The Nile River has been the cradle of Egyptian civilizations since the Stone Age. The thin, cultivated swath of the Nile valley is what most of today’s population and yesterday’s antiquities call home. Since the creation of the Sahara desert at the end of the most recent ice age more than 5,000 years ago, the Nile has been Egypt’s sole source of water, agriculture, commerce and power. Perhaps this is why the Greek historian Herodotus wrote that “Egypt was the gift of the Nile.”

Over the course of time, as the Nile would flood, silt deposits made the surrounding land extremely fertile. Ancient Egyptians were able to cultivate wheat and other crops in an otherwise hostile agricultural environment. The Nile’s water also attracted game such as water buffalo, elephants, antelopes and gazelles. But more than a vital source of sustenance, the Nile was also a critical transportation and trade route. In fact, trade was what secured Egypt’s diplomatic relationship with other countries and contributed to its economic stability.

The Nile was an important part of the ancient Egyptian spiritual life. The deity Hapy was the god of the annual floods, and both he and the pharaoh were thought to control the ebb and flow of the mighty river. Ancient Egyptian hunters prayed to god and goddess images of the animals they sought to ensure their safety and the success of the hunt.

Crucial to Egyptian life, the Nile was considered to be the pathway from life to death and the afterlife. The east was thought of as a place of birth and growth, and the west was considered the place of death. The god Ra, the Sun, underwent birth, death, and resurrection each day as he crossed the sky. That is why all tombs are located west of the Nile, because the Egyptians believed that in order to enter the afterlife, they must be buried on the side that symbolized death.

The Nile was, and still is, used to transport goods and people along its lengthy path. Winter winds in this area blow up river, so ships could travel up river effortlessly by using a sail, and down river using the flow of the river. While most Egyptians still live in the Nile valley, the construction of the Aswan High Dam (completed in 1970) ended the summer floods and their renewal of the fertile soil.

If reading our recent content on river cruises has captured your interest, you can now follow author, and frequent StorySuitcase contributor, Tony Perrottet as he documents his journey, telling the stories behind the villages and landmarks he visits and offering insight into his experience aboard the Avalon Felicity.  Visit Tony’s river cruise blog to stay up-to-date on his Avalon Waterways journey.

The map above highlights the stops Tony will be making along the fascinating Rhine River.

Flowing from the Swiss Alps, the Rhine River is perhaps most famous European river cruise destinations for its legendary Lorelei rock and the imposing medieval castles that line its banks.

The Rhine River is one of the most popular river cruise destinations.  The name of the river stems from a Celtic word meaning “raging flow.”

Between 1932 and 2010, official text books and publications listed the length of the Rhine as 1,320 kilometers (820 mi) rather than the correct number, 1,230 kilometers. In 2010, a University of Cologne researcher discovered that a typographical error had occurred in a 1932 encyclopedia and worked to have the figure updated.

The Rhine river is one of the settings for the first opera of Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen. The action of the epic opens and ends underneath the Rhine, where three Rheinmaidens swim and protect a hoard of gold.

Roman remains can be found in Cologne even today, especially along the Rhine, where a discovery of a 1900-year-old Roman boat was made on the Rhine banks in late 2007.

Strasbourg’s historic city center, the Grande Île (“Grand Island”), was classified a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988, the first time such an honor was placed on an entire city center.

The first bridge to cross the Rhine River was built by Julius Caesar during the Gallic War in 55 B.C.

As it winds through castle-dotted hillsides, dramatic rocky gorges and picturesque Old World villages, the Rhine River is the essence of romance. Born as an untamed river in the Swiss Alps, the Rhine takes the scenic route to the North Sea, illuminating some of Europe’s most fascinating sights and customs. Historically and culturally, the Rhine has been a crucial source of sustenance, pride and inspiration. Fortresses and castles along the Rhine’s embankments highlight the value ancient empires placed on these waters.

While ancient times saw the Rhine as a dividing force, today the cities along its shores are an intriguing blend of cultures. Vineyards along the Rhine produce world-renowned vintages and riverside cafés and restaurants celebrate the region by pairing local wines with delectably fresh fare. With scenic splendor and enriching surprises around every bend, the waters of the Rhine set the stage for the very finest moments to be had in Europe.

Fast Facts
Countries: Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, France, Netherlands
Source: The Swiss Alps
Mouth: North Sea
Length: 766 miles

Prepare to set sail on a European river cruise. This time as we return to the rivers of Europe we will cruise along the Rhone and the Danube, with stops along the way to take in the culture and the sights.

With new features, more details and unbelievable amenities, river cruising provides a unique and inspiring way to vacation.  Whether you’d like a 4-day getaway, an in-depth 23-day tour, or something in between, there is a river cruise just right for you.

So, join us as we board one of the youngest fleets and cruise through Europe.

Whether you’re cruising down China’s mighty Yangtze, floating past antiquities along Egypt’s majestic Nile, or taking in the wonders of Europe, river cruising offers a one-of-a-kind experience you just can’t beat. But which river is right for me, you might ask?

Europe

• Rhine River: Flowing from the Swiss Alps to Holland’s North Sea, the Rhine is one of the most important rivers in Europe, perhaps most famous for its legendary Lorelai rock and the imposing medieval castles that line its banks.
• Main River: Winding across Central Germany, the Main River is formed by the joining of the Red Main and the White Main, meeting the Rhine River at the town of Mainz.
• Moselle River: Flowing through France, Luxembourg, and Germany, the Moselle River is known for the excellent wines produced along its banks as well as for its picturesque medieval castles.
• Seine River: Rising just northwest of Dijon and flowing in a northwesterly direction through Paris before emptying into the English Channel at Le Havre, the Moselle is one of Europe’s great historic rivers. Since the early Middle Ages it has been considered the river of Paris.
• Rhône River: An important inland trade and transportation route since Greek times, the Rhône River flows south to the Mediterranean, winding through orchards and vineyards of the fertile Rhône Valley in southern France.
• Danube River: As Europe’s second-longest river and a vital means of transportation for 2,000 years, the Danube is the only major European river to flow from west to east. Starting at the Black Sea Canal, it winds itself through the breathtaking sites of eastern Europe until it meets with the Main River in central Germany.

China

• Yangtze River: Flowing from the Tibetan Plateau in the west to the East China Sea, the Yangtze is the longest river in Asia. Travel through the impressive Three Gorges and view the intense dam, China’s largest construction project since the Great Wall. Qutang, the shortest and most dramatic gorge, is an unimaginable place where you can nearly touch the perpendicular mountains rising from the river banks.

Egypt

• Nile River: Journey along the lifeline of Egyptian civilization experiencing incredible sights that include ancient temples, tombs, and local villages. Measuring 4,160 miles, the Nile is the longest river in the world, flowing north from Lake Victoria through Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt. Passing rain forests, mountains, savannas, swamps and desert landscapes, it accumulates in the fertile Nile Delta and drains into the Mediterranean Sea.

Your breath will be taken away by the magic that separates you from everyday life on dry land, regardless of which river you choose, a river cruise is certain to leave you with memories that will last a lifetime!