Europe Cruises

View Dublin Bay’s beaches, piers, cliffs, islands and wildlife on a thrilling Dublin Bay Sea Tour with Sea Safari, which departs from Custom House Quay in the city center.

Get a unique view of Frankfurt’s famous skyline as you breeze by it on the Main River. Sightseeing boats leave often from the north bank, and you’ll get a touch of history as well as geography from the tour guides.

The Middle Rhine Valley is filled with castles, heritage towns, and vineyards, and is still one of the most important transit routes in Europe. A roundtrip boat tour from Ruedesheim (take the train from the Hauptbahnhof) down the Rhine River is an excellent way to get an overview of the region.

Go out on the pier in Amalfi and catch a launch to the pebbly Santa Croce Beach. Lounge chairs are for rent, and the two restaurants serve up excellent mussels and local white wine.

Take an afternoon river cruise, sample local wines, and listen to traditional musicians while looking out over the Danube Valley, or simply stroll the green hills of this fairytale-like expanse outside the city of Vienna. Don’t miss the unfermented “new wine” if you visit in autumn.

Though you’re almost guaranteed to spot whales any time of year (if you don’t, most companies will give you a free return pass), finding puffins is more of a feat. They’re only out during the breeding season (April to August), when whale-watching boats detour to the islands of Akurey and Lundey in hopes of spotting them. All boats depart from Reykjavik harbor.

If you tire of wandering Venice’s winding maze of alleys on foot, hop in a gondola and float down the Grand Canal. Though it has a reputation for being too touristy (not to mention overpriced), it remains the quintessential Venetian experience.

Cruise up the Douro River from Porto to the charming town of Régua in the Douro Valley wine region; trips typically include a visit to a local quinta (wine estate) en route.

Take advantage of Bodrum’s coastal location to cruise the Mediterranean. Cobra Queen runs trips in gulets (traditional Turkish wooden yachts). From navigating to cooking, the ship’s crew provides for your every need.

This favorite resort among yachters is a base for many gulet cruises. Enjoy the picturesque harbor lined with restaurants, and head to Bar Street to dance the night away; a bazaar overflows into adjacent streets. Daily ferries to Rhodes in Greece.