River Cruises - Jim Probus | Vacation-Experts

RIVER CRUISING: A BETTER WAY TO EXPLORE

Nothing compares to a river.

How else but on a river can you journey into the very heart of the world’s greatest cities and most charming towns, discovering the true nature of the land and its people?
Where else but on a river could you be gently carried along on an elegant, intimate ship, docking right in the heart of town, strolling off to begin your exploration?
How else but on a river would you travel with such ease, unpacking just once and enjoying the ever-changing scenery along the banks?

Comfortable and convenient, river cruising offers a greater variety of destinations than you can find any other way. Spend less time getting there, and more time being there. Small wonder so many people have fallen in love with this relaxing, immersive, and thoroughly enjoyable form of travel.

Just 20 years ago, the modern river cruise industry didn’t exist. Of course, there were privately owned river ships available to sail down a few rivers in Germany, and a few paddle wheelers along the Mississippi, but generally trips were prohibitively expensive or operated by barges with only a handful of intrepid passengers and few amenities. But in the last decade, river cruising’s popularity has grown dramatically, and more than 500,000 people now take a river cruise each year. Destinations range from the United States to Europe, Russia, Egypt, and even China and Southeast Asia; and many ships are recently built and designed for comfortable travel, with amenities like hotel-style beds, spacious public areas, verandas and even suites. Also, as ocean ships have grown larger and larger, many travelers are discovering river cruising provides an intimate, comfortable alternative.

NEW TO RIVER CRUISING?

You’re about to discover the most convenient way to see the world. This is cruising on an intimate scale, with a personal touch. You’ll meander along at the easy pace of the river: Sloping vineyards, storybook villages, and hilltop castles mark your progress through Europe’s great waterways . . . China’s towering Three Gorges usher you along the mighty Yangtze . . . riverside temples and pagodas guide you through the ancient civilizations and verdant countryside of the Mekong and Irrawaddy Rivers of Southeast Asia. All this, and you’ll unpack your bags just once. Be our guest aboard one of our deluxe ships - on an unforgettable journey enriched by knowledgeable local guides, activities, and excursions that immerse you in the culture, and fine regional wines and cuisine.

River cruising is a relaxing alternative to other types of travel.
Each river is unique - offering an ever-changing mural of scenery from your ship.
It’s convenient & comfortable – with no packing and unpacking, switching hotels or lugging baggage around. Think of river cruising as life on a fine, floating hotel; light, airy, with no motion sickness.
Travel by river allows you to dock right in the heart of both historic cities and quaint villages. You’ll gain a unique perspective of a land and its people.