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Rivers & Rails.

On the Water

The world’s great rivers periodically change course, but more importantly, they can change the course of human history. Take, for example, the mighty Nile. When it failed to flood the usually fertile river valley in 48 B.C., the Egyptians were so hungry and so fed up with their ruler, young Cleopatra, that she fled to Rome, where she became entangled in the civil war between Pompey and Caesar. The rest, as they say, is history.

We suggest you take in the great rivers of our world for a full reckoning. There’s the Egyptian Nile, of course. And the Amazon, which we like best as it winds through some of the most glorious jungles and riverside towns of Peru. And when you talk about changing rivers, perhaps no other has gone through such transformation as China’s powerful Yangtse, which now boasts not only the scenic and mystical Three Gorges, but also one of Asia’s largest engineering feats, the Three Gorges Dam.

Often a river served as a crucial thoroughfare, connecting bits and pieces of an ancient country, uniting its people as it flowed. Such is the story of the Danube, which winds from Germany to the Black Sea, and which for millennia carried goods, people, and ideas from one end of the continent to the other—long before roads or rails.

The Irrawaddy River, backbone of Myanmar (you might know the country as Burma) also played an important role in Burmese history. And it continues to afford us remarkable views of this stunning nation (and her incredible people) on a cruise along the river between Mandalay and Bagan.

When you think of a visit to Russia, you likely don’t imagine yourself on a riverboat. Think again. As of several years ago, the refurbished Volga Dream has begun plying the Volga waterways between Moscow and St. Petersburg, through Russia’s very heartland, a place few visitors have the privilege to see.

R. Crusoe has carefully chosen the best boats to cruise these waters. Elegant, small, and well turned-out, they envelop Crusoe travelers in absolute luxury in even the most remote regions.

A small sampling of our riverboats:

Life aboard these riverboats is everything you’d hope for on a luxury journey. Fine food accompanied by terrific wine. Absolute comfort, with rich furnishings. Plenty of access to shore excursions that take you where you want to go.

Accompanying us are expert lecturers and guides who provide context and deeper meaning to all that we see and do. Think historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, naturalists…

Join us for unusual river cruises along the Egyptian Nile, the Irrawaddy, the Volga, the Danube, the Moselle, the Rhine, the Main, the canals and waterways of the Low Countries (Holland and Belgium), and the Peruvian Amazon. Do you have another destination in mind? Give us a call. We’d love to chat.

All Aboard

Do you consider yourself a landlubber? Are you a railroad afficionado with an itch to travel? If so, climb aboard one of the spectacular trains chosen by R. Crusoe for our discerning travelers. Only these trains meet our strict criteria: swell itineraries, magnificent cabins and plush public cars, excellent food and wine, and inimitable service.

On the Continent, we offer a number of journeys. Step aboard the Venice-Simplon Orient-Express for a trip back in time. Overnight in opulent vintage cars lovingly restored. Be a part of European history.

Or explore the lush Scottish Highlands aboard the 36-passenger Edwardian-era Royal Scotsman. Sip single-malt scotch as you take in the rolling scenery from enormous picture windows. And see some of Scotland’s most important historic sites: Glamis Castle, Culloden, Ballindalloch Castle, Fort William. Begin and end in wonderful Edinburgh.

A train ride in Asia? Certainly. Consider Orient-Express’s Eastern & Oriental Express train, sister to the VSOE. She carries a lucky 136 passengers (max) in high style. Think rattan furnishings, Asian art, wooden marquetry. And, of course, an open-air observation car to soak in the scenery as you make your way between Bangkok and Singapore.

Meander through this website, and decide which journeys most interest you. And remember that R. Crusoe & Son is expert at creating pre- and post-cruise or rail tours customized just for you.

Please note: On these journeys, R. Crusoe & Son travelers share the ships with other, international non-Crusoe travelers. This does not apply if you are chartering a vessel.

Would you like to learn about our travelers’ past experiences? Read their true stories of travel.