• Luxury river cruises provide a unique travel experience.cruise ship 1 image by Pierrette Guertin from Fotolia.com
  
  Luxury river cruises offer once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences with cruise operators on waterways around the world and provide first-class amenities. The average travel length varies by cruise line, river and host country. Travelers can find getaways that last just a few nights while others are part of larger tour packages that immerse visitors in the local culture for an extended period of time.
  
  

Abercrombie & Kent

• Abercrombie & Kent is a leader in luxury travel and offers the highest quality for its guided tours, including 3-, 4- and 7-night Nile River cruises, which include a stop at stop at Luxor's Valley of the Kings and Queens. A&K operates custom-built ships that provide the "finest in comfort, service and exploration" while personal travel guides offer background information about the many temples and out-of-the-way sites along the tour. A&K's ships, the Sun Boat III (36 passenger capacity) and Sun Boat IV (80 passenger capacity), offer cozy, plush cabins and five-star cuisine.
  
  Abercrombie & Kent
  
  1411 Opus Place
  
  Executive Towers West II, Suite 300
  
  Downers Grove, IL 60515-1098
  
  800-554-7016
  
  abercrombiekent.com
  
  

Viking River Cruises

• World-travelers will find a variety of luxury cruise options with Viking River Cruises, ranging from 8 to 15 days. The company has offered vacations based in Europe on such famous rivers as the Danube, Rhine, Siene and Rhone. With visits to Budapest, Vienna, Cologne and Amsterdam among 14 ports, travelers receive 13 guided tours as part of the package. The Viking Danube is the primary ship on longer tours and has 75 staterooms in five categories to accommodate 150 people. It has a restaurant, bar, library, sundeck and swimming pool, and guests receive complimentary wireless Internet service.
  
  Viking River Cruises
  
  5700 Canoga Ave., Suite 200
  
  Woodland Hills, CA 91367
  
  800-304-9616
  
  vikingrivercruises.com
  
  

Avalon Waterways

• Avalon Waterways has river cruise options in China to meet any timeline. The company offers eight cruises along the third longest river in the world, the Yangtze River, which spans 3,915 miles. The shortest tour package starts with an 11-day tour from Beijing to Shanghai that includes 3- or 4-night cruises along with airfare and hotel accommodations for overnight stays in Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. Travelers can take in China's most ancient sites while visiting the Forbidden City and Imperial Palace along with the Great Wall. A calligraphy class, lacquer workshop and noodle-making demonstration are also included. The cruise ship Victoria Anne was renovated in 2010 and has a capacity of 308 passengers. It features two restaurants, three lounges, two bars, a fitness center and large viewing deck.
  
  Avalon Waterways
  
  5301 S. Federal Circle
  
  Littleton, CO 80123
  
  877-797-8791
  
  avalonwaterways.com