Riviera Travel

One of Europe’s best kept secrets, explore the sleepy villages and medieval towns unchanged for centuries, amongst the breathtaking rolling hills and terraced vineyard slopes of the stunning Douro Valley. Commencing in the Roman city of Porto, the home of Port wine, Portugal’s once wild river Douro has been tamed by locks into resembling a series of finger lakes, adding greatly to the valley's ambience. Leaving behind the Atlantic influenced greenery of the coast, you are soon immersed in a Mediterranean land of olives, vines, and picturesque, medieval hilltop villages.

Soak up all that Europe’s most cultured river has to offer, with its wealth of grand baroque architecture, medieval cities, picture perfect towns and the sights that inspired Strauss and Mozart. From Budapest, we slip our moorings and head on our journey north to Esztergom spending the morning exploring its historic centre, which once was Hungary’s capital, before continuing westwards to the beautiful old town of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Navigating through Lower Austria we then reach the romantic town of Dürnstein. After, we visit the remarkable monastery in Melk. Soon we arrive in Linz for a guided tour. Alternatively, take the short drive to Salzburg and enjoy a guided tour of the old town. On our way back eastwards, we will reach classical Vienna. Finally, cruising into Hungary, we arrive back in imperial Budapest, straddling the picturesque Danube. After a guided tour of this palatial city, we spend the evening on board, where, following our final dinner, we enjoy a Hungarian folklore show - an excellent finale to this most exceptional and relaxing cruise.

Cruise through the heart of Normandy along the majestic Seine visiting historic sites that have shaped the world today. We sail along the Seine, visiting Château Gaillard before exploring the delights of Rouen, one of Europe’s finest medieval cities with its stunning cathedral. We moor in the pretty village of Caudebec with time after dinner for an evening stroll in this typical French village. Then to Bayeux, home to the legendary Bayeux tapestry. We also see some of the many thought-provoking monuments and places along the Normandy coast and reflect on the remarkable story of the D-Day landings on our visit to Gold Beach. We visit picturesque Honfleur before heading back to Vernon and take the short drive to Giverny, visiting Claude Monet’s home and one of the world’s most famous gardens. Enjoy the streets of Vernon before we continue to one of the world’s most romantic cities, Paris. From the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre to the Pompidou Centre, this breathtaking city never fails to inspire no matter how many times you get the chance to visit.

We start by exploring Mainz, with its Romanesque cathedral and timber-clad buildings, at the scenic heart of the country’s Winelands. Our cruise along the Main takes us to idyllic Miltenberg, a well-preserved medieval village. Then it’s on to delightful Wertheim, its ancient castle standing over the colourful market square below. Uncover further delights as we arrive in Würzburg, the most elegant of Bavarian cities, crowned by the Baroque palace. Take the Romantic Road to Rothenburg ob der Tauber for spectacular views of the German river Tauber below as it winds through this fairy-tale land. The beauty of Bamberg never fails to enchant as our cruise arrives in one of the most beautiful and historic towns in Europe. Finally, we see Nuremberg, an intriguing city once again with its ornate Gothic church and bustling market. This river cruise is the perfect way to explore Germany’s medieval past for travellers who love history, architecture and stunning natural landscapes.

Glide past the pretty towns along the Rhine River, experience the breathtaking Alpine scenery on a mountain rail journey into the spectacular Bernese Oberland and discover Switzerland’s most attractive city. On our journey through the Rhine valley, we visit historic Koblenz where we have time to explore the old town at the confluence of both the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Next, we continue through the Rhine Gorge where the valley walls tower above our heads and onto Rüdesheim, where we enjoy another evening complemented with an excellent dinner on board. Our cruise continues south, stopping in medieval Speyer with its stunning Romanesque Basilica that dominates this pretty town. The next day we arrive at the city of Strasbourg where you enjoy a walking tour of the old town. Continuing, we drive through the typical rolling tree-clad massif of the Black Forest onto the charming town of Titisee, nestling on the shores of its namesake lake. Our final destination is Switzerland where we moor in Basel, from where we venture to stunning Lucerne and into the Bernese Oberland for unforgettable mountain vistas. This Swiss river cruise is ideal for travellers looking for a relaxing way to see stunning alpine views and visit historic European towns.

Following embarkation in Cologne, this cruise takes you south on the Rhine to Koblenz where we join the Moselle River, calling in the delightful town of Cochem. We also visit Trier, the oldest city in Germany, famous for its Roman amphitheatre, baths and the imposing Porta Nigra, the huge, fortified gate that formed the eastern border of the Roman Empire. After our furthest port of call, Bernkastel, we commence our cruise back downstream towards the Rhine, with time to relax and absorb the stunning scenery along the Moselle valley. We rejoin the Rhine, visiting the old town of Koblenz which sits on the confluence of the two might rivers, and stopping in enroute in Boppard - known as ‘the Pearl of the Rhine’. One of the highlights of the cruise is the hours spent cruising through the Rhine Gorge where you'll see scenic 360 views and be able to spot the famous Lorelei rock, all on the way to Rüdesheim (one of the prettiest towns in Germany, if you ask us) before heading back north to Cologne for a guided city tour. All in all, cruise that takes in some of the most beautiful landscapes that Germany has to offer, with plenty of interesting places to visit as you go, learning about the history of each place and sampling the local tipples - all appreciated from a most privileged vantage point of your luxurious, five-star ship.

Roundtrip Budapest | 2024 and 2025 departures
Soak up all that Europe’s most cultured river has to offer, with its wealth of grand baroque architecture, medieval cities, picture perfect towns and the sights that inspired Strauss and Mozart.

Cologne to Basel | 2024 and 2025 departures
Glide past the pretty towns along the Rhine River, experience the breathtaking Alpine scenery on a mountain rail journey into the spectacular Bernese Oberland and discover Switzerland’s most attractive cities.

Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia & Guimarães | 2024 and 2025 departures
Explore Portugal - one of the oldest countries in Europe - while meandering along the beautifully tranquil Douro river. Experience Portugal's wine-making traditions and explore the country’s fascinating history.

Roundtrip Cologne | 2024 and 2025 departures
Explore the historic cities of the mighty Rhine and the quintessential half-timbered wine villages of the serene Moselle, its banks lined with ancient, ruined castles and impossibly steep terraced vineyards.

Roundtrip Cologne | 2024 and 2025 departures
A spectacularly scenic cruise of wonderful contrasts, from refined and historic Heidelberg to delightfully quaint Boppard and the old-world charm of medieval Strasbourg plus the enduring allure of the glorious Rhine Gorge.

Roundtrip Amsterdam | April 2025 departures
Experience historic maritime cities, where innovation meets the traditions of the past, and take in the authenticity of iconic windmills and the floral masterpiece of the colourful Dutch bulb fields.