The best way to see daily life in Europe unfold with a rhythm that is as authentic as the experiences you’ll have, river cruising enables you to savor the sights slowly so you don’t miss a beat. Walk off the boat into the heart of history on a choice of included shore excursions in every destination and enjoy exclusive cultural experiences, without lines or crowds. Wake up in new destinations, without having to pack and unpack, aboard riverboats custom made for a more intimate travel experience with fewer guests, more space and more personalized service. Enjoy non-stop scenic views on ever-calm waterways – no waves or rocking – and distinctively inclusive value with everything included and no surprise expenses. And travel with like-minded folks who share similar interests in the cultural connections and warm camaraderie that’s so much a part of an enriching river cruise experience. With 30 unique itineraries sailing throughout seasons, there are countless ways to explore Europe’s majestic river cruises with Tauck.
The Danube River
Waltz down central Europe’s River of kings between Austria and the Black Sea for a parade of Imperial privileges that make you feel like a royal. Enjoy palace dinners in Prague, Vienna, and Belgrade; musical interludes in Passau, Budapest, and Salzburg; walking history tours in Bratislava, Dürnstein, Krakow and Berlin; and a taste of local life in a Polish salt mine, a Hungarian winery and a private home in Vukovar. Discover Danube Delights ➞
The Rhine River
Born in the snow-peaked Swiss Alps, the Rhine roams the rolling countryside from Basel to Strasbourg before romancing German towns and villages crowned by castles and steeped in legends, ending in a land of windmills, Delftware and dikes worthy of leisurely look. Step off your riverboat into museums dedicated to the Old Dutch Masters, dine at castles moated and magical, and explore fairy-tale towns forested, lakefront and enchanted all. Romance the Rhine ➞
The Douro River
No place grows wine quite like Portugal’s Douro River, chronicling 2,000 years of wine making history from Spain to Porto, where it flirts with the Atlantic Ocean. Cruise alongside traditional rabelo boats that ferry barrels of liquid gold from picturesque quintas to ports and port houses on the coast. Visit hilltop castles and view prehistoric rock art. Hike or bike through vineyards on terraced estates, admire story telling tiles and discover why Tauck’s ship, ms Andorinha, was named after a Portuguese swallow that symbolizes home. Cruise the Douro ➞
The Seine River
Coursing through Paris with the unmistakable French spirit of joie de vivre, the River Seine has stories to tell as it glides through the painted landscapes of Giverny, Rouen, Honfleur and Le Havre, en route to the English Channel. Enjoy a private rendezvous with Mona Lisa at the Louvre, Claude Monet’s garden-graced home, and during dinner at a country château reserved exclusively for Tauck. Savor cider and wines where they are made, Impressionist art where it was created and French cuisine where it was perfected. See the Seine ➞
Tauck Bridges River Cruises make family travel easy There’s nothing quite like a floating hotel that makes traveling through Europe with your family as easy as can be. Imagine visiting different countries without having to pack and repack. Enjoying family friendly dining, and all-day beverages and snacks onboard. Exploring the sights with Tauck Directors who handle all the day-to-day details for you. Having fun with your kids on a scavenger hunt in the Louvre, on bicycle, hiking and kayaking excursions on the Douro, at a cowboy ranch in Provence, a medieval castle in Bratislava, a moated schloss on the Rhine, or a Viennese palace on the Danube. And having everything included in one upfront price without worrying about surprise added expenses. This guide to river cruises may help first time river cruisers.
If you would like more information on a river cruise or booking your family vacation, please contact Honeymoon Islands to create your bespoke itinerary today.