What do you think of when you come across the word cruise? I wouldn't be surprised if you answered: "huge ocean liners out on the open waters." It's what most people would've answered, but some cruises don't involve the massive ships that are usually associated with the word cruise.
I'm talking about river cruises, with smaller ships that will take you places the other conventional cruise ships can't. Here is a list of river cruises you need to take.
Europe
There are around 70 rivers in Europe, but these four are rivers that you should be visiting if you’re planning on doing a cruise in Europe:
The Danube
The Danube's 2000-mile route extends from Germany through Austria and ends in Hungary. It passes through Vienna and Budapest as well.
The Danube is also Europe's second-largest river and has been a popular transport route for over 2000 years.
The Rhine
Arguably Europe's most historically significant waterway, starting from the Swiss Alps, the Rhine crosses several countries, including the Netherlands, France, and Germany.
Taking a cruise down the Rhine means cruising past beautiful landscapes, lush vineyards, historic cities and churches, and medieval castles like you see in the movies.
The Douro
An underdog when compared to other European cruises, the Douro is a lesser-known cruise that takes you through Portugal and Spain.
The picturesque hills, medieval villages, and the never-ending vineyards all look like a painting that's been brought to life.
Volga River
Europe's longest river flows from central Russia towards the south and into the Caspian Sea. The river allows you to travel through both old and modern Russia.
The domes of the Golden Ring cities, the tall minarets of the Tatar mosques, and the northern monasteries' white walls are a part of the surrounding landscapes that you will pass through.
Asia
There are 122 river cruises for you to choose from, but these need to be your top picks:
Yangtze River
The 4000-mile river in China is one of the most scenic rivers in Asia. This river is also the third-longest river in the world.
You will cruise past plenty of ancient temples, forested mountains, and you will pass by the infamous Three Gorges Dam. You will also have the opportunity to go inland and visit some of the old Ghost towns and temples.
The cruise can run from four to fourteen days.
Mekong River
The Mekong River runs through 6 countries: China, Laos, Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. On this cruise, you'll be able to come across many of Asia's tropical jungles, mountain peaks, floating villages and markets, and many ancient temples.
The Mekong river is one of the most adventurous cruises that you can take, making it the most authentic way to experience the Asian waterways.
Americas
The Europeans have long dominated the river cruise game, but that doesn’t mean we need to ignore the Americas.
Mississippi River
This is the fourth-longest river in the world and cuts right through the US. Many of the ships are designed to look like old fashioned paddlewheelers, making this cruise perfect for anyone that wants to feel like they've traveled back in time.
The country's most iconic cruise has something for most travelers, from historical landmarks such as civil war battlefields and old towns- even a Mark Twain impersonator and naturalists.
We can't forget the scenery and wildlife along the river. This laid-back cruise can run anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks long.
There's no excuse when it comes to taking a river cruise.
There are tons of river cruises all across the world, so pick one and get cruising.