River cruise through Europe in the spring to tantalize the senses

Spring is a beautiful time to visit Europe and enjoy the greening of rolling hillsides, the blooming of colorful flowers and birds singing earlier each morning. Plus, you can tour the countryside free of crowds. As winter's freeze ebbs away, European waterways make the perfect transportation method to tour cities from Amsterdam to Vienna. Spring European river cruises are packed with plenty of sights to see, foods to taste and cultures and arts to experience.

As one of the most convenient ways to travel Europe, river cruises are growing in popularity. They afford travelers the luxury of set lodgings during the trip (so you only have to unpack your bags once), with the ability to explore large areas of European countryside, from picturesque villages and small towns to larger, culturally-rich cities. Tauck was named the "World's Best River Cruise Line" by Travel + Leisure magazine for the second time in three years, and offers many river cruises across Europe. Some of the best river cruises to experience in spring include:

* Holland and Belgium – From the wealth of beauty found in Amsterdam – flowers aplenty at the Keukenhof Gardens, and art and jewelry displayed in Rijksmuseum – to the stunning scenery of tulip-surrounded windmills in the Holland countryside, this river cruise will dazzle the eyes. The itinerary captures much of the area's heritage and ends in Brussels with a wonderful combination of sights to see, including renaissance-style buildings and Grande-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

* Holland to Hungary – Five countries, 16 large and smaller cities, three rivers and two weeks – this Tauck spring European river cruise is the experience of a lifetime. Starting in Amsterdam along the Rhine River, winding through Germany with visits to Koln, Rothenburg and Nurnberg on the Main River, and then joining up with the Danube River through Austria and into Budapest, this cruise is a s pring journey you won't forget. Sing along with the music machines at Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, view the Baroque architecture found in Passau, and tour Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna.

* Sights of the Seine – Few rivers have the reputation for romance that the Seine boasts, and Tauck offers cruises that allow travelers to explore the sights, sounds and scenery of this most romantic river. The 10-day Rendezvous on the Seine cruise includes two nights in Paris, a stop in Normandy where the D-Day attack led to the end of World War II, and a visit to impressionist Claude Monet's home and garden in Giverny.

As you begin planning your spring European vacation, let Tauck handle all the travel, lodging and food arrangements for you with a river cruise. Visit tauck.com to explore other spring European river cruises that might pique your interest.