Contrary to popular belief, riverboat cruises offer much, much more than hour-long sightseeing tours and romantic dinners. Riverboat cruises are fast becoming the most popular types of cruises for visitors to exotic and historic destinations. If you don’t know too much about riverboat cruises or you’re not sure what to expect on a riverboat cruise, continue reading to get an idea of the types of riverboats available, popular riverboat destinations and how to book a riverboat cruise.
A riverboat 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, riverboats allow the passenger to get up close and personal with the countryside, marine life, nature, and more.
While riverboats tend to be smaller than cruise ships, many riverboats have the same amenities and they can be just as elegant as some of the larger, luxury vessels. Some riverboats may resemble five star hotels with luxurious accommodations along with passenger sun decks, dining rooms, lounges, fitness facilities, swimming pools, and even casinos. In fact, riverboat casinos are quite common in the U.S. In addition, many riverboats offer both onboard and land tours of everything from museums and galleries to dozens of historic and exotic points of interest.
There are so many riverboat cruises on the market today that it’s tough to know which is the best option. Fortunately, there are several popular riverboat cruises on the market today that won’t disappoint. The most popular riverboat cruises include the: 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 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.
Volga River Cruises are typically part of a larger itinerary and they offer 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.”
Booking a Riverboat Cruise
If you’re traveling abroad and you want to add an exotic riverboat 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, visit www.rivercruise.com for details about more than a dozen riverboat cruises and information on how to book. You can also call 1-800-510-4002 to speak with a riverboat cruise specialist.