If you’ve been wanting to try a river cruise in Europe, you won’t find a better deal this summer than the 2-for-1 offers by Viking Cruises (VikingRiverCruises.com). The offer expires on June 15, so you need to book right away.

River cruises work the network of European waterways on smaller ships that allow passengers to see cities and sights not available to the mega-cruisers. Since these ships travel by river, the pace is more leisurely and it is not unusual for their to be daily port visits.

Smaller ships have their own unique ambience. While it’s true you may forego some big-ship attractions like casinos, multiple swimming pools, and revue-type extravaganza shows, you are more likely to get to know your fellow passengers and enjoy a higher level of personalized service.

Plus you can get some itineraries that just aren’t available anywhere else. Some Viking Cruises now being advertised include trips from Paris to Le Havre, from Basel to Antwerp, from Nuremberg to Vienna, and from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

In 2008, 906,000 Germans took a cruise vacation. That’s nearly a million cruisers. And even with the economic downturn, analysts are predicted an 11% upsurge in 2009. Accommodating this burgeoning new market is the TUI Cruise Fleet, which just partnered with Royal Caribbean to launch its first ship. It’s called Mein Schiff which, even if your German is rusty, you should still be able to deciper (”My Ship”). By the way, the ship got its name in a naming contest.

After the inaugural cruise, Mein Schiff will sail the Baltic in the summer of 2009 and then reposition to the Caribbean for the winter, with a home port in the Dominican Republic.

In 2010-2011, Mein Schiff will offer Nordic Seas itiniaries (including Iceland) as well as Eastern and Western Mediterranean including the Rock of Gibralter, Canary Islands, and Morocco.

Mein Schiff accommodates 1,914 passengers and was formerly the Celebrity Galaxy of the Celebrity Cruise line. The ship got a complete makeover and is completely tailored to meet the tastes and expectations of a mainly German clientele.

Viking River Cruises specializes in river travel with a focus on the outstanding destinations of Europe. Right now, you can take advantage of an unprecedented “2-for-1″ deal if you book between now and May 28, 2009. These offers are limited. If you call to book (866-200-5395 in the US) you may need to mention the code which is “61Echo.”

So where can you travel? The Grand European Tour runs 15 days from Amsterdam to Budapest which costs $2,162 per person. Treasures of the Rhine is 15 days, Basel to Antwerp, for $2,012. (By the way, the photo is a castle on the Rhine, which holds a record as river with the most castles per mile. Other tours include:

• Romantic Danube (8 days, Budapest-Nuremberg)
• Paris and the Heart of Normandy (8 days, Paris to Le Havre)
• Elegant Elbe (12 days, Berlin to Prague)
• Danube Holiday Delight (8 days, Passau to Vienna)
• Cities of Light (12 days, Paris to Prague)
• Rhine Getaway (8 days, Basel to Amsterdam)
• Danube Explorer (8 days, Nuremberg to Vienna)
• Portraits of Southern France (8 days, Chalon-sur-Saone to Avignon)
• Eastern European Odyssey (16 days, Bucharest to Nuremberg)
• Footsteps of the Cossacks (12 days, Odessa to Kiev)
• Waterways of the Czars (13 days, St. Petersburg to Moscow)
• Russian Rhapsody (13 days, Moscow to St. Petersburg)

This offer is based on availability and will disappear after May 28, so if you’re thinking of some river travel through Europe, act fast.