenhof Gardens with more than seven million flowers, and museums rich in art by the famed Dutch Masters. While visiting Enkhuizen and Hoorn, you’ll discover the impressive maritime history of days gone by.

All along the way, you’ll indulge in the famous treats of the region. Sample delicate, handmade Belgian chocolates, among the finest in the world. Feast on warm waffles with berries and cream. Taste delicious cheeses along with hearty beer—all while savoring the storybook atmosphere of some of Europe’s most charming towns.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Love flowers? Experience the exquisite Keukenhof Gardens, open only a few weeks each year. Fine art? Vermeer, Rembrandt, Rodin and Van Gogh are showcased in the Rijksmuseum and Kröller-Müller Museum.

European Serenade 13 Days Vienna to Amsterdam 

from A$3100

Let the music and culture of Europe’s grand cities and fairytale villages serenade you

Experience life in the tiny villages, medieval bastions, and bustling cities along the majestic Danube, the peaceful Main, and the romantic Rhine as you travel from the elegant city of Vienna to the colorful canals of Amsterdam. Enjoy beautiful scenic views while cruising along these grand rivers through the vineyard-rich Wachau Valley and the castle-clad hills of the Rhine River Valley.

Along the way, visit towns right out of fairytales—tiny Miltenberg with its crooked streets and leaning houses; Rothenburg with its charming core of gothic churches and gabled houses; Bamberg, an architectural gem boasting Renaissance palaces, baroque houses, and a unique frescoed Town Hall; Linz, designated by the European Union as a 2009 European Capital of Culture; and Nuremberg, an archetypical German medieval city encircled by mighty defensive walls.

Indulge your passion for awe-inspiring art and architecture, and for places where history is still an essential part of daily life.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Those seeking history and architecture will encounter fascinating Roman ruins, medieval towns, baroque castles, and ultramodern buildings. And story lovers will delight in the myths and legends found along the way.