8 Essential Reasons to Take a European River Cruise

River cruising offers great vacation value, with meals, entertainment (think Austrian string quartet, not Las Vegas-style revues), tours and, often, local wines with dinner included in the fares. Tauck River Cruising does an especially good job offering compelling shoreside activities, such as private concerts and chef-led excursions to food markets. And it offers a little bit extra: "The highlight of the cruise for many of us was the Tauck tradition of 'lagniappe,' a New Orleans term for a surprise treat," writes Cruise Critic's Carolyn Spencer Brown. "On our Swiss Jewel cruise, examples included a coffee klatch in a famous Bratislava cafe, a walking tour of Vienna's Naschmarkt led by the chef (with stops to sample wine, meats and cheeses) and a tasting of regional apricot liqueurs."

"Invariably, the guides who shepherded our daily tours aboard Avalon Waterways' Avalon Creativity spoke virtually unaccented, nearly perfect English," writes Cruise Critic contributor Steve Faber in his review of the ship. Indeed, shore touring is central to the concept of river cruising -- and nearly always included in the cost of the cruise. Tours vary; some are traditional city and village walks, while others feature active or experiential options (meals in private homes, cycling tours, wine tastings). One big plus: They use technology that makes it easy for you to follow along. Avalon, AmaWaterways and Tauck, among others, issue passengers personal headsets, which plug into wireless receivers so that all can hear their guides, perfectly clearly, no matter the distance or venue.

Riverboats don't spend full days out on the rivers, but when passing through particularly beautiful stretches like the Danube's Wachau Valley and the Rhine's River Gorge, cruise lines feature daytime cruising and often fun, themed meals and entertainment. On a recent trip on Viking's Viking Prestige, crewmembers hauled out beer steins, period costumes and special decorations, transforming the sun deck as we cruised along Austria's Wachau.

"If Tauck's Swiss Sapphire sails at a bit of a languorous pace," writes Cruise Critic's Melissa Paloti in her review of the ship, "the rest of the experience doesn't necessarily feel as laid-back. Between tour-packed days in port, there are lectures, shore tours, cocktail parties and, of course, meals. Even our sole sea day was hectic, kicked off by a 6 a.m. mimosa party as we sailed by castles on the Danube en route to the Iron Gate, a narrow gorge that forms the boundary between Serbia and Romania. I was kept so busy I honestly didn't even turn my TV on until the last day of the trip -- just to see if it worked." Another reason river cruising is not as sedate as you thought: The folks at Tauck have even rigged up a Nintendo Wii in the lounge for some competitive videogaming.

"As we passed numerous riverboats operated by other lines, it was clear that the newer ships all were more beautiful, had more onboard options and featured more of the key amenities than ever before," writes Editor in Chief, Carolyn Spencer Brown. She adds, "I'd happily cruise on any of them. But there wasn't a ship I saw out there that compared with Uniworld's S.S. Antoinette." Uniworld is aiming to offer the most upscale onboard ambience on Europe's rivers. S.S. Antoinette features a sun deck with wrought iron chaises and ultra-plush pillows, the edgy and trendy Leopard Bar and a beautiful indoor pool and spa. As well, its variety of silk-walled mini-suites offers a haven from the usual beehive of activity. Still, on the ship design front, S.S. Antoinette has some nifty competition from other lines, such as Ama, Viking and Scenic.

All of the major river lines are investing in new technology to improve operating efficiency, safety and environmental sensitivity, and Viking River plays a leading role. Among the biggest achievements of its 19-ship fleet are, on its newest vessels, "a state-of-the-art propulsion system that delivers a quieter, vibration-free, more environmentally friendly ride. Passengers probably won't notice what's going on below the waterline, but the hybrid, diesel/electric engines save an estimated 20 percent on fuel."

Bicyclists are given great respect in Western Europe, with huge, tree-lined paths and smoothly paved lanes set aside just for them. Like many other riverboats, AmaWaterways' Amacello carries roughly 20 bikes that can be taken out (at no charge) in port if you're eager for a more active option than the typical city tour. Especially adventurous? You can ride along the riverside and meet the ship at the next port. The cruise director can help chart a route and warn you about making reckless choices, as Cruise Critic's Dan Askin did when he biked from Dusseldorf to Cologne. A car ferry, the aid of a toothless wanderer, countless wrong turns, sunburns and 40 miles later, he made it back to the ship -- barely. Note: Scenic Tours' Scenic Crystal offers electric-powered bicycles onboard.

As river lines like Avalon, Scenic, Uniworld and Viking River update ship designs, standard cabins have gotten more spacious, featuring hotel-style beds and marble bathrooms that, while compact, are still practical. Suites are also becoming more popular and prevalent onboard. Avalon has launched several all-suite ships, and Viking River's Longship design (there will be a dozen by 2014) includes two-room suites.