Senior Travel River Cruise Tours & Trips

3,074 Senior Travel trips. Tours from 35 tour companies. 15,583 reviews. 4.5/5 avg rating.

227 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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River Cruise
Timeless Rivers of Europe: the Rhine and Seine with 2 Nights in Lucerne
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Why we love them
They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy

Visits

Amsterdam, Basel, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Lucerne, Normandy, Paris, Rouen, Rudesheim, Strasbourg

Highlights

  • Welcome to Switzerland
  • Guided walking tour with the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge
  • Excursion to Mount Pilatus or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead); onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of excursion to Black Forest, or sightseeing of Freiburg or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Choice of guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike with your Adventure Host
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Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lovely with great views."

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Elegant Elbe
5/5 Excellent
41 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Discover Berlin’s modern chic, Potsdam’s rococo whimsy
  • Experience cruise along Elbe which is one of Europe’s most unspoiled rivers
  • Opportunity to visit 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • Explore Wittenberg’s and see the historic landmarks.
  • Explore Prague

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Most of the people on this 17-day river cruise was quite elderly and infirm. Therefore the complimentary excursions were painfully slow walking. Local guides mostly told stories of their own upbringing and the conflicts they lived through. There was not much history on any of the excursions; and none of the buildings we saw gave us an opportunity to go inside, even the paid excursions. The accommodations were excellent, except that we paid for the best veranda but could not sit on our veranda because for the first 5 days our ship was packed tight next to another Viking ship. Food was good, except for dinners which were quite mediocre and never captured the flavor of the local foods."

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The Seine: Paris to Normandy
4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Visit the World War II Peace Memorial Museum
  • Visit the famed Sacre Coeur Basilica, with its dramatic perch on the top of the Montmartre hill.
  • Enjoy cruising on Seine River
  • Explore the sleepy village of Les Andelys
  • Enjoy views of Chateau Gaillard, an imposing fortress from the era of Richard the Lionhearted
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Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"I am a 12 time traveler with Grand Circle and OAT. But maybe no more. They are impossible to reach by phone without waiting for hours. I even tired their emergency phone number and was on hold for hours. What if I had been stranded in a foreign country? They cancelled my Eastern Europe to Black Sea Cruise in Sept 2021 and cited "covid" or "civil unrest" issues. Baloney. They cancelled because they did not sell out the cruise and lied about it to me. I know because I went with Viking during the same month with no excuses like Grand Circle gave me. Add to that they promised me a $1,000 credit on my next trip- which was to Antarctica in December. The invoice they sent me showed the credit- and 1 month later a new invoice arrived with the credit removed. Why? Another lie? Something is really wrong here with the company now and I would suggest be very careful with bookings as they are not the same company I traveled with for the past 12 years."

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The Enchanting Rhine
3.7/5 Great
39 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Explore Amsterdam and enjoy the canal cruise through the city
  • Experience 7-night cruise from Amsterdam to Basel
  • Discover Strasbourg and Zurich
  • Visit Cologne and get an opportunity to see Cathedral Square

Themes

Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"I’ve sailed with AmaWaterways 4 times. They are the best! You become family. I can’t wait to sail with them again!"

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Amazon River Cruises
5/5 Excellent
6 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • International Expeditions’ exclusive Amazon River tour covers more than 600 miles on the Amazon and its tributaries.
  • Travel deep into the protected Pacaya-Samiria Reserve
  • Explore three different habitats so you have the best chance of spotting rare wildlife
  • Look for monkeys, birds, sloths and other mammals
  • Spot pink and gray dolphins

Themes

Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"My wife and I just returned from a wet season trip with International Expeditions (IE) to Lima and the Amazon. It was tremendous: 1. The diversity of wildlife is extreme and up close and personal. 2. The vastness of it all approaches infinity. 3. The staff and guides were top drawer professionals. The IE mother ship (Zafiro) is in great condition and very comfortable, clean and welcoming. The staff is friendly, helpful, supportive, knowledgeable. The naturalists/guides are the best. Experts in the wildlife and flora and good-natured and personable. Yes, it is hot and humid, but very bearable. Yes, there are mosquitoes at night, but again very manageable. (We've all experienced much much worse in the US.) In the wet season (50 feet higher water than in dry season) you don't get to walk as much as you do in dry season because terra firma is so much further into the rain forest than you can reach in a boat. But we did get to visit villages and walk in the rain forest. We swam. We went out every morning and afternoon in the skiffs to explore smaller rivers and lakes. Sloths, monkeys, iguana, boa, anaconda, caiman, tarantula, piranha, frogs, toads, and more bird types than you can count. Wow - What a Show!"

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Authentic Danube & Prague (2022)
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Personnel were all very polite and happy to serve. Service was timely and professional. Most remembered your preferences and were prepared to assist."

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Danube Delights River Cruise
4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Enjoy the Cruise along the Danube River by Emerald Star-Ships
  • Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral
  • Visit to Hofburg Imperial Palace
  • Discover Budapest

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We booked an Emerald Waterways river cruise a year ago and paid in full to get a discount. A river cruise was on our bucket list and our travel agent raved on and on about Emerald Waterways. Fast forward to 2020 and the pandemic hit the world hard. We fully expected the cruise to be cancelled and just yesterday it was. I knew that per the terms and conditions that if Emerald cancelled the cruise we were to be offered an alternate sailing date or a FULL refund. BUT, the letter I received said they were "suspending" (not cancelling) all sailings and if I didn't want the future cruise credit I could cancel under their standard terms and conditions. If I cancelled then I would lose a $1,000 deposit! This is a bad faith offer in my opinion. I am so upset with the way this was handled. I understand we are all suffering from the pandemic but Emerald Waterways needs to step up and do the right thing. Rest assured I will not be a future customer of Emerald Waterways."

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Gems of the Seine
4/5 Great
4 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Meet your fellow guests at a lavish Captains welcome dinner on board your Scenic ‘Space-Ship’
  • Seize the opportunity to take easy paced bicycle rides at your leisure through spectacular scenery and villages
  • Sail along the majestic Seine River through landscapes that have inspired artists for generations
  • Dock in Rouen, most notable as the location where Joan of Arc was accused of heresy and burnt at the stake at 1431
  • Delight in the gastronomic specialties of northern France on board your Scenic ‘Space-Ship’
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Themes

Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We just disembarked from the Nuremberg to Budapest cruise and I needed to tell you before writing to Trip Advisor and other sites how disappointed we are with the total lack of hygiene and assistance provided! I have never experienced a situation where servers and food prep workers who were coughing and sneezing and obviously sick were allowed to work and spread germs to passengers or customers! We as well as many others on your ill fated cruise became sick due to your negligence. No one was required to sanitize their hands when entering or leaving the dinning room or ship. the rails were never wiped down or disinfected, and people who were coughing or sneezing then used the rails only made things worse. When we were in Vienna I was too ill to leave the ship, the front desk person Jozeph was going to the post office and I asked him if he could purchase for me some decongestants. He only drew on the map how I could walk there???? Is this the special five star treatment you offer and advertise? Many passengers on board became sick and it is your fault. There were other issues like the quality of food at dinner and the poor service, but the above is outrageous and reportable to prevent others from this situation."

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227 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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River Cruise
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Senior Travel Reviews & Ratings

4.5/5  Excellent
15,583  Reviews
See all Senior Travel tour reviews
Excellent
4,884
Great
2,085
Average
440
Disappointing
117
Terrible
55
C

Candida S.

Sep 2024

Written on

we had a fantastic five star trip!

Thanks so much to the team at Alma Italia - we had a fantastic five star trip! Alma Italia organized us so many experiences we could never have done on our own - the...

S

Sharon

Jun 2024

Written on

Incredible, awesome, amazing experience

Our Real New Zealand Tours travel agent listened to our goals for the trip, how we wanted to travel, and what activities we wanted to do. Based on that, they create...

T

Todd

Jun 2024

Written on

Perfect vacation!

Our trip to New Zealand exceeded all of our expectations thanks to Geoff's amazing service as our travel agent. He eagerly provided us with suggestions and tailored ...

M

Mike

Mar 2024

Written on

Self-designed 21 day trip to NZ

Geoff helped my wife and I to put together an itinerary that customized to our particular interests and preferences. At the outset he asked us where we'd like to go ...

H

Heather W

Feb 2024

Written on

Outstanding Services!

Exotic Voyages is first class all the way. Lacey our travel advisor helped plan a trip for my brother and I to Thailand. I gave Lacey a rough of idea of what I wante...

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Senior Travel Tour Selection Trips

Physical Requirements For Senior Tours 
Understanding the physical requirements of your desired tour is crucial for preparing for the trip and managing expectations, especially for travelers with limited mobility.
On Travelstride, tours are categorized into five primary physical levels: Very Easy, Easy, Moderate, Strenuous, and Extreme, providing clarity on the level of activity involved. This knowledge not only ensures you can fully enjoy your vacation but also helps alleviate stress by informing your packing decisions.
For instance, for walking tours rated as "Easy," you may pack extra walking clothes. In contrast, river cruises ("Very Easy") allow for indulgent packing with the convenience of only unpacking once.
Senior travelers typically favor tours in the Very Easy to Easy range, which include river cruises, small ship cruises, and guided tours with minimal walking, often focusing on hobbies or cultural experiences.
For more active seniors, Moderate tours offer regular half-day walking or cycling activities. They may include adventurous pursuits like kayaking or camel riding.
Those with limited mobility may find senior tours rated Easy, such as river cruises and train journeys, most suitable. Remember to verify wheelchair accessibility with the tour company to ensure a welcoming experience.
Read tips for travelers with limited mobility 

Additional details

Senior Travel Bus Tours 

One popular option for senior travel is by coach. Coach-based tours are a convenient way of getting between the sights without having to wait in line, or worry about which route is the most efficient. Traveling by bus is also a great opportunity to see a lot more of wherever you are visiting -- not just the tourist sites -- and get a good feel for the place you’re in.

If you love the outdoors, bus tours are an extremely popular option for seniors in the U.S. They provide a great way to move between the national parks, and, as mentioned, see everything in between. Even if you don’t love nature, consider taking a cultural bus tour around a specific region or state. For example, travel by coach between ranches and bustling metropolises in Texas.

Senior Travel Deals & Discounts

Another advantage of traveling when you’re older is that you qualify for plenty of discounts! Regardless of where you are traveling, you should always ask to see whether or not there is some kind of senior discount. With that being said, some countries are notorious for the bargains they offer both senior citizens and visitors.

For seniors who intend to travel the USA, and are citizens, there are plenty of opportunities to save money. The National Parks System offers a lifetime entry ticket for seniors at a very low price, and an AARP membership can guarantee even more discounted rates on hotels, flights, and cruises. Other good senior vacation destinations known for their senior deals are the United Kingdom and Italy, which both lower the cost of train tickets and airfares for seniors.  

Traveling with Medication & Other Health Issues 

One common concern amongst older travelers is how they are going to travel with various medical conditions, and while on medication. It is possible to travel almost anywhere, as long as the traveler is prepared. Before leaving the country, make sure to pack enough of medicine for the entire duration of your trip, and then a few day extra, in case there are any delays. If the traveler is flying, they should also make sure to keep their medication in a carry on. 

If at all possible, keep your medication in its original prescription bottles -- this allows TSA inspectors to confirm that the medication belongs to you. On a similar note, TSA also allows for liquid medications above the usual liquid limits, so make sure to tell an agent at the security checkpoint about any liquids you might have. 

If you are concerned about other health issues, it is not a bad idea to visit a doctor up to 6 weeks before you travel. And regardless of their specific advice, seniors traveling internationally should plan for a recovery from any jet lag or motion sickness. If you suffer from mobility issues, make sure to double check the physical intensity of any tours you are looking at. 

Also consider the types of transportation on your trip -- if you your legs cramp up, inform your tour company that you may need extra leg room, and make sure to find out how long flights and bus rides might be.

Finally, some seniors choose to invest in a travel health insurance plan. Many health care plans, including Medicare, will not cover you once you’re outside the country.

Why Travel with a Senior Travel Group?

Group travel boasts a number of benefits. First and foremost, group tours are convenient. Whether you select a budget or all-inclusive senior travel package, your tour operator will likely manage at least some portion of your travel details. This means more less energy spent stressing, and more time enjoying your vacation.

Travel groups are also a great place for seniors to meet like-minded travelers. Reading about each tour will give you a better idea about who you will be traveling with, and there are many trips that have a minimum age, or focus on a particular activity. For those with a passion for lifelong learning, consider embarking on an educational adventure with a tour provider like Road Scholar (previously known as Elderhostel), which offers over 5,000 tours in 150 countries.

Always Find the Best

On Travelstride you can find 3074 trips to Senior Travel and more than 20,000 trips worldwide ranging from budget to luxury and private guided to group tours and everything in between. Only on Stride can you find and compare expert-planned trips from 1,000+ tour operators, cruise lines and local experts. Read traveler and professional reviews so you can confidently find your perfect trip.

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