Travel Articles: Europe

A traveler's account of a Rhine River Christmas cruise, starting in Amsterdam and then down the Rhine for the many Christmas Markets and the beautiful scenery.

This trip was my first cruise and my first time in Europe! I took an 8-day cruise on the Harmony V with my mother in August and had a wonderful time! We sailed on rivers and went through locks and explored beautiful city centers in Spain, ate local dishes such as paella and sangria and encountered beautiful architecture and beautiful gelato in …

The Main River of southern Germany connects the Danube River to the east with the Rhine River to the northwest. As the Rhine?s largest tributary and the primary artery between two of Europe?s longest rivers, cruises that include the Main River are usually a bit longer - between 7 days and three weeks, crossing central Europe.

Learn about the best time to visit Austria, the best time to cruise the Danube River, and about some of the activities that are preferred during the respective seasons.

The bustling town of Passau, Germany straddles the Danube River where it meets the Inn and Ilz Rivers on the border of Austria, and is home to around 50,000 residents. Known for its baroque old town, Passau features a number of monuments, museums, and historical sites that make this charming city a staple part of any Danube River cruise. Passau also serves as the port of embarkation or departure for many European river cruises.

Where the Rhône and Saône rivers join you’ll find the busy city of Lyon, France, in the southeastern part of the country - so busy, in fact, that it is the sixth most densely populated city in the EU. Home to historical gems and a legacy that dates back thousands of years, renaissance architecture highlights the old town (Vieux …

Just a stone’s throw from Germany and France, the town of Basel, Switzerland is an exciting stop on any Rhine River cruise. Brimming with centuries of culture and history, it’s no surprise that - in addition to myriad museums that you can explore here - the city itself feels like a living museum.

Altstadt (Old Town)

The Altstadt old …

June, July, August, and September are the best months to take a cruise in Iceland. June starts the extended days of summer daylight where whale watching is in full effect, and the lingering clear nights of fall begin in September when spectacular sightings of the Northern Lights often occur.

The Blue Lagoon, the Golden Circle Route, the Westman Islands, and the Dettifoss Waterfall are a few of the most popular places to visit in Iceland. Populated areas that draw international visitors each year include Reykjavik, Husavik, the town of Isafjörður, and Siglufjordur.

Choosing a cruise to Iceland begins with your interests and the activities that are on your list. Other aspects to consider are your travel style, the time of year you want to go, and the amount of time you have budgeted to get away.

The most popular time to plan a Seine River cruise is during the summer months from June-August. It’s worth noting that temperatures reach their peak in France in August, so many local families are on vacation during this month. Some travelers enjoy the lighter traffic, warmer weather, and more relaxed feeling when many locals are away, while others hope to visit France in the shoulder months when the cities seem more lively.

The Moselle River is one of the lesser-known gems among the river cruising destinations in Europe. Flowing through Germany, Luxembourg, and France, this river acquaints explorers with modern cities and ancient sites throughout the continent, including popular ports like Trier, Koblenz, and Cochem. Many Moselle River cruises are coupled with a cruise of the legendary Rhine River as well.

European river cruises can be an amazing experience for families with members of all ages, and if you’re traveling with minors (under the age of 18), a cruise can be a fantastic way to engage them in history and culture as they see their textbooks come to life in the form of castles, museums, battlegrounds of ancient and modern wars, ruins, and so much more.

From the comfort of modern and elegant river vessels, travelers no longer have to worry about packing and unpacking their suitcases at every hotel, long haul train and bus rides between destinations, or uncertainty about where they’ll have their next meal - Adventure Life’s hand-picked European River cruises offer all-inclusive experiences along the most interesting waterways of Europe.

Riverboats are already much smaller than the giant ocean liners that cruise the Atlantic and Caribbean, but they can still be characterized as floating hotels, complete with several dining areas or bars, multiple lounges and social areas, occasionally a pool, hot tub, or spa, and occupancy for up to 200 or more guests.

It’s 2019, and a whole new season of European river cruising is just heating up! The Rhine and Danube Rivers defend their place as the most popular river cruising options, taking travelers through all of the major cities of Eastern, Central, and Western Europe as you cruise gently up and down these ancient waterways that have connected the …

European river cruises, once just a small niche in European travel, have grown exponentially in the last decade as one of the newest favorite ways to explore all that the countries of Europe have to offer. Deciding which European river cruise is right for you can be a tricky task, but if you can just answer a few questions for yourself, the …

The upper and lower Danube Rivers have extremely different cuisines, cultures, sights, and people. Learn about the differences in this article!

This article goes in to depth about the top cruise ports along the Danube River and what there is to do in each respective city.

As any veteran river cruiser will tell you, which riverboat you choose makes all the difference. With the recent surge in the popularity of European river cruises, competition between the main cruise operators has really improved the quality of the itineraries and river ships across the board, so there aren’t any bad options - it just depends on what you’re looking for on your Europe river cruise.

I lived in Germany briefly out of college and made some great friends there. It has long been my dream to bring my whole family back there to introduce them to our friends and their kids, some of whom are now college age themselves! This summer I was finally able to get a good deal on air tickets, rent a minivan and pack up the kids for a visit to …

Iceland tourism has increased drastically in the last 10 years, particularly with the cruise industry to the Arctic area including Keflavik and Reykjavik as a main embarkation point in many cruises. Many visitors however are now taking full weeks or even two weeks to explore all that Iceland has to offer by land as well. With its vast terrain of …

This boot-shaped peninsula is a country almost every traveler longs to visit! Ancient history, rich culture, world-renowned cuisine, & iconic landmarks are just a few of the reasons travel to Italy is so appealing. Our brief introduction to the geography, culture & attractions of this popular destination will help prepare you for your own Italy experience!

The Kapitan Khlebnikov is back in action! This renowned ice breaker vessel is able to reach remote polar regions that are inaccessible to most other passenger expedition ships. This means access to places rarely explored by tourists. Perhaps it will provide the perfect way for you to explore the Arctic.