River cruise destinations deliver culture, dining and scenery
These ports are often overlooked as cruise destinations but they punch above their weight in beauty and attractions.
Some of the world’s greatest cities lie along rivers – Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Budapest, Cairo, New Orleans – but scattered along the same waterways are hundreds of ports that are barely known. Even ship-saturated Europe has lots of overshadowed destinations to discover on river cruises. In other regions, such as the Amazon or the Ganges, almost the entire itinerary could be described as “off the cruising track”. Uncrowded and underrated, these towns provide a less touristy atmosphere and a more genuine view of local life. Here are a few fascinating riverside towns that can enhance the experience of sailing between the loud and proud headliners.
Murshidabad, India
River cruising is the most peaceful way to explore bustling India. Companies such as Uniworld, Avalon Waterways and Travelmarvel operate itineraries from Kolkata to Mumbai that sail along tributaries of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers. Dating back to the British Raj, Murshidabad is the last major stop before the Farrakka Dam, where ships enter a lock to continue upstream.
Brett Lemish, Travelmarvel’s Asia product manager, says visiting this small town gives travellers an authentic experience of its people and culture. “Guests can visit the great Hazarduari Palace, host to an extensive collection of pictures, china, weapons and other memorabilia within its 114 rooms. Guests can also see nearby Katra Mosque, built during the 18th century, when the region was a major hub of trade in Eurasia, or explore Katgola Palace, built in classical Georgian style by rich local merchants. A 30-minute cruise away is the Khushbagh, a Mughal-style cemetery garden, beautiful at sunset or sunrise.”
The port is a short distance downstream from Baranagar, where brick terracotta temples were built in the 18th century. “There’s an opportunity for travellers to meet some students at the local school and maybe even play a game of cricket on the banks of the river,” Lemish says of the experience.
Pak Ou, Laos
Just a couple of companies venture to the Upper Mekong River, as opposed to the more popular Lower Mekong cruises in Vietnam and Cambodia. This northern section of the river is known as the Golden Triangle, where Thailand and Myanmar meet Laos. Heritage Line’s maiden voyage on the new 20-passenger Anouvong departed from UNESCO World Heritage-listed Luang Prabang in August to explore the enchanting scenery of rice paddies, farms, mountains, Buddhist shrines and temples.
At the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers, the spiritual Pak Ou Caves are filled with more than 4000 statues of Buddha. Sculpted from various materials, including bronze, ceramic and animal horns, the figures have been donated by devoted locals as offerings for protection, as their livelihood depends on the sustenance, transportation and trade of these waterways.
Only reachable by boat, the first of the two caves is accessed from a floating bamboo dock. Streams of sunlight allow wonderful photos of the statues and a big, gold-plated Buddha at the entrance. The second cave is reached via a staircase, where visitors can go deeper inside the mountain with a torch (available for hire).
Nauta, Peru
The world’s largest tropical rainforest, the Amazon, spans nine countries in South America. Running through this incredibly biodiverse jungle, the Amazon River has more than 1000 tributaries, with cruises departing from the Peruvian town of Nauta. About 100km south of Iquitos, Nauta is the gateway to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, but it tends to be bypassed by travellers on their way to stay in lodges. Even most cruise passengers miss the town because they head straight to the pier to board vessels operated by luxury lines such as Delfin and Aqua Expeditions.
The latter offers optional shore excursions to see the Amazonian way of life in Nauta. Guests can take a tuk-tuk or ride one of the ship’s bicycles, joined by a guide who points out notable houses and markets, with plenty of opportunities to shop for souvenirs. On culinary-themed cruises, passengers do customised market tours with locally renowned chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino.
“During the chef-hosted departures we go to see and sometimes try local products, from fruits and vegetables to fish and different types of local specialties,” says an Aqua Expeditions spokesperson. “On regular cruises, when Pedro is not on board, we run this optional activity with our first chef and guides.”
Natchez, US
Between Memphis and New Orleans is Natchez, the oldest continuous settlement on the Mississippi River, which became the second-largest slave market in the US. In this transformed town, visitors can walk in the footsteps of the enslaved, as well as Native American tribes, Civil War soldiers and Southern belles.
Settled by French explorers in 1716, Natchez has undergone great change, with new attractions to tell the powerful stories of race, diversity and cultural legacy. Visit the Natchez Museum of African-American History and Culture or the William Johnson House.
Natchez boasts beautifully preserved Southern architecture, especially its antebellum mansions. Melrose, open for tours, displays slavery exhibits in its intact “slave cabins”. The unfinished Longwood is another interesting property, where construction was halted in 1861 due to rising political tensions over the Civil War.
Native American heritage is celebrated at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, a large site with three prehistoric mounds, a reconstructed house, museum and nature trail. For more recent history, Natchez in Historical Photographs is a free gallery depicting riverfront life in 1845 to 1910, including pictures of steamboats laden with cotton bales.
“This charming river town is known for its elegance, Southern hospitality and preservation of history found on every street corner. Enjoy the unique shops, restaurants, museums and historic homes, all of which inspired Hugh Bayless to include Natchez in his book The 100 Best Towns in America,” says a spokesperson for American Queen Voyages.
Aswan, Egypt
Abercrombie & Kent, Bench Africa, Viking, Uniworld and Travelmarvel are the best options for Nile River cruises with guided tours beyond the pyramids. Ships often dock overnight in Aswan, most famous for its controversial dam.
Aswan was once the northern border of ancient Nubia, a region that spread east from the Libyan Desert to the Red Sea and north from Sudan to southern Egypt. The indigenous Nubians are culturally distinct from other communities in Egypt, with their own customs and language. At a riverside village, cruisers can meet a traditional Nubian family in their home or drop into a school to visit the children.
As a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, Aswan preserves its heritage through dance troupes, the Nubian Museum, the Aswan International Symposium of Sculpture, and the Papyrus Institute to showcase how this delicate paper is made.
The Temple of Philae was built to honour Isis around 690 BC before it was relocated to Agilkia Island in 1971 to protect it from the rising waters caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Further along the Nile is Kom Ombo, a small town where many Nubians were forced to move when their homes were submerged. The dual temples of Kom Ombo are dedicated to Horus, the falcon god of the sky, and Sobek, the crocodile god. Don’t miss the collection of mummified crocodiles on display.
Dresden, Germany
In Europe, most rivers are eclipsed by the popular Danube, Rhine, Seine and Douro. One that deserves more attention is the Elbe, which is quieter because it’s limited to vessels that can navigate its narrow and shallow waterways with low bridges. Crossing the Czech Republic into Germany, most trips run between Prague and Hamburg or Berlin, boarding or disembarking in nearby ports. Interesting ports include Martin Luther’s hometown, Wittenberg, and the city of Dresden.
Dresden was largely destroyed during World War II but has since been restored to become a cultural capital. Among the landmarks are the Baroque-style Zwinger Palace, which houses several museums, and Green Vault (Grunes Gewolbe), which contains Europe’s biggest collection of treasures, including the crown jewels of Saxon monarchs.
Viking Cruises passengers can take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Volkswagen factory to watch the assembly line in action. See custom-built vehicles and the tower of finished cars awaiting delivery, and enjoy an interactive exhibition presenting the company’s history and its future of e-bikes, e-scooters and e-wheels.
Chioggia, Italy
Small ships sailing on the Po River are docked in Venice for half of the itinerary; the other days are spent exploring the Venetian lagoon islands and historic towns. Often called “Little Venice”, Chioggia is similarly built upon a foundation of wooden piles and has the same style of canals, arched bridges, narrow streets, piazzas, palaces, churches and a tall clock tower.
But it has some things that Venice doesn’t: no crowds and a main street. Corso del Popolo is the best place to witness local life in one buzzing spot. On Thursdays, an outdoor market sells clothes, shoes, handbags, homewares and fresh produce. Other attractions include the fish market and Canal Vena, lined with homes, shops, restaurants, fishing boats and nine beautiful bridges.
On a Uniworld cruise, guests board a bragozzo, a traditional wooden boat with colourful sails, which glides around the lagoon. Optional excursions include cycling alongside sandy beaches in the Sottomarina area, visiting the Tenuta Ca’ Zen villa with an antique stable and family chapel, or a private tasting at Dominio di Bagnoli, one of the oldest wine-producing properties in Europe.
