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Explore Europe in unexpected ways: by cruise ship, sailing vessel-even river barge.

Europe is second only to the Caribbean as a cruising destination for American travelers, beating out sunny spots like Mexico, Hawaii and the South Pacific. But it really isn't so surprising: old-world waterways are a treasure trove for travelers, offering those who explore them the opportunity to sample the diverse cultures and landscapes of Europe on a single journey—and without even changing rooms!

These trips stop at fantastic beaches, centers of art and antiquities and some of the Continent's most exciting party places. Ready to take the plunge? Read on to discover the Euro-cruise style that's best for your honeymoon.

Cruise Ships

The Experience: Big cruise ships are essentially floating megaresorts, carrying thousands of passengers and offering entertainment, restaurants and activities to suit virtually every taste. Among the amenities: lavish casinos (Royal Caribbean vessels feature gaming lessons for novices), state-of-the-art spas (the one on Crystal's Serenity offers couple's massages) and glitzy productions (Celebrity's Millennium ships feature performances from the legendary acrobats from Cirque du Soleil).

Itineraries: These vessels tend to stick to tried-and-true routes, including the western Mediterranean (with stops in Spain, France and Italy); the eastern Mediterranean (the Greek Isles and Turkey); the Baltic Sea (visiting Copenhagen, Stockholm and other Scandinavian capitals, as well as St. Petersburg) and the Norwegian fjords. You may spend a full day or two at sea, without a port call, which allows time to explore shipboard offerings.

Fellow Travelers: Americans are usually in the majority on the large ships. Trips shorter than seven days are more popular with younger travelers.

Excursions: When passengers arrive at a port, organized shore tours are available to take them to see the major sights. This is especially helpful when the top attractions are far from the dock (Paris, for example, is more than an hour's drive from the cruise-ship port at Le Havre) or when there are strict regulations requiring visas (St. Petersburg has certain restrictions).

For those who don't like touring in large groups, some cruise lines are now providing one-on-one arrangements: Norwegian and Crystal, for instance, offer personalized sightseeing experiences to concierge-level passengers.

Lines: American lines with ships in Europe include Holland America (800-426-0327; hollandamerica.com), Princess (800-421-0522; princess.com), Royal Caribbean (800-327-6700; royalcaribbean.com), Celebrity (1-800-647-2251; celebritycruises.com) and Norwegian Cruise Line (800-327-7030; ncl.com). Even Caribbean stalwart Carnival (800-CARNIVAL; carnival.com) has a ship summering in the Old World.

European cruise lines include Costa (800-33-COSTA; costacruises.com) and MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company Cruises; 800-666-9333; msccruises.com). The crowds on these ships tend to be more European; multiple languages are spoken and entertainment is more international in style and flavor.

Luxury lines, like Regent Seven Seas (800-285-1835; rssc.com) and Crystal (800-446-6620; crystalcruises.com), offer a big-ship experience, with all the extras you'd expect at a Four Seasons or a Ritz-Carlton—and pricing to match.

Smaller Ships & Sailing Vessels

The Experience: If the big ships are for those who want every resort amenity, small ships are for travelers who prefer a crowd-free experience and more personalized service. They are more like yachts than hotels, serving top-notch cuisine (Los Angeles-based chef Joachim Splichal, who was Bon Appetit’s restaurateur of the year in 2002, creates the menus for Windstar) and offering posh cabins with touches like DVD players (on Windstar) and Bose sound systems (on Seabourn). The level of individual pampering is higher on these vessels than on the bigger ships.

On the SeaDream crafts, staff members set up Balinese DreamBeds (cushy, dark wood loungers) on the sundecks for the ultimate sunbathing experience. But perhaps the most appealing aspect of smaller boats is that they offer an up-close view of the shorelines. There is less organized onboard entertainment than on the megaships, although Seabourn and Silversea do offer good lectures. And on Star Clippers’ (surprisingly affordable) sailing ships, you can entertain yourselves by pulling the sails or climbing the mast while enjoying the wind in your hair.

Itineraries: Thanks to their shallow drafts (referring to the part of the boat that’s below the surface of the water), these ships can go where bigger vessels can’t, so their routes are much more varied than those of larger ships. Travelers may visit Italy’s small islands and fishing villages, the French Riviera (a day in Cannes or Nice, anyone?) and the smaller Greek Isles, where they might be docked right next to a famous millionaire’s yacht. And because fewer passengers means less time spent disembarking and reboarding, travelers are able to explore ports at a more leisurely pace.

Fellow Travelers: You’ll find a mixed crowd of Europeans and Americans on these ships; passengers are well-heeled and often well traveled. On Seabourn and Silversea they dress up at night.

Excursions: The ships are luxe, and so are the onshore activities. When a Star Clippers ship stops in Monaco, for instance, options include sightseeing by helicopter and a deluxe aquatherapy session at a hot springs spa in Monte Carlo.

River Ships

The Experience: Europe’s rivers and canals are an excellent inland alternative to bus and train routes, bringing travelers to sites far from the ocean ports and offering calm waters that are perfect for seasick-prone travelers. River ships, which typically hold from 80 to 270 passengers, are the larger of the two styles of inland-cruising vessels, designed to offer amenities like bars, beauty salons and, in the case of Peter Deilman’s Danube Princess, even an outdoor swimming pool. The environment is casual and the entertainers, like local folk-dancing troupes, singers or musicians, come onboard in the evening for entertainment.

Itineraries: These range from two nights to two weeks. The ships travel on famous European waterways, including the Danube, the Seine and the Rhine, visiting spots such as Budapest and Paris, as well as beautiful smaller cities and towns a bit farther off-the-beaten tourist track. Some ships will overnight in key cities, giving passengers time to head ashore and explore and to enjoy local nightlife, like the opera in Vienna.

Fellow Travelers: River vessels attract an almost even split between American and European travelers, making for a diverse group of sailing companions. Because these boats don’t offer casinos and nightclubs, the crowd tends to be quieter and less party-hearty than those on the bigger ships.

Excursions: River cruises offer a range of tours: trips to museums in France, walking tours of tulip fields and windmills in Amsterdam.

Lines: Among the river ship operators, California-based Viking River Cruises (877-66-VIKING; vikingrivercruises.com) has two dozen ships plying the waters of Germany, France, Italy, Russia and more. The German line Peter Deilmann Cruises (deilmann-cruises.com) offers Asian cruises in the South China Sea, in addition to Old World routes.

Barges

The Experience: These long, low-slung boats, often painted in vibrant colors, have traveled Europe’s rivers and canal systems for centuries.

Today, although they’re luxuriously modernized, these slow-moving vessels can sail the region’s smallest waterways, even those too narrow for the tiniest river ships. They carry fewer than a dozen passengers (some people rent the entire barge for family and friends). This trip is akin to staying in a floating New England B&B. Onboard, it’s all about relaxing: A chef prepares gourmet food and the staff pour wines from local producers while the landscape glides smoothly by.

Itineraries: Most itineraries are weeklong and cover short routes. The boats move so slowly that visitors can grab one of the bikes stocked onboard and pedal alongside through the countryside.

Fellow Travelers: You get to know the other passengers well, so a good mix is important (find out who will be onboard before making your reservations). You will eat, drink and explore with the same small group of people, and there will likely be only a couple of public spaces onboard—a sunning area, a bar, a small dining room—for everyone to share. Onboard entertainment is the food and conversation.

Excursions: Passengers typically have a daily tour to such attractions as wineries or romantic castles. At night, while the barge is tied up, you can head ashore for a romantic stroll.

Lines: High-end tour operator Abercrombie & Kent (800-323-7308; abercrombiekent.com) has a fleet of luxurious barges, carrying up to 22 passengers, in European countries that include England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Russia.

French Country Waterways (800-222-1236; fcwl.com) serves up choices from their fleet of five luxury barges, carrying eight to 18 passengers, on French itineraries that include Burgundy, the Upper Loire Valley, the Champagne region and Alsace/Lorraine.

Fran Wenograd Golden is a cruising expert and coauthor of Frommer’s European Cruises & Ports of Call.