Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

We haven't taken any River Cruises but many Repositioning Cruises to Europe. We usually just rent a car and cruise the roads along Rhine and the Moselle and follow the cruise ships 😊. Regardless, about 80-90% of my photos are usually taken with a wide to normal zoom, 16-50mm. As many have said, traveling with the least amount of gear is advisable. Previous comments recommend a bridge camera for shore excursions, great idea. Personally, I've never needed much over 200mm since most of my photos were in the closer to moderate range along the river valley and especially in the towns and tourist sites like castles and such. Enjoy your cruise

geodowns Loc: Yale, Michigan

I have been using a 18-105 VR for everything since that's all I have. I have learned to use it well. But as much as I like my DSLR it would be a lot easier to use a mirrorless Sony Alfa a6000 at 24.3MP with 16-50 mm for all around walking. Your big camera could be used for deck scene photo but you might find the Sony is adequate for most shots.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Like others, I’ve taken that trip as well. I took a different approach. I brought a Canon 6d with the EF 24-105 f/4 lens for general shots including a video going thru one of the many canal locks. However, some of the best opportunities are shots of the river banks and hills beyond, section of which are abundant in vineyards and castles. For those, I brought a Canon SX50 HS. The extra range proved invaluable. No tripod, no monopod.

ceallachain Loc: Cape May, NJ

Good to see the comments on this question. I’m doing the Danube in April and was wondering about the lenses as well. Trip includes Budapest & Prague. The latter is land based.

Mama Bear984 Loc: Langley, BC Canada

28-135 for sure. Do you really want to lug around all these lines for that one time your going to use it. I’ve done it all I stick to my 18-135 now for travel. Only take the 18-55 in case my other lens breaks.
Even in low light it does well. There’s always enough light to manage.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Your thought process is right on.
the 18-55 and the 55-250 will do a great job covering most all situations with only 2 lenses.
I would leave the 55-250 on and carry the 18-55 most of the time. But things can change, my reason is telephoto subjects seem to disappear faster than those calling for wide angle for me.
The 18mm will be a God send if the boat lets you ashore (I have never done one of these) as many places are very tight and narrow streets and spaces make it hard to back up or get what you want into the photo. Remember the 18mm is roughly the view of a 28mm lens on the FF camera which is average wide. 24mm is about 40mm or not much different from a "normal" lens on a FF camera so you would have virtually no wide angle capability with a 24-70mm on your camera. And a 70-200mm leaves you lacking on the long end. 200 is equivalent to a 320mm FF lens where your excellent choice of 250 takes you 400mm equivalent which is really reaching out and touching.
If you could carry a 3rd lens, and afford it, might I suggest the excellent 10-18mm Canon lens. Relatively cheap but one of their sharpest lenses, go figure. It also has IS like your other 2 lenses do.
But bottom line your 18-250 range is excellent and will serve you well without breaking the bank and are not heavy monsters also.
Enjoy your trip.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

just came back from Christma in Prague and my 16-50 was more than enough for walking around...

TBPJr Loc: South Carolina

I think you will want the widest lens you have/can get, plus your mid-range zoom. The old cities have very narrow streets and buildings several stories high. If you are interested in shooting any of that, the wider, the better. Even with a super-wide angle, you will have to tilt your camera to get the tops of some buildings, especially the cathedrals. There are plenty of sights along the river that you may want to photograph, and a mid-range zoom or longer will come in handy (weather permitting), too.

It will be a great trip. Have a wonderful time!

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

I did the Viking Amsterdam to Budapest cruise last July. Primary camera: Sony A6300. Used a 55-210mm when onboard for landscape/wildlife pics from boat. On walking tours used a 16-70mm. (A6300 has a 1.5x crop factor.) Never felt the need for anything else. Recommend adding 2-3 days in Amsterdam and/or Budapest. Backup camera was a Sony RX100m3, a super pocket camera.
Be sure to catch: Sunrise shots from the top deck. Inside of windmills.
Some photos from cruise are at: http://www.gopeterg.com/Travel/River-Cruise-2017/
You'll have a great time!

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I would leave the 28-135 at home, as it's redundant. Also, the 18-55 is nice and light. As an alternative, if your budget allows, consider purchasing an 18-270 or 18-300 and take only that lens. Give your back a break!

Lenfagen

I guess you have heard all sides of the argument. Are you going to have a nice vacation and see a lot of new things and sights or are you going to photograph everything you see? You will be the ugly tourist toting around a large bag with a body and two or three lenses. I have taken 5 river cruises. I have uses a Nikon 28-200 on a d-300 or D-600 and have had wonderful success. Enjoy your trip without trying to photograph TOO much.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Make sure you use the VR function if shooting from the deck of the ship. The motors vibrate the deck. Many good shots can be taken from the outdoor deck while the ship is transiting from one city to another.

Signal Corps Jerry Loc: Northern, Il 0-75 Mi east of Mississippi Riv.

High Aimee -

This is my first reply - just registered at the suggestion of a fellow photog of over 50 years - went to college together in the late 1950's. I took this same path from Amsterdam to Budapest in 2016 August. I have carried a lot of bags, including three years in the US Army and all years since. I tried to be inclusive enough but also light as possible on this trip.

My main bag (Lowe Pro Nova 4) carried my main gear and fit under the airplane seat in front of me. The basic lenses I carried, all Nikon, were the 18-35mm 3.5-4.5 (not image stabilized), the 24-120 F4.0 VR, and the 70-300 4.5-5.6 VR. Match these focal lengths as close as possible with your gear bag. As you can see I went with all zooms. All of these plus a small flash,etc. fit in the bag. Generally on day shore trips I did not carry the 70-300 leaving that for deck use from the boat. With a vest I could have left the bag at the boat and put all in a vest but I like the comfort of having a bag to stuff everything into when taking a break. A plastic bag for possible wet weather replaced the all-weather cover in the back pocket of bag. We did have some rainy weather.

I used the 24-120 most of the time on shore during the day walking but had the 18-35mm with me for some street scenes and cathedral interiors - a must lens that I did not use enough. From the deck while moving the 24-120 and 70-300 were both very handy depending on the scenery and structures. Use the VR as much as possible and be aware - the boat speed is tricky - use fast shutter speed regardless of image stabilization - and made sure your IS or VR mode is set properly since you will be confronted with the fact that you are always moving. I found the zoom length of 70-300 to be just right. I worked from deck with a mono pod or handheld, both using the VR stabilization plus plenty of shutter speed.

Here is a hint re: shooting from the boat. At times the top deck(outside with canvas cover) is closed due to need to go under low level bridges and such. Shooting from a cabin balcony limits your sight path and therefore limits you to shooting only one side of the river. Go to the lobby area at the middle of the boat or just above on the second "level" at this same mid-boat location, where you can easily walk back and forth from one side (small outside-of-the-lobby open area - but protected from weather including wind) area to the other as photo targets appear on shore. Same goes for whether or not your cabin is on the shore side or river side when anchored. Another hint. You will spend considerable time riding a very nice modern motor coach through the city traffic, etc. on your way to city center, etc. and back. If you can, sit at a window. I tried to sit right behind the driver or across the aisle. Some of my best shots were done through the front window, both while moving or while stopped in traffic or at a light. Especially when it was raining! For this you will need at least the middle length zoom or even the longer one.

Another hint which I probably need not make to you. But us old film users were cheap and tried to avid shooting too many costly frames on a trip like this. Don't worry about shooting - go ahead and don't worry - do the editing at night or when you get home. Take your time in planning your shots (not to say you should not be open to quick candid shots) but take enough to cover your planned shot(s) well. Work the subjects than can in fact be worked. Aim high in the cathedrals to eliminate most if not all people when you do not want them!

I took and used a PS Nikon P7000 and found it nice to carry on board, to dinner, etc.- and completely good enough for nice enlargement images if wanted. You may have to make some conversion thoughts on this info since I see you are using a mirrorless Sony - no experience there!

Above all have a good time, eat well, and bring back good photos!

Signal Corps Jerry Loc: Northern, Il 0-75 Mi east of Mississippi Riv.

High Amielee - I am brand new to this Forum. Saw your post re: European Cruise. I took this same itinerary on Viking in August 2016 - great trip. An earlier response attempt to your post was lengthy - and I found it "stuck" by going to "My Profile" where I found my response, as well as your profile. I tried to be "light weight" with my gear. I took my D600 full-frame Nikon and 3 basic lenses and a PS P7000 Nikon camera (back up and on-board pics) in a LowePro Nova Pro 4 bag that fits under the airlines seat. The Nikon lenses were 18-35mm, 3.5-4.5, 24-120 4.0 VR (vibration reduction), and 70-300 4.5-5.6 (VR). These worked well. . All photo gear fit in this one bag. Tips - be careful about adequate shutter speed when shooting from moving deck - it may fool you. Stake out the mid-ship lobby area, first and second level, where you can quickly walk from one side of the boat to the other - the river has two shores and being stuck in your cabin gives access to only one side. Shoot plenty and and edit later. Use the widest angle as you can for interior cathedral shots - and compose high to avoid most if not all people heads - unless you purposefully want them. As you might guess from my user name (Signal Corps Jerry) I spent time time in the US Army(3 years) as did you. I worked as a photolab tech and photog for - two years in Germany. Self taught with Dads assistance from young age, through high school and college, and at Signal school. Worked 32 years in Human Resources for the US Army Corps of Engineers meanwhile doing weddings, newspaper sports, family photos and such, and now concentrating on the fun stuff - landscape, travel, nature and some wildlife. Hope your European trip goes well - this itinerary is great with some 68 lockages on the river (s). The Corps where I worked sits on the Mississippi River (near Rock Island, Il Arsenal) and the locks system there was a primary Corp activity. Happy trails.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Taking your SX60 is a GREAT idea!!