River Cruise Savings

If you are willing to book quite a ways ahead, you can get significant savings on European river cruises with Gate 1 Travel https://www.gate1travel.com. For example, a 15-day Danube River package with a seven-day cruise and hotel stays in Prague, Dresden and Berlin costs as little as $2199 per person if you reserve by August 19. That brings the price down to just under $150 per day, pretty reasonable considering that it includes lodging, most meals, transfers and a number of shore excursions.

The sailings are on new ships designed specifically for Americans who enjoy river cruises and are owned by Gate 1--the MS Monarch, Queen and Baroness. I wasn't able to find any reviews of these specific ships online--perhaps next year will be their maiden voyages. However, reviews of Gate 1 trips on other ships were generally favourable.

River cruises often accommodate two language groups, but because these are American ships I presume they will operate entirely in English. I like intermingling with Germans, French or others, but not everyone does.

I have fond memories of a short Rhine cruise from Mainz to Koblenz, and would like to see more of the beautiful Rhine, with its castles atop hills. It most be one of the most magnificent river voyages in the world. I'm tempted by an 11-day cruise from Amsterdam to Lucerne, with two nights at a hotel in pricey Lucerne. The price starts at just $1849 if you book ahead. Prices quoted here do not include air fare.