7 Affordable European River Cruises to Know About

You may dream of windmills, fairytale castles, romantic ancient ruins and exotic food and think you could never afford the experience. Fortunately, there are several European river cruises that offer a variety of ports with reasonable prices.

With a cruise, you can make the most of your European vacation, traveling to several vastly different countries and having plenty of time to explore millennia-old cities. There are seven affordable European river cruises you should know about.

Viking River Cruises – Amsterdam to Budapest

This 15-day grand tour of Europe includes both windmills and castles. It includes three iconic rivers: the Rhine, the Main and the Danube that flow from Holland to the mysterious Budapest. Some of the adventures include a tour of a working windmill and a stop at Marksburg Castle, which is the only fortress on the Rhine that has never been destroyed.

For those who love movies, you can indulge your Sound of Music fantasy with food and wine from Austria’s Wachau Valley and learning the Viennese waltz. You will also travel through the Spessart region, home of the young woman serving as the inspiration of the story of Snow White.

If you want to extend your stay, there is an option of staying another three days in Prague in the Czech Republic.

There are 13 guided tours on this cruise. All meals are included, as well as a cocktail reception and dinner to welcome you aboard. Complimentary beer and wine are included with on-board lunches and dinners.

The cost of the trip starts at $4,899 per person.

Ama Waterways – Barcelona to Paris

This is the perfect trip for wine enthusiasts! This 14-day river wine-themed cruise on the Rhone River features tours of vineyards with wine experts as your hosts. Your trip begins with three days stay in Barcelona and ends with three days stay in Paris at the Pullman Paris Montparnasse, or similar hotel, and a 7-day cruise in the middle of your trip.

This captivating trip includes luxury accommodations in an outside stateroom with a French balcony. Cruise stops include a visit to a medieval Perpignan and seeing the city of Arles, the home of painter Vincent Van Gogh as he aged. Other stops include World Heritage Site of Avignon, Viviers and Tournon. Along with wine, you will also indulge in a chocolate tasting. Further on your trip, you will see Vienne with a walking tour. A champagne tasting bids you farewell before you board a high-speed train for Paris.

Besides the winery tours and other excursions, the cruise offers lectures, cooking demonstrations, and on-board music performances. There are also bicycles available for you to explore independently.

The price starts at $4,899 per person.

Viking River Cruises – Budapest to Bucharest

This eastern European 11-day cruise includes stops in five of the most exotic countries including Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. It includes seven guided tours that include an Osijek home, a towering Iron Gate over the Danube and Kalemegdan Fortress, which dates back to the 6th century.

There are other wonders also, such as watching the Puszta horsemen and a chance to bake bread with a home cook. Once behind the Iron Curtain, these countries now have much to reveal.

The price of this river cruise is $2,756.