Rhine River Cruises Are Right on Your Doorstep

Holidays should be completely stress-free shouldn't they? After all, if you're booking a holiday it's probably safe to make the assumption that you need a break or a change of scenery, and the last thing you'll want to be doing is travelling for hours on end to get to your destination, with nothing to keep you entertained. This might well be one of the reasons why river cruises have become so popular with the discerning traveller, and why people choose to sail away from the grey British weather, time and time again, on cruise ships that offer luxurious on-board facilities and full programmes of entertainment.

The thing with river cruises is that they're completely hassle-free from start to finish; you can research, pick and book a river cruise online with access to full trip itineraries and deck plans, and you can choose to arrive at the European departure port by coach or plane (as organised by the holiday company) or to arrange your own transport. So, rather than being restricted to departing from a major UK airport if you don't happen to live anywhere near one, you can choose to go directly to a guaranteed coach pick-up point or arrange your own travel, at your convenience, to the place from which your cruise ship will set sail.

Take the MS Olympia cruise ship, for example. She departs from various European ports including Cologne, Andernach and Trier, giving plenty of options to those looking to set sail for a range of European destinations. When it comes to European destinations, Rhine River cruises are extremely popular - probably because you can take in the sights and sounds of the spectacular Rhine Gorge, visiting places like Rudesheim, the ancient city of Speyer, Strasbourg and Mainz. From Strasbourg you'll be able to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral in all its towering glory, as well as the imposing European Parliament buildings. Later on down the river, you'll be able to visit the Burg Eltz castle and see the incredible Rhine fireworks.

The 'Rhine in Flames' is a seriously spectacular show of fireworks and illuminated river craft, which light up the night for all those lucky enough to be there, and Rhine River cruises are the perfect way to make sure you've got a front-row seat for the show. The great thing about a Rhine River cruise is the variety of places you'll experience, and all from a luxurious moving base that will take you from port to city in true style and give you that perfect mix of excitement, culture and relaxation.