In most cases, when a conversation comes up about cruise vacations, people immediately picture the giant cruise ships that circle the globe and carry people to virtually every major port-of-call. But these days, river cruises are giving the big ships some competition and are becoming an increasingly popular choice. Even though, to some people, river cruising is still considered to be a specialty, there is a growing segment of the population who prefer the charm of a river ride over the thrill of sailing the seas.

European river excursions are the most popular and were also the pioneers in providing interesting “off the beaten path” types of cruise vacations. There are many spectacular rivers that meander through different countries in Europe, which allows people to explore many scenic and historic areas not accessible by the large cruise ships.

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