A river cruise is fast becoming the most popular type of excursions for visitors to exotic destinations. A river cruise is a form of travel that typically takes place aboard a small vessel that navigates the inland waterways of the world. Unlike large cruise ships, river cruise ships allow the passenger to get up close and personal with nature and the countryside.
While river cruise ships tend to be smaller than bigger ships, many have the same amenities and they can be just as elegant as some of the larger, high-end vessels. Some river cruise ships may resemble five star hotels with luxurious accommodations as well as passenger sun decks, dining rooms, lounges, fitness facilities, swimming pools, casinos and other entertainment facilities. In addition, many river cruise ships offer both onboard and off board tours of everything from museums and galleries to dozens of other historical and exotic points of interest.
The most popular river cruises on the market today include: Nile (Exotic River), Mississippi (North American River), Yangtze (Exotic River), Mekong (Exotic River), the Danube (European River), Rhine (European River), Seine (European River) and Volga (Russia River).
Mississippi River Cruise, Nile River Cruise, Volga River Cruise
Mississippi River Cruises may include the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers and they are an excellent way to explore the Old South and Wilderness Rivers while listening to jazz and dining on Cajun cuisine. Depending on the cruise itinerary you choose, Mississippi riverboats may also cruise by the Gateway Arch in St. Louis or they may travel rivers to the east of the Mississippi, and visit great cities such as, Chattanooga, Cincinnati and Nashville.
A great way to experience the wealth of Egyptian history, culture and architecture is on a Nile River Cruise. Nile river cruises are typically part of a longer Egypt tour itinerary. Most will visit Luxor on the site of ancient Thebes. Here, passengers will see the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s longest ruling female pharaoh, and the Temple of Karnak, the largest temple complex built by man.
Excursions are also offered from Luxor to the final resting place of more than 60 pharaohs — Valley of the Kings. A Nile River cruise, may also take the passenger on a visit to the 2,000-year-old Temple of Horus. Passengers may also hop aboard a felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailing vessel to see the sites. Many Nile River cruises also visit the High Dam at Aswan, one of Egypt’s modern marvels.
Most Nile River cruises will visit the legendary pyramids and Sphinx in Giza, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo and Djoser’s Step Pyramid in Sakkara as well.
A Volga River Cruise is part of a larger itinerary and it offers passengers the opportunity to visit Russia’s two most important cities: Moscow and St. Petersburg. The cruise combines the Volga River, the Moscow canal and many other waterways as well as visits to medieval peasant homes, Uglich, one of Russia’s oldest towns and the site of the famous WWII battle Volograd.
If you’re traveling abroad and you want to add an exotic river cruise to your itinerary, your travel agent will be able to help you book the perfect river cruise. If you prefer to book on your own, click here to visit the top River Cruise website for details about more than a dozen river cruises. The site also offers information on how to book your river cruise. You can also call 1-800-510-4002 to speak with a river cruise specialist.
