Summer Guide 2013: Rivers

The Rhine in Germany

Float down the Rhine in Germany on a 10-day cruise on the MS Algeria with Shearings (0844 824 6351; shearings.com). You can admire the Unesco-listed Rhine Gorge from the comfort of the boat. The journey includes excursions such as wine-tasting in Boppard, a walking tour of Koblenz and a trip to the castle at Lahnstein. The price of £879pp, based on two sharing, includes return coach travel from regional stops around England, a week's full-board cruise and two nights' half-board hotel accommodation en route.

Snuggle up in the River Lodge – a wooden deck with a canvas cabin above a bend in the Rio Sever in the Alto Alentejo, Portugal. The refuge for two is an addition to the luxury camping collection, Canopy & Stars (01275 395447; canopyandstars.co.uk). There is a gas hob and a nearby compost toilet. It's a short trek to use the solar-powered showers and baths, but there's always the river to bathe in. From £35 per night.

Explore Berlin, Poland and the Baltic Islands aboard the MS Princess. The nine-day trip starts in the German capital and calls at the Polish city of Szczecin, the Polish National Park of Wolin, and the white-sand beaches and fishing villages of Rügen, Usedom, Hiddensee and Darss. The River Cruise Line trip (0844 544 6581; rivercruiseline.co.uk) departs on 2 August for £1,259pp, based on two sharing, including return flights from Heathrow to Berlin with British Airways, transfers, B&B in Berlin and evening entertainment on board.