River cruises are hot, hot, hot! By far, river cruising is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry and for good reason - smaller ships, personalized service, included excursions, free WiFi, cultural immersion, casual dress, wine and beer included, and the list goes on, all included in the price.
Some river cruise lines are now completely all-inclusive, taking the river cruise industry to an entirely different level. The upscale experience of a river cruise cannot be compared to any larger cruise experience. This experience is different.
You may ask, "who goes on a river cruise?" Ultimately, it's for everyone: seasoned cruisers, novice cruisers, those who love independent land packages, those who love escorted tours, and even those who aren't interested in cruising at all. In a word, it's for you.
Here's my best recommendation for river cruises (in no particular order):
Viking River Cruises - With over 45 ships in their fleet, and more on the way (14 in 2014 alone), Viking is the largest river cruise company in the world and setting the precedence within the industry. Because they're the largest and dwarf any other river cruise line, they transport the majority of river cruisers. They offer an excellent value-packed river cruise experience throughout Europe, Asia, and Egypt. Click here for more information about Viking River Cruises.
Avalon Waterways - with the backing of Globus Family of Brands, one of the largest tour companies in the world, Avalon is offers river cruises throughout Europe and Asia, and other waterways including Galapagos, Amazon, and Mississippi Rivers. With some of the youngest, most innovative ships in Europe, Avalon Choice® Cruising gives passengers the ability to customize their river cruise experience the way they want. Combined with sister companies Globus and Monograms, adding a pre or post cruise experience is easy as 1, 2, 3.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises - Offering a true all-inclusive river cruising experience, Uniworld is heads and shoulders above other river cruise companies. Literally everything is included on a Uniworld cruise including gratuities and all alcohol. As a luxury river cruise line, Uniworld handles all aspects of their onboard operations including nautical, hospitality, and culinary. And, with the synergy they share with Red Carnation Hotels, the leader in the luxury boutique hotel industry, Uniworld has created the ONLY floating luxury boutique hotels. Averaging only 130 guests per ship, their number of passengers to crew ratio is second to none which is reflected in their 6 star service.
AMA Waterways - For the upscale and discerning traveler. The differences are in the details. As a family-owned river cruise line, their
