Why Cruise to Europe?

We’re frequently asked why we prefer a European river cruise to other forms of travel about the continent. It’s our favorite way to get around Europe, see its cities, and explore its incredible cultures. When planning any trip to Europe, there are literally hundreds of factors to consider. From hotel prices to dining to weather, these can all inhibit or add unexpected stress and cost to your European vacation. That doesn’t even include picking out which cities you’d like to see, or getting to them for that matter. River cruises make seeing the best of Europe easy and fun for the whole family.

European river cruise in Hamburg, Germany

Visit all of Europe’s best cities

Choosing to cruise as opposed to traveling independently, you’ll have a pre-selected itinerary of your choice. On each of these European itineraries, you’ll get to see incredible cities like Paris, Budapest, and Amsterdam. Cruises go all over Europe, so if you have a place in mind, there’s a good chance one of our cruises visits it. 

Save money with a European river cruise

Another reason we prefer cruising to any other form of European travel is its cost efficient nature. Visiting all those cool cities is a blast, but the cost adds up when you’re traveling on your own. Adding up the cost of hotels, tours, attractions, dining, and drinks, your cost can get into the hundreds of dollars each day in just one city. That’s not even adding in transportation -- you’ll need to book flights or buses to get to Europe’s other cities. While the prospect of wandering the streets and exploring Europe yourself is exciting, it gets very pricey fast, especially with multiple people. Unless you plan on backpacking, a granola bar diet, and cheap hostel stays, European vacations are expensive.

That’s where European cruises come in. Even the most luxurious river cruises often beat the cost of traveling independently. They include travel for the entire time you’re in Europe, making it so you’ll never have to worry about booking flights between cities, hotels, or tours. When it comes to cost-effectiveness, river cruises can’t be beat. 

Overnight stays are a breeze

In line with our last reason to river cruise Europe, you’ll never have to book a hotel room when cruising. While certain voyages do put you in a hotel room overnight, all you’ll have to do is get there with the transport provided by the cruise line. For the most part, you’ll be staying in a world-class stateroom aboard your luxury cruise ship. Each room is unique depending on your chosen cruise line, but all come with the comforts of a high-end hotel room regardless. 

When traveling Europe, there’s nothing like not having to unpack and repack at every destination. You can forget about lugging your luggage around from city to city when staying on a ship. After a long day of exploring your favorite European cities, you can simply come back and relax, knowing your belongings are always safe in your suite. 

Endless opportunities to immerse yourself in Europe

Another incredible feature of river cruising is the ease of access to educational and entertaining opportunities on the continent. With our cruise experts, guests can arrange those ahead of time regardless of the European river cruise line. 

River cruise tour in Paris, France

​Depending on your interests, there are tons of possibilities. You can sit in on an engaging lecture from a local expert, learning about a city’s history, winemaking, or a variety of other topics. Tours are another popular inclusion on European cruises. On these, you can choose between history, architecture, art, food, wine, and more for the tour’s focus. Often, bicycling tours are also available for those hoping to maximize their time in each city. When booking your cruise with us, be sure to ask about the tours, lectures, and other forms of entertainment available on your trip.

Flexibility that works around you

When people think of cruises, they often think of a rigid travel itinerary. That’s a bit different with river cruises though, as our experts can work with the cruise line on your behalf to make sure your trip works perfectly for you. If you feel you might want a few extra days in Hamburg, Germany, or maybe need a shorter or longer trip, we’ll work for you to get the perfect trip lined out with your cruise line. 

​At Authentic Voyages, we’re all about European river cruising. We’ve stayed on the ships, ate in the restaurants, and taken the tours. Now, we showcase only our favorite cruise lines, helping others make the same great memories we have. Contact us today to learn more about your next great European vacation.