If meandering and poking about is your style of travel, investigate the charms of a river, canal or coastal cruise. Rivers were the first highways and in some parts of the world remain the major means of commercial transport. There are more than 50 major operators of cruises on waterways around the globe. Some appeal to the seasoned upscale traveler, while others attract the adventurous in spirit with limited finances.

IN EUROPE: The homey barges, operating on ancient interconnected canal systems of the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, usually carry from six to 24 passengers in petite but comfortable cabins with ensuite facilities. Public rooms are informal, conducive to passenger interaction and casual attire. Normally included on these barge trips are gourmet meals with wine, all shore excursions and even bicycles for independent sightseeing. This rewarding experience allows a peek into the "backdoors" of Europe without feeling like a Peeping Tom.

Top itineraries on European rivers and canals are operated or marketed by Abercrombie & Kent, 800-554-7016 or www.abercrombiekent.com; Barge Lady Cruises, 800-880-0071 or www.bargeladycruises.com; Uniworld, 800-360-9550 or www.uniworld.com; and Avalon Waterways, 877-797-8791 or www.avalonwaterways.com.

IN THE U.S.: River and coastal journeys in the U.S. are offered by Cruise West 800-580-0072 or www.cruisewest.com and American Cruise Lines, 800-814-6880 or www.americancruiselines.com.

Ships that regularly ply the Great Lakes and Canadian rivers and coastal waters cruise under the banners of St. Lawrence Cruise Lines, 800-267-7868 or www.stlawrencecruiselines.com; American Canadian Caribbean Line, 800-556-7450 or www.accl-smallships.com; Travel Dynamics, 800-257-5767 or www.traveldynamicsinternational.com; Ontario Waterway Cruises, 800-561-5767 or www.ontariowaterwaycruises.com; and Great Lakes Cruise Co., 888-891-0203. www.greatlakescruising.com.

SOUTH AMERICA: For options on South American rivers try Amazon Tours & Cruises, 800-423-2791 or www.amazontours.net, and Aqua Expeditions, 866-603-3687 or www.aquaexpeditions.com. Uniworld, above, and Viking River Cruises, 800-304-9616 or www.vikingrivercruises.com, operate deluxe cruises on Russian waterways. www.Yangtzeriver.org, 800-268-2918, is an agent for the top-rated vessels on China's major river. Hurtigruten, formerly Bergen Line, 866-552-0371 or www.hurtigruten.us, operates Norwegian coastal cruises as well as Arctic and Antarctica voyages. Oberoi, 800-562-3764 or www.oberoihotels.com, operates the new Zahra, the most luxurious vessel on the Nile.

GREAT RIVER CRUISES: Although there are scores of waterways with cruise opportunities, some of the great ones come to mind: China's Yangtze River; the Volga, Don and Amur Rivers of Russia; the Sepik River in New Guinea; Europe's Danube, Mosel, Elbe and Rhine Rivers; the Egyptian Nile; the intricate medieval canal systems of Western Europe and Great Britain; South America's Orinoco, Napo and Amazon rivers; Sweden's Gota Canal; the Thames of England; the Po River in Italy; Ireland's River Shannon; and the Douro River in Portugal.

Also at the top of the A-list would be America's Mississippi, Columbia and Hudson Rivers, plus the Intercoastal Waterway from Florida to New England, and the Great Lakes; the St. Lawrence and Saguenay Rivers in Canada; Norway's coastal fjord waters; the Irrawaddy River of Myanmar; Australia's Murray River; and the Bay of Islands in New Zealand.

EXOTIC CRUISES: For truly exotic adventures on water check out Irrawaddy Flotilla Co., www.pandaw.com, for riveting voyages on the great rivers of Burma, Borneo, India, Cambodia and Vietnam; and Trans Niugini Tours, www.pngtours.com, and Melanesian Tourist Services, 310-809-6700 or www.mtspng.com, offer sailings on the spectacular Sepik River and Trobriand Islands in New Guinea.

© 2009. Irene Croft Jr. of Kailua, Kona, is a travel writer and 45-year veteran globetrotter. Her column is published in this section every other week.