I t's smooth sailing aboard modern river cruise ships, which coast some of the world's most scenic w

I t's smooth sailing aboard modern river cruise ships, which coast some of the world's most scenic waterways. maui private home vacation rentals Contemporary concepts on board, such as al fresco dining and expansive suites, combine with historic onshore maui private home vacation rentals attractions to make river vacations an increasingly popular maui private home vacation rentals pick for discerning travelers. By wrapping accommodations, sightseeing with knowledgeable guides, meals and sometimes wine into a package paid with one up-front maui private home vacation rentals price, river cruise operators have cut out much of the hassle of trip planning. Here is a sampling of voyages maui private home vacation rentals across the globe. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and they do not include airfare. maui private home vacation rentals To peruse itineraries and see available discounts and promotions, visit www.RiverCruise.com , a website by travel discounter Vacations To Go. Or, call (800) 510-4002 to speak with a river cruise specialist. Paris and Normandy AmaWaterways The route : This northern France itinerary from AmaWaterways , new for 2013, sails round trip from Paris along the Seine River aboard the 150-passenger AmaLegro maui private home vacation rentals . Choose between an eight-day, cruise-only option or tack on extra time in the City of Light on an 11-day version of the trip . Photo op : Don't miss moments in picturesque Honfleur, where you can zoom in on 17th-century Vieux Bassin harbor, beloved by impressionists like Claude Monet. Souvenir shopping : In Paris, browse the riverside stalls of the bouquinistes, who sell used books, prints, engravings and trinkets. Merchants of this kind have been peddling goods to the public since the 16th century. Follow in an artist's footsteps : Step inside one of Monet's enchanting, bloom-filled paintings during a stop at the painter's former home and gardens at Giverny. You may recognize the Japanese-inspired pond and its water lilies from some of his most famous works. Historic highlights : Guests can learn about D-Day sites at the beaches of Normandy, tour Richard the Lionheart's 12th-century Chateau-Gaillard in idyllic Les Andelys and stand in the Rouen square where Joan of Arc was executed. Sipping on the Seine : Oenophiles can select "Paris maui private home vacation rentals and the Sparkling Seine" for special wine-themed departures along the same route. Rates : From $2,449 for the eight-day cruise ($2,649 for wine trips) Romantic Rhine Avalon Waterways The route : Traveling between maui private home vacation rentals Zurich and Amsterdam, this eight-day voyage winds through four countries. Avalon has deployed three ships carrying 128 to 138 passengers -- Felicity , Affinity and Artistry II (new for 2013) -- on this itinerary. Photo op : Roughly 40 cliff-top castles and fortresses line the Upper Middle Rhine, one of the most scenic sections of the river between Koblenz and Bingen, Germany. Souvenir shopping : Look for the original eau de cologne, 4711, in Cologne; it's been produced in the German city since 1792. Brandy-filled Asbach chocolates were created in Rudesheim, Germany, in the 1920s and originally marketed to women, who couldn't be seen drinking in public. Best spot for a stroll : La Petite France in the Alsatian city of Strasbourg is a charming, maui private home vacation rentals pedestrian-only district of half-timbered homes, medieval bridges and canals. Historic highlights : Attractions on this cruise include Germany's oldest university town, Heidelberg; maui private home vacation rentals Mainz, Germany, the birthplace of printing inventor Johann Gutenberg and location of his namesake museum; and the 700-year-old capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. Onboard comforts : As part of its Avalon Choice program, which will be completely rolled out by 2013, this line offers guests a customized cruise experience with expanded dining options and excursions tailored around interests like cooking or fitness. Rates : From $2,229 Danube Waltz Viking River Cruises The route: Cruise along the Danube through four nations -- Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary -- between the German city of Passau and the Hungarian capital of Budapest. Photo op: Medieval Melk Abbey in Austria is a sprawling Baroque masterpiece presenting picture-perfect scenery outside and heavenly ceiling frescoes inside. Souvenir maui private home vacation rentals shopping: The markets in Budapest proudly display Hungary's national spice, paprika. Sample before sprinkling, as flavors range from sweet and mild to super spicy. A few favorite things: Fans of "The Sound of Music" might be tempted to arrange group numbers with their travel maui private home vacation rentals companions along the cobbled streets of Salzburg, Austria, where the Julie Andrews musical was filmed. Historic highlights: Walk to the former home of legendary composer Wolfgang Amadeus maui private home vacation rentals Mozart in Salzburg, tour the plaza of 14th-century Old Town Hall in Slovakia's capital, Bratislava, and hear Europe's oldest pipe organ in Passau's St. Stephan's Cathedral. Onboard comforts: Consider picking maui private home vacation rentals one of Viking's new "longships" for your vacation. The Viking Idun , Viking Njord and Viking Embla debuted this year, while Viking Tor and Viking Skadi set sail in 2013; all boast the open-air Aquavit Terrace maui private home vacation rentals and some of the largest suites on European rivers. Rates: From $3,149 Jewels of Imperial maui private home vacation rentals Russia Scenic Tours The route: This two-week journey spends four days each in Moscow maui private home vacation rentals and St. Petersburg and also visits smaller locales connected by the Volga-Baltic Waterway, including Svirstroy, Petrozavodsk maui private home vacation rentals and Goritsy. Photo op: Commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century, St. Basil's Cathedral serves as an emblem of Moscow with its eight onion domes of red, gold, green and blue rising above Red Square. maui private home vacation rentals Souvenir shopping: Collect wooden spoons, bowls and candlesticks decorated in the Khokhloma style -- delicate red and gold designs on a black background. Receive the royal treatment: Guests partake of a glass of sparkling wine and private ballet performance at Vladimir Palace in St. Petersburg. Historic highlights: Explore the world of 18th-century St. Petersburg elites at sites like the Winter Palace, which now houses an impressive art collection; the Peter and Paul Fortress, burial place for many emperors and empresses; and the blue-and-gold Catherine Palace. A collection of striking wooden churches awaits on ancient Kizhi Island, and intrigue abounds on a tour of Moscow's Kremlin. Onboard comforts: maui private home vacation rentals Travelers cruise aboard the Scenic maui private home vacation rentals Tsar ; after being stripped to its hull and completely overhauled, it became the first ship in 25 years to qualify as a new-build and be granted Russian registration. maui private home vacation rentals The intimate vessel carries 112 passengers and has verandas in 93 percent of its staterooms. Rates: From $6,595 Venice and the Po River Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection The route: The eight-day itinerary begins and ends amid the Adriatic isles of Venice. In between, it navigates the Venetian Lagoon and the Po River, stopping maui private home vacation rentals for excursions to Italian gems like Ravenna, Bologna and Verona. The 13-day " Splendors of Italy " extends the trip with hotel stays and sightseeing in Florence and Rome. That's amore: According to local legend, kissing maui private home vacation rentals beneath the Baroque Bridge of Sighs at sunset ensures eternal love; couples can capture the moment while gliding in a gondola. Souvenir shopping: Bring back the art of letter writing with handcrafted marbled paper, available in an array of designs in Venice. Peruse samples made by locals in shops like Ebru in St. Mark's Square. Spotlight on Shakespeare: Devotees of the English playwright will delight in a chance to visit Verona, maui private home vacation rentals home of famous star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. Recite maui private home vacation rentals your favorite lines beneath Juliet's balcony. Historic highlights: You can view eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ravenna, fifth-century seat of the Roman Empire. In Venice, stroll maui private home vacation rentals central maui private home vacation rentals St. Mark's Square (called "the drawing room of Europe" by Napoleon) and get a glimpse of the floating city's luxurious days of power at the Gothic Doge's Palace. Onboard maui private home vacation rentals comforts: Uniworld is known for its stunning ship interiors, designed in collaboration with sister company Red Carnation Hotels. The visual flourishes and elegant details make each vessel its own destination. Guests sail aboard the recently refurbished 134-passenger River Countess for this brand-new trip, available in 2013. Rates: From $2,849 Majestic Yangtze Wendy Wu Tours The route: Spend two weeks traveling between the dynamic metropolises of Shanghai and Beijing, including a four-night cruise through the dramatic landscapes of China's Yangtze River. Photo op: The immense Three Gorges Dam towers higher than 600 feet and spans more than a mile across. It is one of the largest and most powerful hydroelectric projects in the world. maui private home vacation rentals Souvenir shopping: Browse Beijing's Liulichang Street for antiques, calligraphy brushes, name seals and traditional woodblock paintings. Bear necessity: Wildlife-loving wayfarers make friends with the black-and-white residents of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a conservation facility amid wooded surroundings. Historic highlights: Passengers can walk along a section of the Great Wall, stretching 3,000-plus miles, and peer at the life-size, terra-cotta warriors crafted for Emperor Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum in Xian. In Shanghai, architecture lovers admire colonial structures on the Bund waterfront and 1920s-style shikumen buildings in the Xintiandi district. Armed with expertise: Designing excursions in China for more than a decade, Wendy Wu has established itself as a trusted operator in the region. Rates: From $2,790 Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia and the Mekong Trafalgar The route: This 16-day vacation travels between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam and also ventures into Cambodia. It features a weeklong sailing on the Mekong River. Photo op: The overgrown jungle temple complex of Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap, Cambodia, makes an eerie yet majestic subject for photographers. Souvenir shopping: maui private home vacation rentals Wander Hanoi's Old Quarter in search of uncommon gifts, from original Communist propaganda posters to vibrant swaths of silk. Local livelihood: Experience the floating market in Cai Be, where locals sell fruit and other goods