Why River Cruising is Preferred
Canada's Leader in European River Cruises
Creating First Class River Cruises since 1988.
Longer than any company in Canada,
and most in North America.
- Scenery so close, you can smell the flowers and hear the birds sing as you cruise
- Your river boat is so close to town, sitting on the sun deck is like sitting in a sidewalk cafe!
- Unpack once and relax
- Easy pace - no early rising to meet your departing coach
- See several countries, from your floating hotel
- The scenery comes to you
- Calm water cruising
- Travel the most scenic route - rivers are the original 'highways'
- Ancient towns were built beside the rivers along with all the town highlights
- No congestion or worries - our ship's schedule is designed to enhance your experience
River Cruising. Relaxing or Ragged?
This map shows most other river cruises where the boat cruises overnight, every night.
Would you drive through the Rockies at night? Of course not! Then why pay to sleep through the most beautiful parts of Europe while you cruise at night?
Short itineraries are only good for the corporate bottom line. To achieve shorter itineraries, you must cruise at night, missing the beauty and intimacy of your European experience. Would you rather sleep through Europe at night, or join us on the sun deck of the Da Vinci, wine in hand, relaxing as Europe comes to you.
PS - Nights should be full of dreams of the day’s memories, not the drum of the boats diesel engines.
Would you drive through the Rockies at night? Of course not! Then why pay to sleep through the most beautiful parts of Europe while you cruise at night?
Short itineraries are only good for the corporate bottom line. To achieve shorter itineraries, you must cruise at night, missing the beauty and intimacy of your European experience. Would you rather sleep through Europe at night, or join us on the sun deck of the Da Vinci, wine in hand, relaxing as Europe comes to you.
PS - Nights should be full of dreams of the day’s memories, not the drum of the boats diesel engines.
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Austria's Wachau Valley, UNESCO World Heritage, Cultural Landscape since 2000. An overnight here is a must, so that's what we do in Durnstein. |
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Germany’s Altmühltal – A Million Years of History In Bavaria’s Heart. You will have to search long and hard before finding a part of Germany as unspoiled as the Altmühltal. We overnight in the heart of Bavaria. |
We rarely cruise overnight so you see more of Europe.
This is our routing. We choose not to cruise overnight and provide longer itineraries. Now you can relax in the towns along the way, instead of missing them in your sleep.
Perhaps it's not what you see, but what you miss that's important.
Our river cruises have always been longer than any other so we can take the time to show you places you never dreamed of, along with those you know, all at a calm pace. Enjoy your evenings with the locals in the towns along the river, and rest peacefully on board the Da Vinci, while we dock overnight.
You need time to smell the roses along the way.
Perhaps it's not what you see, but what you miss that's important.
Our river cruises have always been longer than any other so we can take the time to show you places you never dreamed of, along with those you know, all at a calm pace. Enjoy your evenings with the locals in the towns along the river, and rest peacefully on board the Da Vinci, while we dock overnight.
You need time to smell the roses along the way.
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Esztergom, Hungary is one of the many intimate places we overnight in. Other cruises sail past to accommodate their shorter itinerary. |
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Schölgen, The big bend in the Danau bordering Upper Austria and Bavaria. One of life's simple pleasures andworth every minute on the Sun Deck. |
Join us on board the Da Vinci for Waterways of Holland and Belgium • Amsterdam to Basel Bavaria, Austria, Budapest • Vienna to Amsterdam • Basel to Amsterdam
The river cruises below travel on vessels other than the Da Vinci, but include most of the same great features!
China and the Yangtze River • St. Petersburg to Moscow Madeira and the Douro River • Barging in France The Canadian Empress on the St. Lawrence River
The Da VinciWhy is she superior to all others?Our commitment to quality. |
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Our guests continue to tell us our River Cruises are a league above all others. On every cruise, many guests visit from other vessels and ask if they can stay with us. Join us on a Da Vinci river cruise. You may never return to any other style of travel. Don’t take our word for it, ask your friends.
The Sun Deck is THE most important feature on a river boat.
The rivers in Europe boast some of the most beautiful bridges and interesting locks in the world. Our intimate 2 deck Da Vinci, allows you to remain on the Sun Deck while going under low bridges, providing you with a 360º panoramic view of Europe. Most other river boats have 3 decks and are taller so they must close the Sun Deck so passengers don’t interfere with the low bridge clearance. The vast majority of their cruising is done at night so passengers don’t realize what they are missing.
Low bridges on the Altmühl
In the Altmühl valley, the bridges were built low to retain the intimacy of this ancient valley. Can you imagine missing this at night because your ship is too tall?
Balconies limit you to half the view
Rivers provide you with incredible, close up views on both shores. Balconies limit you to only half the view and limit the size of your cabin. Enjoy the Sun Deck with uninterrupted 360º views.
No formal nights
Relax, this is your holiday.
Sailing the Canadian flag
The only river boat in Europe to do so.
Value
No hidden costs, the fare listed is the total, all inclusive fare.
Elevator
between the lower and upper deck.
Motorised chair lift
between the upper deck and Sky Lounge/sun deck.
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| Our comfortable guest cabins provide more usable space than most other vessels. Unique beds disappear during the day to give you more space. | Our Dining Room offers one sitting, open seating dining. The entire vessel is 100% smoke free, including the outside decks. | |
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| The Bar serves a dramatic blend of cocktails, world class wines, beers and spirits. | The comfortable and inviting lobby resembles a 5 star luxury hotel and provides comfy chairs, wide screen TV and Dolby sound syste. | |
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| The Living Room. Relax, sightsee, slumber or join us for coffee and tea service. | Indulge in the grand collection of English books while you sip on a cappuccino in the library, any time of day. |
Da Vinci Features:
- Family owned and operated
A beautifully appointed Dutch vessel, owned and operated by our dear friends, the van Hengst family. - No formal nights
Relax, this is your holiday. - Fly the Canadian flag
The only river boat in Europe to do so. - Value with all inclusive pricing
No hidden costs, the fare listed is the total, all inclusive fare. Leave your wallet in your pocket. - Elevator
between the lower and upper deck. - Motorised chair lift
between the upper deck and Sky Lounge/sun deck. - Private shore excursions
Designed just for us. - Local guides
Local Guides for the local culture. Our relationships with local guides are legendary. Many of them contact us months in advance to ensure they guide our guests. Our guides live in the towns you visit, where most guides today travel down the entire river with the vessel. - Wines of the local regions, beer or soft drinks included with dinner
Indulge - Wireless internet access
Throughout the ship. Use our Mac laptops or bring your own - Free bottled water
In your stateroom on arrival and at meals - Coffee and Tea Service
Speciality coffees 24 hrs a day, coffee and tea service - Gratuities are always included
To all ships staff, local guides, coach drivers, tour managers, museum guides etc. - Unlimited Sun Deck access
This is not possible on larger vessels where you must vacate the sun deck so the ship can pass under the many low bridges. You deserve uninterrupted, 360° views. - A-la-carte Gourmet cuisine
From the regions we visit. We even include meals while on all excursions. - Services of professional Tour Managers
In addition to your local guides and ships staff - Our famous little surprises!
You will just have to join us to find out. Or, ask your friends! - Intimate group size
The Da Vinci pampers a maximum of 100 guests. Many vessels host 120 - 200 guests. - 100% Non Smoking
Including the outside decks, the only river boat in Europe. - All English Language
Every announcement in 5 languages is not relaxing. - Plus all of our exclusive journey inclusions like private car home pick up service, round trip airfare and of course, the Jerry Van Dyke Difference.
Guest Cabins
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Deck Layout
