River Deep, Mountain High: CroisiEurope Cruises

EDGE's must-go recommendations for 2019 include four cruise and sailing companies that each offer a unique opportunity to experience travel from the water. Our editorial staff and contributing writers take a deeper dive into each company, and we encourage you to set sail in the coming year!

With a fleet of more than 50 ships and hotel barges, plus an additional five chartered vessels, CroisiEurope is well-positioned to take even seasoned travelers to exhilarating locales like Lake Kariba in Southern Africa, Vietnam's Mekong River, and even fresh sights in the heart of the Old World such as Portugal, Spain and France.

The company's wealth of options comprise over 170 itineraries and include themed cruises such as hiking along the Danube or a wine and culinary adventure between Rhone and Saone. It's also an opportunity to brush up (or learn!) French, which is the company's official language, although the crew also speaks English.

A Family Tradition with Progressive Values

CroisiEurope started four decades ago when founder Gerard Schmitter envisioned cruises that passengers didn't have to be wealthy to enjoy. The Schmitter family still pursues that original mission: To offer luxury and opulence at practical price points.

Being a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, CroisiEurope enthusiastically welcomes LGBTQ travelers on board.

The company has a long history of hospitality toward LGBTQ travelers and has partnered with gay-focused tour company Brand G in the past to provide top travel experiences to the queer community. CroisiEurope is looking even now to partner with new companies for inclusive cruises marketed to discriminating LGBTQ travelers.

The company's North American marketing manager, Michael DaCosta, says, "As a European Cruise Line we've always welcomed guests from all countries, ages, races, creeds, and cultures. As a family-run business, we believe our River Cruises should be uniting experiences - travel makes the world a little smaller and brings people a little closer. To that end, our doors are open to all."

New and Noteworthy

CroisiEurope's first adventures took place on the Adriatic Sea with the then-new approach of the coastal cruise. But ideas, itineraries, and approaches increased over the decades, all while keeping up with modern technological innovations like complimentary onboard Wi-Fi and headphones for participating in onshore adventures.

Last year saw the introduction of one of the fleet's newest ships, the 31-cabin RV Indochine II, which - along with its sister ship the RV Indochine I - takes guests along Vietnam's Mekong River, from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City, for 13 days of onboard pampering.

The coming year will see the introduction of a brand-new vessel, the MS Amalia Rodrigues, in Porto. The 132-passenger ship offers 66 cabins for an intimate adventure with ports of call in Regua, Salmanaca, Barca d'Alva, and more.

Where to Go in 2019

Consider a weeklong excursion with a Provencal flavor aboard the newly renovated MS Van Gogh, which navigates the Rhone from Lyon to Avignon, then to Arles and Martigues, then back to Lyon, while on board guests enjoy refined French cuisine, (drinks included). Avignon is a featured destination, a gem of a city replete with stunning works of art.

Or opt for the high life in high summer on the Rhine, with the five-day "Rhine in Flames" cruise that departs from the Alsatian city of Strasbourg with its famed Baroque cathedral and ventures down the Neckar River to visit glorious Heidelberg, known for its majestic castle and Insta-worthy landscape. The route also takes in Koblenz and Rudesheim in the heart of one of Germany's wine-producing regions.

Looking for something farther afield? Why not explore the Mekong for 11 days on a cruise that sets out from Ho Chi Minh City and takes you to "the Temples of Angkor," architectural marvels that speak to a wholly different antiquity than what we know in the West. Cruises depart frequently throughout the year, and as always, boast locally inspired cuisine (drinks included) and day adventures such as the fishing port at Tonle Sap Lake, Phnom Penh's Royal Palace, and cultural attractions in Sa Dec, Vietnam.