As the end of summer draws near, travelers will soon be planning for the holidays. Friendly Planet Travel has just announced two new Christmas River Cruises which offer a leisurely way to explore Europe during the holiday season.

The 8-day Christmas on the Danube cruise starts at $2,699 and takes travelers along the Roman Empire, with stops in Germany, Austria and Slovakia. Travelers will spend Christmas Eve in Duernstein, Austria, and Christmas day in Vienna, Austria.

The 8-day Christmas on the Rhine cruise starts at $2,559 and brings travelers to the hilltop castles, terraced vineyards and waterside villages on a scenic stretch of river on the German-French border. Christmas Eve will be spent in Speyer, Germany and Christmas Day in Strasbourg, France, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s most attractive cities.

Both cruises include round-trip flights from New York, fuel surcharges, airline taxes and fees, cruise entertainment, all meals onboard, touring & more.

Friendly Planet Travel, www.friendlyplanet.com