River cruises are naturally social without requiring you to coordinate every meal, transfer, or sightseeing plan yourself.
Lauren's birthday river cruise sale
Make this the year you book the river cruise
My birthday this year lined up with a river cruise sale so good I couldn't keep it to myself! These two sailings are a great place to start, but they’re not the only options available for this offer.
Unpack once, wake up somewhere new, and enjoy guided tours that cover the details between cities and villages.
All meals and drinks (even alcohol!), select excursions, Wi-Fi, taxes, and expert guides are included on these featured river cruises.
Featured sailings
Two very different river cruise moods
One is a holiday celebration on the Rhine River. The other is a relaxed week through Portugal's Douro Valley with a taste of Spain.
Other river cruise itineraries are available too, depending on your preferred dates, budget, and travel style.
New Year on the Rhine
A festive Rhine sailing from Cologne with winter scenery, guided touring, and the fun of ringing in the New Year on board.
- Cologne, Rudesheim, Frankfurt, Koblenz, and the Rhine Gorge
- New Year's Eve gala dinner, classical recital, midnight drinks, and canapes
- Five nights on a five-star ship with free all-inclusive drinks package
Douro, Porto and Salamanca
A slower, wine-country river cruise through Portugal's Douro Valley with Porto, vineyard visits, historic villages, and a day in Salamanca or Almeida.
- Porto tour and port wine cellar visit with tasting
- Castelo Rodrigo, Lamego, Mateus Palace or Douro Museum, and historic quintas
- Seven nights on a five-star ship, full board dining, and 10 included experiences
More itineraries are available too. Ask me about sailings through Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Switzerland, including tulip festival cruises, wine and food gastronomy-focused sailings, or Christmas market itineraries. Solo and double occupancy options are available, with double occupancy saving a combined $1,000 per cabin.
New to river cruising, or curious how the experience compares? Read more in The Travel Insider.
Which should you pick?
A quick way to think about the fit
If you're on the fence, send me the form below and I will help you sort the best option for your travel style.
You want a holiday celebration
Pick the Rhine if a festive trip, classic cities, winter scenery, and a built-in New Year's celebration sound perfect.
You want culture with room to breathe
Pick the Douro if you want warmer scenery, wine country, Porto, historic towns, and more time to settle into the rhythm of ship life.
You need some guidance
I can check dates, cabins, single or double occupancy pricing, and even add flights if you prefer.
Contact Lauren
Want me to check your best option?
Tell me which cruise caught your eye and what your timing looks like. I'll follow up with the details that matter most: availability, pricing, cabin fit, and next steps.
You can also email me directly at laurencain@travelsbydanielle.com or lauren@sunnyescapetravel.com.