European Cruising Vacations on the Donau, Rhine, Moselle, and Main Rivers

Danube (Donau) River cruise vacations depart from Passau, Vienna, or Budapest with stops at Melk, Linz, and Bratislava. Cruise extensions up to the Rhine River are possible.

MS Mozart on the Danube River (Photo: Peter Deilmann River Cruises)

The Danube River competes with the Rhine for being Europe’s most popular waterways for riverboat cruises. With up to a hundred river passenger boats cruising on the Danube each year, many routings are available for cruise vacations. Up and downstream cruises are usually of similar length but more time will be spent cruising when going upstream.

• The Danube is Donau in German, Duna in Hungarian, and Dunare in Romanian.

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Cheap European Cruise Vacations on Luxurious German Donau Boats

Booking luxury Danube (Donau) River cruise vacations on German boats operated by A-Rosa, Peter Deilmann, and Viking can save money if less inclusive packages are preferred.

Arosa Daunbe Riverboat (Photo: A-ROSA Reisen)

Luxury Danube riverboat cruises marketed in international markets often include more meals and excursion and may therefore seem more expensive cruise vacations sold in the European market. For travelers keen on arranging their own shore excursions booking such riverboat cruises can save money. Popular rivers for riverboat cruises in central Europe include the Danube (Donau), Rhine (Rhein), Moselle (Mosel), Main, and Elbe with boats available from luxury to rather basic.

Tauck World Discovery, Peter Deilmann Cruises, Amadeus Waterways, and Viking River Cruises are well-known riverboat cruise line operators with excellent reputations. All these companies market extensively in international markets and sell luxury cruises not only on the Danube but on the Rhine River as well. A-rosa is a fairly new German company currently selling riverboat cruises mostly in the German market while Peter Deilmann and Viking River Cruises also sell riverboat cruises in some markets without including transfers, shore excursions, and some onboard services. Booking such cruises can save money but remember to include additional expenses in the budget before comparing final special offers.

• Online reservations services often cannot book special discounts (such as child fares and special anniversaries) making it sensible to compare what is available at different service providers.

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Top Luxury German and European Riverboat Cruise Tour Operators

Peter Deilmann Cruises, Tauck, Viking, and Amadeus Waterways are amongst the top luxury European riverboat cruise line companies.  German Arosa is a new addition to the Rhine River in 2009.

MS Heidelberg on the Rhine River (Photo: Peter DeilmannKreuzfahrten)

Many different cruise lines have luxury cruises on the Rhine (Rhein) and other German and European rivers. Some of the top riverboat cruise lines marketing in the USA and other non-European markets include Tauck World Discovery, Peter Deilmann Cruises, Amadeus Waterways, and Viking River Cruises. Arosa, a German shipping company, added the Rhine in 2009 to its cruise itineraries on the Danube and Rhone Rivers.

• It is worth comparing prices online and through different reservation services. However, always read the fine print when comparing cheap prices. Some cruises include more excursions, more meals, free wine, tips, and services in the base fare when the tour is sold in international markets. Cancellation conditions and refund policies also vary widely.

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Cheap Bookings and Low Prices on European Riverboat Cruise Holidays

Prices vary widely when booking a Rhine River riverboat cruise holiday. Cheap prices may have fewer option included although cheap deals are to be had.

MS Heidelberg on the Rhine River (Photo: Peter DeilmannKreuzfahrten)

Prices often vary widely on riverboat cruises on the Rhine River and tributaries such as the Moselle, Main, and Danube. Cheaper prices are available for early reservation but different levels of luxury and the inclusion of on-shore excursions can also greatly influence the price.

Rhine River cruises often book out early with last-minute reservations and late-booking discounts almost unheard of. Discounts are available for early reservations where “early” for some lines can be more than a year in advance.

• 2009, however, may be a great year to get discounts on luxury European river boat cruises – many companies extended the period for early bookings and heavy discounts are being advertised.

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Save on Reservations of European Riverboat Vacations

Cheap fares for Rhine cruises are great but the size of riverboats, facilities, and level of luxury also matter when making reservations for European riverboat vacations.

Amawaterways' Ultimate 21-Day River Cruise

Many different cruise line operators use boats of various sizes and levels of luxury for cruising on the Rhine River (Rhine) and its tributaries in Germany. Before booking a cruise, bear in mind that the level of luxury and the number of options included in the cruise price can have a great impact on the final price of the cruise. There is little point in paying for a boat with a swimming pool when cruising in late autumn nor in trying to save a few dollars but ending up with substandard food or a really cramped cabin.

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Cruising the Rhein, Mosel, Main, and Danube (Donau) Rivers

Cruise routings of multiple-day, luxury Rhine River boat cruises can be extended by adding the Moselle, Main, and Danube Rivers in Germany.

photo credit: matticgn

The Rhine (Rhein) River is enormously popular for both day trips and multiple-day cruises. Luxury European riverboat cruise liners such as Peter Deilmann, Amadeus, Viking, and Tauck cruise the Rhine both on the classic full Rhine route as well as by adding Rhine tributaries to form more interesting itineraries. It is even possible to cruise from the Rhine to the Danube basins by using the Main-Danube Canal.

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Getting to CDG by RER Train or Bus (Les Cars Air France, Roissybus, Noctilien)

Getting to Charles de Gaulle Airport from Paris or Val d’Europe (Euro Disneyland) is easiest by RER train or by bus (Les Cars Air France, Roissybus, Noctilien, VEA Shuttle).

photo credit: thombo2

Ground transportation to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) from downtown Paris, Paris neighborhoods, and Val d’Europe (Disneyland Resort Paris) is easiest, cheapest, and often fastest by train or bus. Suburban train RER line B3 goes from central Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport while several bus services are available on Les Cars Air France, Roissybus, Noctilien Night Bus, and Val d’Europe (VEA) Shuttle.

• For small groups, using a private airport shuttle service or even taxis may be worth the splurge giving the convenience of going directly to the hotel destination without having to transit or struggle with luggage through busy stations.

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Getting to Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airpark by Bus, Car, or Train

Buses run to Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB) in Baden-Airpark but at late / early hours a private car or expensive taxi may be required.

photo credit: OliverN5

A car, whether a rental, taxi, or private vehicle, is often the easiest way of getting to Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB). Public transportation is also available but bus departure times are limited, especially over weekends, early morning, and late night.

• Baden-Airpark has cheap flights on low-cost airlines but always factor in the cost and inconvenience of ground transportation, especially if flights are delayed.

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Low-Cost Airlines Flying to Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB) Germany

Cheap tickets are available on low-cost airlines flying to Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB. The airport is convenient for travelers to the Black Forest in Germany and Alsace in France.

photo credit: monstermunch99

Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB) in Baden-Airpark is increasingly popular with low-cost airlines. FKB is ideal for travelers to Baden-Baden and the northern and central Black Forest. However, it is also convenient for travelers to the lovely Alsace region in France and generally has flights much cheaper than to Strasbourg Airport. Low-cost airlines using Baden-Baden Airport include Hamburg International, Ryanair, TUIfly, and Air Berlin. Budget airlines imply low prices and cheap tickets for many flights but services may be limited and ground transportation needs a bit of planning if not continuing the journey by private car. »»»Continue reading…