European River Cruises
Popular Cruising Season
Popular Cruising Season: May - Oct
Favourite Cruise Operators
Favourite South Pacific Cruise Operators: Paul Gauguin, Windstar, Silversea, Ponant, Paul Gauguin, Windstar, Silversea, Ponant
Other Cruise Operators
Other South Pacific Cruise Operators: Paul Gauguin, Windstar, Silversea, Ponant, Paul Gauguin, Windstar, Silversea, Ponant
Cruising the great waterways of Europe is one of the very best ways to experience Europe – aboard a floating hotel which will take you into the heart of destinations and through some of the most scenic landscapes in Europe.
Two of the most popular rivers for a river cruise in Europe are the Danube and the Rhine and if it’s your first-time river cruising in Europe, looking at a Rhine Cruise or a Cruise along the Danube is a very good place to start.
One of the most beautiful river cruises in Europe is combining a Rhine Cruise with the Moselle, a beautiful river fringed by vineyards.
There is a range of European river cruising operators to choose from including Avalon and Emerald who are both well-known to Kiwi travellers. More luxury European River Cruise operators include AMA Waterways and Tauck (both exceptional US operators), Uniglobe, APT and Scenic Cruises.
This is just a selection of some of our favourite river cruise journeys in Europe and we are able to tailor make your European River Cruise holiday to suit you, with flights and pre- and post- accommodation.
The Rhine & Moselle Basel to Amsterdam
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"Cruise through four countries on this scenic river cruise journey. Pre- and post-cruise stays included".
Explore extraordinary cities in Germany and France, as well as Holland’s capital of Amsterdam.
Highlights include Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, the Rhine Gorge, Moselle’s vineyards, Cologne & Amsterdam.
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Rhone River Cruise - Nice to Lyon
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Explore medieval cities and Roman ruins on this French River Cruise. Pre- and Post-cruise stays included.
Cruise aboard The Emerald Liberté, custom-built for river cruising along the Rhône and Saône.
Slowly flowing towards the Mediterranean Sea from beautiful old Lyon, the Rhône cuts a serene path through the heart of France.
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Hamburg to Berlin by Paddleboat
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"Cruise the Elbe through historic northern Germany. Pre- and post-cruise stays included".
Paddleboat cruise to discover medieval Hanseatic cities between Hamburg and Berlin.
Highlights include Magdeburg, Luneburg, Hamburg, Lübeck and the Scharnebeck twin ship lift en-route to Berlin.
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Splendours of Europe Cruise - 12 nights from $6,995 pp
Board an Emerald Star Ship for this iconic European river cruise journey through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
Promising natural beauty, medieval towns, hikes to hilltop fortresses and visits to four great capital cities, this iconic European River cruise offers a unique insight into the region’s past, present and future.
Highlights include Glass-top canal cruise in Amsterdam and guided tours of Cologne, Miltenberg, Würzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Melk Abbey, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.
Amsterdam to Budapest. City stays included.
A Taste of Bordeaux Wine & Gourmet
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Legendary Danube River Cruise
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Balkan Discovery - Budapest to Bucharest
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"Luxury French Wine Cruise holiday from Bordeaux. Pre- and post cruise stays included".
French wine regions cruise, 4 nights in Bilbao & San Sebastian & 2 nights in the Loire Valley included.
A dedicated wine expert will be on board to lead tastings and suggest pairings with AMA’s award-winning cuisine.
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"Join this iconic Luxury Danube River Cruise. Pre- and post-cruise stays included".
Includes the Main-Danube Canal, the Wachau Valley, Regensburg, Passau, Melk and Vienna.
Your discovery of Europe’s history begins in the perfectly preserved medieval city of Nuremberg and concludes in Budapest.
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"Illuminating Eastern European Danube River cruise. Pre- and post-cruise stays included".
Experience Eastern Europe on this Danube River cruise adventure through the Balkans.
Cruise through the ‘Iron Gates’ and the rich landscapes and cultural locales of Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania.
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The Enchanting Rhine - 12 nights from $6,995 pp
Take a front-row seat on an enchanting AMA Waterways River Cruise that takes you along the Rhine and through its designated UNESCO World Heritage Site with its 40 castles strung like pearls on its riverbanks and to magnificent cities and charming villages alike.
Grand cities blend in perfect harmony with their historic past and their progressive future.
Inspirational towns such as Heidelberg have given way to great stories, poetry and music. Timeless traditions remain intact—from the making of Kölsch, Cologne’s legendary brew, to the making of Rüdesheimer coffee.
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Magnificent Europe - Amsterdam to Budapest
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Tulips & Windmills Amsterdam to Antwerp
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River of Gold Lisbon to Porto
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"Luxury APT Rhine River Cruise through the heart of Europe. Pre- and post-cruise stays included".
Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest on this European river cruise on the Rhine, Main and Danube.
In Vienna, enjoy a cocktail party and private orchestra recital or city tour before heading to Budapest for two days.
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"Enjoy the colours of Belgium and the Netherlands. Pre- and post-cruise stays included".
From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium.
This charming canal cruise is for those looking to step back in time to visit historic villages and medieval city centres.
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"Enjoy historic cities and the Douro’s beauty & history. Pre- and post-cruise stays included".
Discover the charms of Lisbon, Coimbra, Salamanca and the port warehouses of Porto.
Enjoy traditional cuisine, wine and fado singing and cruise the Douro River Valley, the world’s oldest wine region.
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Romantic Rhine & Moselle - 12 nights from $6,995 pp
Romance is alive and well on the Rhine. On this luxury Scenic River Cruise, there’s probably a fairytale moment waiting just beyond the next river bend!
The castles that grace this region sometimes seem as if they were lifted straight from the silver screen – hardly surprising as it’s a region that’s long been favoured by Hollywood directors.
From Lorelei, the Rhine River siren said to lure sailors to their demise, to the legendary Black Forest, which still resonates with imaginative children’s tales, there are stories of romances galore delight in. You may even compose a few of your own.
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Paris to London via the Seine & Normandy
The Saone - Arles to Paris
Seven River Journey
"Cruise through the picturesque and historic landscapes of Normandy en-route from Paris to London".
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"This grand river cruise on the Seine, Saone & Rhone Rivers showcases France’s charm, scenery, and rich history".
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"Join an small group of like-minded travelers aboard an epic 46-night sailing celebrating the rich culture of 14 fascinating countries".
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