There's a moment that happens on nearly every river cruise, and once you hear about it, you'll understand exactly why river cruising for women has become one of the most talked-about travel experiences of the last decade. You're standing on the sundeck of a beautifully appointed ship, a drink in your hand, watching a centuries-old village materialize on the riverbank as the sun begins to set behind its church steeple. The air smells like river water and fresh bread from a bakery you'll visit tomorrow morning.