See the World on a River Cruise

Many tour customers also enjoy river cruises, which are offered in some of the most popular tour destinations. Today, I'll tell you about many rivers around the world that you can cruise, from the Rhine in Europe or the Mekong in Southeast Asia to the Mississippi in the U.S. River cruising is an easy and relaxing way to explore new places. Guests travel on comfortable ships with great food and personalized service and see the sights with expert guides.

Vacations To Go offers a huge variety of river cruise itineraries, plus every discount, deal and special promotion available. Below are brief summaries of the top rivers in the world, starting with those in Europe. Click any link to see money-saving offers and to search for a river cruise.

Rhine River -- View rolling vineyards and storybook villages while sailing on one of Europe's most popular rivers. The stretch in Germany known as the Upper Middle Rhine, home to more than 40 castles, is particularly scenic.

Danube River -- Flowing east from Germany's Black Forest, the Danube offers a chance to explore Old World cities like Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.

Douro River -- Learn about Portugal's wine region on a cruise of the Douro. Stop at Porto, a longtime center for the port wine trade, and the 12th-century village of Castelo Rodrigo. The capital city of Lisbon is featured on many itineraries.

Seine River -- These trips typically start in Paris with a day or two of sightseeing, then head west to locales like Richard the Lionheart's stronghold in Les Andelys and Le Havre, where passengers can set out for D-Day landing sites along the beaches of Normandy.

Saone and Rhone rivers -- Itineraries in southern France usually combine these two rivers. The Saone River meanders through the Burgundy region, while the Rhone runs south through Provence to the Mediterranean coast.

Dutch and Belgian waterways -- These cruises often take place in the spring when fields of colorful tulips are in bloom. Itineraries usually include 80-acre Keukenhof gardens, the windmills of Kinderdijk and the sights of Amsterdam and Antwerp.

Bordeaux waterways -- Ships navigate the Garonne and Dordogne rivers and the Gironde estuary in southwestern France, visiting famed wine-producing towns like Saint-Emilion, Pauillac and Sauternes.

To search for departures on any river in Europe, click here.

Mississippi River -- Mississippi sailings explore one of America's true historic treasures: a 2,320-mile waterway that flows through 10 states. Itineraries stop at cities that flourished on the river and its tributaries, like St. Louis, Memphis and New Orleans

Columbia River -- These itineraries incorporate sights in Oregon and Washington and offer an abundance of history, natural beauty and wildlife. Visit the Bonneville Dam, the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and locales associated with explorers Lewis and Clark.

To search for cruises on any river in the U.S., click here.

Mekong River -- Bustling cities, rural villages and sacred shrines like the Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh are part of Mekong River trips through Cambodia and Vietnam. Many itineraries visit the ornate stone structures of Angkor Archaeological Park.

Ganges River -- Stops along India's sacred river include the artisans' village of Matiari and the sandstone temples of Baranagar. Itineraries might also feature hotel stays in Jaipur, called the "Pink City" for its rose-hued buildings, and Agra, where you'll see the magnificent Taj Mahal.

Brahmaputra River -- These cruises in Northern India highlight ancient sites and wildlife along the river's lower reaches. You could see Royal Bengal tigers and one-horned rhinos, explore a monastery on Majuli Island or learn about Assam tea at a tea estate. Some itineraries also include hotel stays in cities like Delhi, Agra or Jaipur.

Magdalena River -- Explore Colombia's vibrant culture and history while visiting beautiful villages and diverse cities along the waterway. These sailings travel between Cartagena and Barranquilla, and some include hotel stays in cities like Medelin and Panama City.

Amazon River -- Photograph orchids and giant lilies as well as monkeys, sloths and toucans on this South American waterway. Ships cruise the Upper Amazon tributaries in Peru or the Lower Amazon in Brazil.