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Escorted Boating Holidays

For discerning holidaymakers seeking something a little more varied and interesting - but no less relaxing and enjoyable - than reclining on a beach, a combined rail and boating holiday from Great Rail Journeys is the perfect solution.

Few holiday experiences can compare with gliding along some Europe's greatest waterways in the comfort of a modern, comfortable and fully-equipped ship, visiting historic destinations and travelling through stunning scenery. But as these are Great Rail Journeys' combined rail and boating holidays, you're also guaranteed some outstanding rail journeys.

From the exhilarating high-speed comfort of the international Eurostar to the enjoyable journey across northern Italy from Turin to Venice on our Venice Lagoon Cruise and Lake Garda holiday or the supremely scenic ride on Scotland's famous West Highland Line on our Scottish Islands and Lochs Cruise, superb rail travel is part and parcel of our rail and boating holidays.

Great Rail Journeys' extensive choice of rail and boating holidays offers something to delight everyone. From the romance of cruising the Seine, Rhone or Danube rivers to the sight of Holland's gloriously multi-coloured fields on one of our bulbfields cruises, a rail and boating holiday offers an ever-changing feast of historically and culturally fascinating destinations, beautiful waterways and landscapes and enjoyable excursions and activities.

32 results matching: Escorted Boating Holidays

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River CruiseRiver Cruise
Tulips CruiseTulips CruiseTulips CruiseTulips CruiseTulips Cruise
Save up to £400pp
Springtime Tulips & Keukenhof Gardens
4.5 stars(301 reviews)
2026Apr
2027Apr

Embrace the stunning scents and colours on this flower-filled cruise through Belgium and the Netherlands. Walk among incredible floral displays at Keukenhof Gardens, visit poignant war sites and explore the quaint streets of Amsterdam, Bruges and Ghent. Cruising aboard a luxurious ship, step ashore at ports along the way to visit Ypres...

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Save up to £400pp
8 days from
£2,399 pp
per person
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
BaselBaselBaselBaselBasel
Save up to £400pp
The Romantic Rhine: Amsterdam to Basel
4.4 stars(135 reviews)
2026MayJunJul
2027MayJunJul

Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Netherlands to Switzerland on a luxury river cruise. Sail through four countries, admiring stunning forested valleys, charming half-timbered towns and historic cities lining the picturesque banks of this incredible river. Marvel at the spectacular scenery of the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage...

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Save up to £400pp
8 days from
£2,199 pp
per person
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
La RochelleLa RochelleLa RochelleLa RochelleLa Rochelle
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Beautiful Bordeaux, the Dordogne & La Rochelle
2026JunSep

Experience the idyllic landscapes of the Bordeaux wine region on a leisurely river cruise on the Garonne and Dordogne. Discover Bordeaux's 18th-century grandeur and cruise to medieval St Émilion, where ancient caves and Europe's largest monolithic church await. Explore the renowned Médoc wine route, visit the prestigious Rochefort and picturesque...

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Save up to £400pp
7 days from
£2,199 pp
per person
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
StrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourg
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Waterways of Alsace & Lorraine
4.6 stars(66 reviews)
2026MayJunSep

Uncover the treasures of Alscace and Lorraine on this all-inclusive barge cruise, discovering sights that lie off the beaten path, including the historic towns of Saverne and Sarrebourg. Starting in the historic Alsace city of Strasbourg, we sail through ancient waterways on a panoramic boat into picturesque districts, aglow with evening...

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Save up to £400pp
7 days from
£2,999 pp £2,799 pp
per person
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
BudapestBudapestBudapestBudapestBudapest
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Delights of the Danube: Budapest to Passau - Fly
4.6 stars(49 reviews)
2026JunJulAugSepOct

Fly to Budapest, the 'Pearl of the Danube' for a luxurious cruise through beautiful nature and the historic cities of central Europe. Enroute, uncover quaint villages, hillside vineyards and local cuisine. After exploring the fascinating cities of Bratislava and Vienna, marvel at the 11th-century Melk Abbey in Austria's scenic Wachau ...

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Save up to £400pp
8 days from
£2,199 pp £1,999 pp
per person
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
BiarritzBiarritzBiarritzBiarritzBiarritz
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Biarritz & Bordeaux Cruise
2026JunSep

Experience the Basque coast of France and a river cruise into the wine region of Bordeaux. Starting in the Belle Époque city of Biarritz, we enjoy a trip on La Rhune Mountain Railway in the western Pyrenees. Next, we sail through the scenic Garonne and Dordogne aboard the MS Cyrano de Bergerac, into one of Europe's most renowned wine regions.

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Save up to £400pp
10 days from
£3,099 pp
per person
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
PortoPortoPortoPortoPorto
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Discover the Douro
4.4 stars(44 reviews)
2026MaySep

Flying in to Porto, set sail for a seven-night cruise along the Douro. Our floating hotel drifts past golden valleys, enchanting towns and wine estates as the route reveals the timeless beauty of this serene river, stopping at wonderful ports along the way. A showcase of culture, history and scenery in the Douro Valley, our journey takes us...

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Save up to £400pp
8 days from
£2,499 pp £2,299 pp
per person
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
BudapestBudapestBudapestBudapestBudapest
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Delights of the Danube: Budapest to Passau
4.3 stars(113 reviews)
2026JunJulAugSep
2027JunJulSep

Uncover the gems of Hungary, Slovakia and Austria on a luxurious Danube river cruise. Explore the fascinating cities of Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna, marvel at the striking Melk Abbey in the Wachau Valley, indulge in local cuisine and sample some of the region's finest wines. Choose to spend a day in historic Salzburg, the birthplace...

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Save up to £400pp
11 days from
£3,099 pp
per person
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
Cologne Christmas MarketsCologne Christmas MarketsCologne Christmas MarketsCologne Christmas MarketsCologne Christmas Markets
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German Christmas Markets of the Rhine
4.5 stars(138 reviews)
2025NovDec
2026NovDec

Feel the spirit of Christmas on this cruise along the beautiful Rhine. Discovering Germany at the most magical time of the year we stop at traditional Christmas markets along the way. Strolling through the stalls, admire the craftsmanship of local artisans and savour the flavours that define the season. On board, soak up the natural beauty...

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Save up to £400pp
5 days from
£1,499 pp
per person
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
Rhine GorgeRhine GorgeRhine GorgeRhine GorgeRhine Gorge
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The Majestic Rhine: Basel to Amsterdam
4.5 stars(250 reviews)
2026MayJunJul
2027MayJunJul

Embark on a scenic river cruise from Switzerland to Amsterdam, uncovering enchanting landscapes on the way, including the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, adorned with stunning castles, lush forests and sprawling vineyards. Sail from Switzerland to the Netherlands, drifting by forested valleys and charming riverside villages while enjoying guided...

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Save up to £400pp
8 days from
£2,399 pp
per person
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
Ardeche GorgeArdeche GorgeArdeche GorgeArdeche GorgeArdeche Gorge
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Provence & the Elegant Rhône
4.4 stars(156 reviews)
2026AprJunJulAugSep

 The timeless destinations and renowned beauty of Southern France beckons on this cruise journey. Join the luxurious MS Amadeus Provence to uncover a tapestry of experiences while cruising along the Rhône and Saône rivers, with a unique focus on the region's culinary prowess. Indulge in the finest Burgundy wines in Beaune, savour the ...

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Save up to £400pp
8 days from
£3,299 pp
per person
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River CruiseRiver Cruise
PortoPortoPortoPortoPorto
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Premium Golden Douro
2026MayJunOct

Combining five-star luxury with superb excursions and stunning views of the golden Douro from our outstanding ship, custom-built to navigate the delightful Douro, this brand-new tour delivers a fascinating insight into Portuguese culture on guided tours, onboard events and port tastings. The MS Estrela offers unparalleled comfort and a...

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Save up to £400pp
8 days from
£2,699 pp £2,499 pp
per person
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Our customers love our Boating Holidays tours
Waterways of Alsace & Lorraine
26/Sep
Mrs P Sargeant
5 stars
“Everything was perfect food, staff and fellow travelers
Collected by Trustpilot
Provence & the Elegant Rhône
22/Sep
Victorian House Owner
5 stars
“A well organised and interesting trip. From the moment we met our group at St Pancras until our return we were so well looked after; the journey to and from the River Cruiser mostly went smoothly and any issues were swiftly sorted by Ann Marie. Lucy, our Cruise...
Collected by Trustpilot
The Romantic Rhine: Amsterdam to Basel
17/Aug
Helen Antrichan
5 stars
“Everything was so well planned and organised. The ship was perfect and staff were wonderful.
Collected by Trustpilot
The Majestic Rhine: Basel to Amsterdam
5/Aug
JD
5 stars
“Very enjoyable, well organised trip
Collected by Trustpilot
Springtime Tulips & Keukenhof Gardens
27/May
SPUD
5 stars
“WONDERFUL CRUISE WITH WITH EXCELLENT ATTENTION TO DETAIL, COULDN'T FAULT IT!!
Collected by Trustpilot
Discover the Douro
1/Oct
David Hill
4 stars
“A short cruise up and down the Douro, stopping at various points and including interesting visits to Porto, Salamanca, Almego and Guimaraes
Collected by Trustpilot
Delights of the Danube: Budapest to Passau
5/Sep
Rachel Nelson
4 stars
“First time we have done a river cruise and escorted rail journey. We had a great experience and met lovely people . We had a lovely tour manager Wyn. However we felt on the escorted rail journey we had very little time to explore that the hotels were generally outside...
Collected by Trustpilot
Delights of the Danube: Budapest to Passau - Fly
30/Aug
Paul from Abingdon
4 stars
“The itinery was great, state room was lovely and a good size but didn't like the vertical opening windows, I prefer French balcony with sliding doors. The food was great quality but lacked choice of main courses and deserts & should have more fresh fruit especially at breakfast. One of...
Collected by Trustpilot
German Christmas Markets of the Rhine
10/Jan
Rose
4 stars
“Me and my husband travelled as part of a group of four and we had a lovely time. The river boat was very clean and well appointed, the boat crew were incredibly courteous, helpful and fun, the food was consistently high quality and always a good choice. We very much enjoyed...
Collected by Trustpilot

A combined rail and boating holiday with Great Rail Journeys provides a relaxing and pleasurable break at any time of year. At Christmas, a Rhine Cruise aboard the 5-star MS Amadeus Elegant presents the perfect opportunity to visit Germany's legendary Christmas markets for some festive gift-shopping. Alternatively, a week later, the New Year can be welcomed in style as you sail through some of Europe's most picturesque scenery on this historic river. Autumn is the time to enjoy the warmth of Spain and Portugal on a cruise through the beautiful Douro Valley on our Along the Pilgrims Way to the Douro holiday which visits the best of the towns, cities and countryside along the historic route of the pilgrimage of St James.

Summer is the perfect season in which to enjoy the sun kissed beauty of Europe's many stunning waterways and destinations. From the magnificent Alhambra Palace in full bloom and the golden coast of Portugal's Algarve on our Rivers and Coasts of Andalucia rail and boating holiday to the sights and experiences that inspired one of the world's greatest composers as seen on our Mozart Danube Cruise, a summer rail and boating holiday with Great Rail Journeys is a fabulous way to combine sunshine and sightseeing.