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There’s something utterly romantic about exploring Europe by boat. Whether you’re travelling down the Danube through Austria, Hungary and Serbia where castles and charming towns emerge around every turn, or along the River Rhine through Switzerland, Germany and Amsterdam where dramatic mountains and heritage canals paint the landscape - seeing Europe by river is an experience like no other.
Keen to board ship and set sail? These are the companies offering river cruises with the most arresting landscapes in Europe. Where will you go?
Boasting a handful of awards including Best Luxury Cruise Line 2015 by Cruise Passenger Magazine and Best Luxury Tour Operator 2016 by Luxury Travel Magazine, Scenic Cruises has made a name for itself in luxury tourism. Its 5 star cruise ships travel throughout Europe, Russia and Asia offering services that include airport-to-boat transport, unlimited access to top-shelf beverages, personal butler services and onshore excursions tailored to your whims and desires. Quality, thy name is Scenic.
Image: APT
A cruise company that needs no introduction, APT Touring has a reputation for being the most innovative and awarded luxury river cruise operator in Europe - and with good reason. Its fleet sails throughout Africa, Asia and Europe, delivering personalised service, all-inclusive luxuries and amenities and grand on-shore hotel experiences on each and every cruise. Go on, spoil yourself.
A member of the larger Globus travel company, Avalon Waterways has an extensive catalogue of cruise experiences for whatever your fancy. Choose your cruise by region, country or even theme - beer appreciation river cruise anyone? The sky (or should that be the water?) is the limit.
Viking Cruises prides itself in offering an intimate on-water experience. Each one of its longships typically caters to less than 200 guests, delivering a relaxing and uncrowded on-board experience. Its river cruises travel along the Danube, Rhine, Douro (Portugal) and Elbe (Germany) rivers with numerous guided tours being offered at each docked city, making the experience not only intimate, but immersive as well.
Those who prefer a faster-paced river cruise experience can explore G Adventures’ sailing options. Although limited to Burgundy for European adventures, the tour company offers exceptionally intimate boats (a maximum of 22 passengers) making it ideal for larger groups or for social butterflies who enjoy the company of strangers.
Based out of Germany, A-Rosa’s humble fleet of 11 vessels is dedicated to river cruises through Germany and Eastern Europe. For those who prefer touristic luxuries, five of its bespoke ships are designated for international travellers with a variety of international cuisines and languages available.
Whether you’re young or young-at-heart, Intrepid Travel offers adventurous sailing that will fuel your lust for travel. Its fleet of Europe-based yachts travel through the Mediterranean, with each housing up to 11 passengers who won’t have to lift a finger to help sail the ship - unless of course, you want to.
A brand from a well-know luxury river cruise company that caters to millennials. It sails to rivers of Europe and has stops at famous cities.
| Company | Meals included? | Beverages included? | Solo-traveller friendly? | Excursions included? | Extras included? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scenic Cruises | Yes | Yes | Yes (Supplement) | Yes | Butler service |
| APT | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Airport transfers and gratuities |
| Avalon Waterways | Yes | Yes | Yes (Supplement) | Yes | Wi-Fi access |
| Viking Cruises | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Wi-Fi access |
| G Adventures | Most | Yes | Yes | Yes | Internal flights (select tours) |
| A-Rosa | Yes | Yes | No | No | Wi-Fi access |
| Intrepid Travel | No | No | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| U River Cruises | Yes | No | Yes (Supplement) | Yes | Gratuities |
Uniworld
Up to $600 off 2020 cruises
Available on select dates from September - December 2020 to River Heritage Club members. Destinations include France, Amsterdam, India, China and more. T&Cs apply.
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Uniworld
Up to $500 off River Heritage Club members
Available on select 2021 dates. Destinations include India, France, Portugal, Spain, Egypt and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Uniworld
Up to 10% off 2021 cruises
Available on select 2021 dates to Asia, Europe, Egypt, France, India, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Russia and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 2020 | Up to $600 off 2020 cruises | ******** |
| 1 Jul 2020 | Up to $500 off River Heritage Club members | ******** |
| 1 Jul 2020 | Up to 10% off 2021 cruises | ******** |
| 1 Jul 2020 | Up to $427 off worldwide sailings | ******** |
| 14 Nov 2019 | Up to 85% off experiences, holiday and shopping | ******** |
