Top Rivers & Seas Budget Historic Sightseeing River Cruises & Packages 2025/2026

Our 17 most popular Rivers & Seas Budget Historic Sightseeing River Cruises & Packages trips. Compare tour itineraries from 5 tour companies. 2 reviews.

17 Trips match your criteria (1 - 17 shown)

Christmas markets on the Danube
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3.7/5 Great
39 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Enjoy Christmas on Danube Crusing
  • Explore Linz, the second largest city in Austria.
  • Visit Melk’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest
  • Enjoy 2 nights in Prague, then visit multiple Christmas Markets on the scenic river route from Nuremberg to Budapest

Themes

Cultural, Culinary & Wine, 50 Plus, Festivals & Special Events, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"I’ve sailed with AmaWaterways 4 times. They are the best! You become family. I can’t wait to sail with them again!"

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Three Gorges Highlights: Yichang to Chongqing
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5/5 Excellent
4 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Visit to the Three Gorges Dam at Sandouping
  • Sail through Xiling Gorge, the longest (41 miles), and the deepest of the Three Gorges
  • Explore to Wu Gorge, known for its quiet beauty, forest-covered mountains, and cliffs
  • Take a shore excursion to Shibaozhai, with its impressive wooden pagoda

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"While China is a very hectic, very overwhelming country, it is also a country filled with incredible natural beauty. For the average tourist, these beautiful sites are largely inaccessible or extremely difficult to access due to a combination of language barriers and lack of public transportation. One of these gorgeous areas is located between Yichang and Chongqing: the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. With this in mind, many cruise companies have begun offering multi-day trips down the Yangtze River, making the relatively inaccessible easily accessible. One such cruise company is Victoria Cruises. They have a range of vessels and itineraries to suit one’s needs. We decided to hop aboard their most prestigious boat, the Victoria Jenna, for a five night/four day cruise luxurious cruise through the gorges. Newly renovated this year, the ship exudes class and comfort. The rooms aboard the Victoria Jenna were clean and quite spacious considering we were on a ship. To compliment the five-star standard within the rooms itself, the Victoria Jenna offered ample facilities for it’s guests. Whether you want to lounge on the rooftop or grab a drink at the lovely Yangtze Club bar, there’s something for everyone. The dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner were fantastic; the Victoria Jenna offered an array of food from Asian to Western cuisine. Of course, one of the main reason people cruise is for the excursions. We were lucky enough to go on all of the included and optional tours offered on the Victoria Jenna, and I’m thrilled that we did. They outsource local guides that are truly knowledgable about each and every site. Last but not least, I was astounded by the staff; never have I seen a staff so attentive and friendly. A very special shoutout goes to Dick, our Cruise Director, who made sure that everything we needed was taken care of; Steven, our River Guide, who not only knew the in’s and out’s of the Yangtze, but also taught Mahjong and Chinese 101, on top of playing MC for the week; and Maggie, our fantastic waitress for every meal in the Executive Lounge, who not only knew us by name, but knew all of our food and drink preferences as well. I wouldn't cruise down the river with any company other than Victoria Cruises! It was truly the highlight of my month-long journey in China. Thanks again! Sarah Founder, The Five Foot Traveler"

Trip dates & details
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Three Gorges Highlights: Chongqing to Yichang
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4.2/5 Great
4 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Explore Chongqing, the “Mountain City”
  • Visit Shibaozhai and Fengdu’s “Ghost City”
  • Explore The Three Gorges.

Themes

Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"While China is a very hectic, very overwhelming country, it is also a country filled with incredible natural beauty. For the average tourist, these beautiful sites are largely inaccessible or extremely difficult to access due to a combination of language barriers and lack of public transportation. One of these gorgeous areas is located between Yichang and Chongqing: the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. With this in mind, many cruise companies have begun offering multi-day trips down the Yangtze River, making the relatively inaccessible easily accessible. One such cruise company is Victoria Cruises. They have a range of vessels and itineraries to suit one’s needs. We decided to hop aboard their most prestigious boat, the Victoria Jenna, for a five night/four day cruise luxurious cruise through the gorges. Newly renovated this year, the ship exudes class and comfort. The rooms aboard the Victoria Jenna were clean and quite spacious considering we were on a ship. To compliment the five-star standard within the rooms itself, the Victoria Jenna offered ample facilities for it’s guests. Whether you want to lounge on the rooftop or grab a drink at the lovely Yangtze Club bar, there’s something for everyone. The dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner were fantastic; the Victoria Jenna offered an array of food from Asian to Western cuisine. Of course, one of the main reason people cruise is for the excursions. We were lucky enough to go on all of the included and optional tours offered on the Victoria Jenna, and I’m thrilled that we did. They outsource local guides that are truly knowledgable about each and every site. Last but not least, I was astounded by the staff; never have I seen a staff so attentive and friendly. A very special shoutout goes to Dick, our Cruise Director, who made sure that everything we needed was taken care of; Steven, our River Guide, who not only knew the in’s and out’s of the Yangtze, but also taught Mahjong and Chinese 101, on top of playing MC for the week; and Maggie, our fantastic waitress for every meal in the Executive Lounge, who not only knew us by name, but knew all of our food and drink preferences as well. I wouldn't cruise down the river with any company other than Victoria Cruises! It was truly the highlight of my month-long journey in China. Thanks again! Sarah Founder, The Five Foot Traveler"

Trip dates & details
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Andalusia & the Algarve
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Visit Lisbon, Seville and Vigo
  • Don’t miss a visit to the Centro Commercial Colombo – the biggest shopping mall on the Iberian Peninsula!
  • Experience fantastic natural scenery by cruising through Guadalquivir river
  • Visit Granada and the Alhambra Palace
  • Explore the pretty old quarter and admiring the beautiful Neoclassical architecture.

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise, Singles Travel

What travelers are saying

"everything is perfect from start to finish just back from Baltic cruise on Braemar , it was amazing."

Trip dates & details
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French River Cruising
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Discover Rouen
  • Explore number of museums and galleries at Lorient
  • Enjoy cruising through River Seine
  • Visit Bordeaux, is world renowned for it's famous wines

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise, Singles Travel

What travelers are saying

"everything is perfect from start to finish just back from Baltic cruise on Braemar , it was amazing."

Trip dates & details
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Waterways of Belgium & Holland
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Discover Antwerp
  • Enjoy cruising through Scheldt River and Nieuwe Maas
  • Experience the modern architecture synonymous with this innovative city Rotterdam
  • Visit Netherlands's historic capital Amsterdam

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise, Singles Travel

What travelers are saying

"everything is perfect from start to finish just back from Baltic cruise on Braemar , it was amazing."

Trip dates & details
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German River & City Discovery
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Enjoy a relaxing cruise along Germany's Lower Elbe
  • Visiting two of Germany’s most beautiful and historic cities, you’ll also enjoy Fred.’s maiden call into Heligoland.
  • Discover Hamburg
  • Explore Bremen, It has beautiful examples of old Hanseatic Gothic architecture in the ‘Marktplatz’

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise, Singles Travel

What travelers are saying

"everything is perfect from start to finish just back from Baltic cruise on Braemar , it was amazing."

Trip dates & details
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Rivers & Cities of France
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Explore Edinburgh - Scotland's historic capital
  • Visit St. Peter Port, this historic, picturesque and charming town located on the island of Guernsey
  • Discover Rouen City
  • Enjoy cruising through Europe’s most historic great river Seine

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise, Singles Travel

What travelers are saying

"everything is perfect from start to finish just back from Baltic cruise on Braemar , it was amazing."

Trip dates & details
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Rivers & Seas Budget Historic Sightseeing River Cruises & Packages Reviews

T

The Five Foot Traveler

Jul 2016

Written on

China's Hidden Gem

While China is a very hectic, very overwhelming country, it is also a country filled with incredible natural beauty. For the average tourist, these beautiful sites a...

H

HM World Traveler

Aug 2015

Written on

Beautiful, fun, great-value river cruise on the Yang-Tze River

We had a great time on this cruise. My wife and I chose this as the end of our 3 week adventurous honeymoon throughout Western rural china. It was also our first ri...

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