Few things are more breathtaking than a river cruise down the legendary waterways of Europe, and Avalon Waterways has designed a 13-day voyage from Amsterdam to Vienna that sails the magnificent Rhine, Main and Danube rivers; a feat that wasn’t possible until the completion of the Main-Danube canal in the early 1990′s. Now, a remarkable series of locks transports your river cruise ship from the Main river to the Danube, effectively uniting the continent’s waterway system and allowing voyages from Amsterdam that traverse as far as the Black Sea.

Vienna boasts some of the most impressive cultural sights in Europe. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

Departing March 24, June 6, and August 11, 2012, these 13-day European Splendor itineraries offer some of the best ports for both experienced and first-time river cruisers, and the nearly two-week duration ensures that your time here is enjoyable and well-spent. If you want, you can add extra nights pre-cruise in Amsterdam or post-cruise in Vienna.

The full itinerary:

In addition to the thirteen spectacular days spent exploring some of the most picturesque and historic European cities, you can also revel in your home away from home, the stunning Avalon Imagery. A sister-ship to the Avalon Tapestry, both ships are easily distinguished by their immense double-deck walls of floor-to-ceiling glass that adorn the forward end of the ship, and by their aft-mounted navigation bridge and engine equipment that allows guests a quieter, smoother cruise down the waterways of Europe.

Avalon Tapestry sailing along the Moselle in Germany. Photo courtesy of Avalon Waterways.

Staterooms onboard the Avalon Imagery range from comfortable Deluxe Oceanview staterooms at 172 square feet to the top-of-the-line 258-square foot Avalon Suite. For cruisers wanting the best of both worlds, a French Balcony stateroom is the perfect choice; after all, there’s nothing like waking up and cracking open the door of your very own balcony to take in the sights and scents of the Old World.

More information on this and other Avalon Waterways voyages can be found on our dedicated Avalon Waterways page right here on River Cruise Advisor!

I will admit it: Before I had taken my first river cruise, I had my doubts. Would I enjoy it? Would I be bored? Would it be too laid back? Even though I have 25+ deep ocean cruises under my nautical belt, I still wondered about river cruising and whether it was right for me.

I shouldn’t have worried.

From start to finish, the entire experience left me spellbound. It was every bit as entertaining as the best deep-ocean cruise, and just as infectious. And the ability to visit some of the most beautiful and historic cities in Europe was just the icing on the cake.

If you’re reading this and you’re a seasoned river cruiser, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. But if you’re pouring over this site and are on the fence about river cruising in general, let us show you the way as we take you through Five Reasons to River Cruise in 2012:

1. New Ships

The beautiful new S.S Antoinette is the crown jewel of the Uniworld fleet. Photo courtesy of Uniworld.

We’ve touched on this here before: 2012 is poised to be an unparalleled year for river cruising, thanks to a number of new ships coming online. And more ships means more choices than ever before, both onboard and off. Gone are the days of river cruise ships with cramped staterooms and a lack of amenities; these new high-tech vessels are giving even the most brilliant deep-ocean cruise ships a run for their money.

2. New Itineraries

Ever wanted to sail through China? There's a river cruise for that. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Have you ever wanted to Africa? How about Portugal’s Douro Valley? Or the mighty Mekong, which traverses Vietnam and Cambodia? River cruises are no longer offered only along the waterways of Europe; today, you can sail to all of the above destinations in addition to sailings that explore Russia, the Black Sea, Egypt, and even China. Looking for adventure? Look no further: Many of these sailings can be combined with pre-and-post cruise overland journeys. Our favorites for 2012: AmaWaterways‘ new adventures in Africa, and Viking River Cruises‘ stunning 16-day Roof of the World itinerary that includes an overland journey to historic Lhasa.

3. Convenience

River cruise ships typically dock within walking distance of most towns. Tauck's Swiss Jewel and AmaWaterways' AmaLyra are shown here in Passau, Germany. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

The best reason to river cruise, in my opinion, is the same reason deep-ocean cruises are such an amazing vacation choice: You arrive, unpack once, and sleep in the same bed for seven days. There’s no changing hotels at 6am, or hopping onto or off of motorcoaches at inhumane hours. Instead, all you have to do is sit back, relax, and let the crew of your river cruise vessel do the work. Every day is like a new adventure as you wake up to “magically” find yourself somewhere else.

4. Europe is cooling

Because of the falling Euro, this €5 cocktail will take less from your wallet than before. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

I’m not talking about temperature; the recent challenges within the European Union have seen the Euro drop to new record lows against the United States and Canadian dollars. Australians too are getting a bargain in Europe, and while that can spell trouble for the European Union, for the meantime it means river cruising through Europe – where onboard accounts are charged in Euros – has never been more accessible for non-Europeans.

5. Unprecedented Deals

Cruising during the off-summer months can save you money and hold some surprises, too - like Vienna decorated for Christmas! Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

We want you to river cruise because we believe it’s one of the absolute best ways to see Europe. River cruise lines want you to come to Europe for exactly the same reason – that, and they would like to fill their ships. With the additional capacity coming on-line this year, coupled with the falling Euro, expect to see some great deals on river cruises this year, particularly if you can participate in off-peak runs.

It’s been an exciting decade for river cruising, and 2012 is poised to be the year it all breaks wide open!

Exactly one month ago today, I embarked AmaWaterways’ stunning AmaLyra in the historic German port of Nuremberg.  Now that the Holiday season has passed and I’ve had more time to reflect, I find myself thinking more and more about my river cruise experience and the things that impressed me most about it.

There’s a lot.

Don’t worry – I won’t keep you glued to your computer for hours as I rattle off all the spectacular things about river cruising and AmaWaterways in particular.  Instead, I present to you Five Things that Impressed Me about my AmaWaterways Voyage:

1. Little Surprises

Little surprises, like these fresh berries, awaited guests every evening in their staterooms and suites. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

2. Onboard Scenic Cruising Commentary

During scenic cruising down the Danube, relevant commentary was broadcast in the ship's public areas. They even mentioned we'd be passing the AmaLegro, which allowed me to get this shot! Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

3. Culinary Variety

There was truly something for every taste aboard the AmaLyra. At breakfast, there were so many types of Marmelade alone that I couldn't fit them all in a single frame! Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

4. Elegant Design

The elegant yet relaxed design aboard the AmaLyra creates an atmosphere that is as soothing as it is European. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

5. On-the-fly Touring

Tours and excursions ashore were all able to be modified on the fly for the benefit of guests; here, we ducked into Stadt Nurnberg to escape a sudden downpour of rain, and ended up learning even more about the history of this famous German city. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

More information about AmaWaterways can be found by reading our Line and Fleet profiles here on River Cruise Advisor.  Did you miss live coverage of our voyage down the Danube from Nuremberg to Budapest?  Not to worry – read all eight days of coverage by clicking here!