10 of our best-selling river cruise itineraries, listed below in no particular order.
On these vacations, you'll glide along scenic and historic waterways on an intimate and comfortable vessel, enjoying river-view staterooms, superb dining and personalized service. Daily excursions ashore and onboard entertainment and enrichment activities also are generally included in the upfront rate.
Rhine Getaway, 8 days with Viking River Cruises -- On a route between Amsterdam and Basel, you'll visit 700-year-old Marksburg Castle, the Alsatian city of Strasbourg and Rudesheim's Drosselgasse, a cobblestone lane lined by taverns, shops and restaurants.
Charms of the South, 9 days with American Queen Voyages -- Travelers cruise the lower Mississippi River on a modern-day paddle wheeler, learning about Vicksburg's role in the Civil War and visiting 19th-century mansions in Natchez.
Burgundy & Provence, 8 days with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises -- A cruise of France's Saone and Rhone rivers reveals Roman ruins, a 14th-century papal palace and the culinary treasures of Lyon.
Melodies of the Danube, 8 days with AmaWaterways -- This trip starts in Budapest, where you'll take in the views from the Fisherman's Bastion. See St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna and enjoy a hike up to Bratislava Castle in Slovakia.
Paris to Normandy, 8 days with Avalon Waterways -- Tailor this French cruise to your interests: In Vernon, tour Monet's Giverny or 18th-century Chateau de Bizy, and while in Caudebec, choose a trip to D-Day landing beaches or a "Taste of Normandy" culinary excursion.
Secrets of the Douro, 8 days with Emerald Cruises -- Sail Portugal's Douro River in a region known for its port wine production. Enjoy dinner at a local wine estate and also cross into Spain to visit Salamanca, a lively university city.
Columbia & Snake Rivers, 8 days with American Cruise Lines -- Discover the Pacific Northwest's rugged beauty, particularly along the Columbia River Gorge, and visit Mount St. Helens and sites associated with explorers Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery.
Gems of the Danube, 8 days with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours -- Guests can choose from a variety of included excursions on this itinerary. In Vienna, tour opulent Schonbrunn Palace or journey to the city's acclaimed wine region. In Nuremberg, visit World War II sites or sample beer in the city's underground cellars.
Grand European Tour, 15 days with Viking River Cruises -- See the sights along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers on a panoramic sailing between Amsterdam and Budapest. Guided tours reveal the history and culture of Vienna, Regensburg, Cologne and more.
Romantic Rhine, 8 days with Avalon Waterways -- Classic highlights of this itinerary include the picturesque Rhine Gorge, Heidelberg Castle and Strasbourg's pedestrian-friendly old quarter. You'll also visit whimsical spots like a museum devoted to mechanical musical instruments.
Top Romantic,Golf,Spa and Family Resorts
12/16/2016 1:44:27 PM Link | | Add comment
This week, we will highlight tropical resorts for those looking for a romantic escape or family vacation, as well as great choices for golfers and spa lovers. All promise beautiful beaches, water sports and a relaxed atmosphere. Most of them are all-inclusive, which means that the upfront price includes your room, meals, snacks, drinks and many activities. Click the links for more resort information or to shop for a great rate.
Romantic Retreats
Escape to a romantic beach destination, where features can include candlelight dinners on the beach, in-room Jacuzzis and honeymoon packages that provide perks like a room upgrade or complimentary Champagne.
Some resorts cater just to couples, like Couples Resorts in Jamaica; Sandals Resorts, with 15 properties in locales like Antigua and St. Lucia; and Isla Mujeres Palace and Sun Palace in Cancun.
The Royal Suites by Palladium are no-kids retreats with an intimate ambience and personalized butler service, complemented by full access to the dining venues, bars and activities of the adjacent Grand Palladium resorts. Five Excellence properties offer a no-kids atmosphere. Lavish accommodations include suites with rooftop terraces and plunge pools.
Family Resorts
Looking for a place where the whole family is welcome? Many of our family resorts have daytime children's programs run by experienced counselors, with activities built around crafts, nature, sports and games.
The Beaches resorts in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos offer age-appropriate activities at the Kids Camp; teens can try out the Xbox Play Lounge or Scratch DJ Academy. Three Hard Rock all-inclusives offer the Music Lab Experience, where guests 12 and older can shoot a music video or mix tracks.
The Azul properties in Mexico and Jamaica have family suites or two- and three-bedroom accommodations, depending on the property. Family Deluxe Junior Suites at Melia Caribe Tropical in the Dominican Republic come with a king-size or two double beds, plus a sofa bed and either a rollaway bed or bunk beds.
Another popular choice is Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas, with its huge outdoor water park, aquarium and expansive facilities for young vacationers, including the 14,000-square-foot Crush lounge for teens.
No-Kids Resorts
Prefer not to hear the pitter-patter of little wet feet around the pool? Try a no-kids retreat. The minimum age for most of these resorts is 18, although guests ages 13-17 are considered adults at a few properties. Our travel counselors can verify the age restrictions at any resort that interests you.
Some top choices include the tranquil Secrets properties and the Iberostar Grand resorts, as well as the elegant, minimalist Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun and the El Dorado resorts on Mexico's Riviera Maya. If you're looking for a livelier spot where participation in activities is encouraged, try Breezes in Nassau, Bahamas (here the age limit is 14.)
The Hotel Riu Palace Antillas is our only no-kids, all-inclusive resort in Aruba; you'll find no-kids Riu properties in a few other destinations, too. Barcelo Hotels & Resorts, a popular all-inclusive resort brand, has one no-kids haven, Barcelo Bavaro Beach in the Dominican Republic.
Golf Resorts
Tee off in a tropical destination: Our golf resorts offer a course on the property or nearby. Transfers to the courses typically are provided, and some hotels waive green fees.
Moon Palace Cancun in Cancun boasts 27 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus; an on-site golf academy uses high-tech teaching tools for lessons. Nicklaus also created the par-72 course at the Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana; it offers a basic, free 20-minute program with a golf pro every day at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Barcelo Bavaro Palace in the Dominican Republic is home to The Lakes, where fairways wind through mangrove forests and around 25 lakes. At the Westin Golf Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal in Costa Rica, golf architect Robert Trent Jones II crafted 18 holes on rolling terrain with views of the Pacific and tropical forests.
Spa Resorts
Our spa resorts offer saunas, steam rooms and face and body therapies. They typically have good exercise facilities, a beauty salon and perhaps fitness classes and personal trainers.
Zoetry resorts focus on wellness and tranquility. Guests have access to state-of-the-art fitness centers, complimentary wellness consultations and healthy gourmet cuisine made with locally grown ingredients.
Enjoy your treatment outdoors at the Yhi Spa at Gran Melia Puerto Rico Golf Resort and the Miile Spa at Excellence Riviera Cancun. At El Dorado Royale in Playa del Carmen, you can book a sunrise couples massage on the beach. The spa at Secrets St. James Montego Bay provides an evening "moon and stars massage" for two near the waves.
