European River Cruises & Rail holidays

River cruising is a great holiday choice if you want to experience the essence of each destination you visit from the comfort of your floating hotel. And you can expect each of our escorted cruises to be wonderfully relaxing, whilst also immersing you in different cultures.

From private concerts to city tours conducted by local guides, we breathe life into the cities, towns and surrounding countryside of Europe's most famous waterways. But It's not all about excursions and activities. Leisure time to unwind is key to a really pleasurable river cruise and our fleet is specifically designed to make this possible.

Food is another incredibly important part of the whole cruising experience and on board our exclusive cruises, expertly-crafted menus, exceptional service and panoramic surroundings are the order of the day. From dawn until dusk, skilful staff serve up locally-inspired dishes cooked by some of the finest ship chefs in Europe.

So, whether you're cruising the waterways of Holland & Belgium, the Rhine, Danube, Rhône, Seine, Dordogne or Douro Rivers, you can be assured we have everything taken care of from the moment you decide to book, to the moment you get home.

European Rivers

Type of Cruise

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Why Cruise with us

From your first call until your journey home, we'll be right there to make sure your cruise goes without a hitch from start to finish. And with included excursions, meals and travel you don't have to worry about a holiday budget, just enjoy everything that's been planned exclusively for you.

Our cruises include:

Classic escorted experience
Fine dining
Flexible excursions
5-Star accommodation & facilities
One-way itineraries
Onboard entertainment

The cruising experience

On-board experience

Flexible Excursions

Our Ships

At Great Rail Journeys, we know that the itinerary and destination make up only part of the excellent cruise experience we strive for. On a cruise, your accommodation becomes part of the holiday, and your ship should be as comfortable, as luxurious and as elegant as possible. With that in mind, our vessels are some of the finest ships cruising the rivers of Europe today, featuring some of the largest cabins in the industry.

The joy of cruising

One of the biggest stars of any great cruise holiday is often the river itself. Charming banks lined by beautiful scenery, the gentle lull of calm waters and the wonderful variety of sights to see all make the simple act of sailing down the river an experience to remember.

Our cruises are designed to bring the best out of each waterway. With little to no vibration from the engine below, our cruises gently drift down the river, allowing for sumptuous views from the sun deck, the restaurant and the cabins on board. Sailing the most scenic stretches in the daytime also means that our passengers can witness some spectacular sights such as the Rhine Gorge, the Wachau Valley and the Danube Bend by sunset.

Daytime cruising

On certain days, itineraries will feature segments of daytime cruising, revealing the true and often breathtaking beauty of some of Europe's finest waterways

Enjoy the sunlit scenery from all areas of the ship, in the cabins, the restaurant and the bar thanks to the specially designed panoramic windows

One-way cruising

Each Great Rail Journeys chartered cruise travels only one way up the river, meaning that none of our ships cover the same ground twice;

Every day brings new and exciting sights to see.

Luxury cruising

Our ships sail at a leisurely pace, allowing you to take in the best that Europe's waterways have to offer.

The gentle pace is perfect for kicking back and relaxing as you're lulled the peaceful sounds of lapping water

Guest Speakers

Our guest speakers are renowned within their fields, some have even appeared on television, while others have written books and academic articles.

Cruise commentary

Our engaging and informed Cruise Directors often provide their own commentary on important parts of the river, revealing hidden history and natural wonders.

Local guides

You are in safe hands with our carefully selected local guides, who speak excellent English and use personal headsets - no matter where you in the group, you will always be able to hear every word

Honest River Cruising

At Great Rail Journeys we are committed to providing you with an unrivalled holiday experience, ensuring that every aspect of your holiday has been designed to maximise your enjoyment while representing outstanding value for money. And with over 40 year's experience organising holidays for our customers, we know that one of the aspects they appreciate most is the exclusive promise we make to each and every person who books with us, guaranteeing the best possible value whichever cruise you choose.

We are proud to assure you that booking in advance will never mean paying a higher price, and we will never sell your river cruise cheaper to someone else. Though if we do reduce the cost at any point, for any reason, we will also apply that saving to you, refunding you the difference with minimal fuss. When it comes to cost we also guarantee that once your booking has been confirmed we will not increase the price, even to account for factors beyond our control. We will never artificially infl ate the cost of a river cruise and then discount it at a later date to make you think you're getting a better deal, unlike many other cruise companies.

And with so much included in our prices - air or rail travel, transfers, the services of a Cruise Director and Tour Manager, a full itinerary of shore excursions as well as all meals during your cruise, you can be sure you're getting the most from your money.

European River Cruises

European Rivers

Type of Cruise

We’ve found 43 tours for you matching: European River Cruises

An Impression of the Seine (Fly & Cruise)

An Impression of the Seine (Rail & Cruise)

Beautiful Bordeaux & The Dordogne Cruise (Fly & Cruise)

Delights of the Danube (Fly & Cruise)

Delights of the Danube (Rail & Cruise)

Discover the Douro

Fairytale Bavaria & Danube Cruise

Glacier Express & Rhine Cruise

Grand Cruise - Black Sea to the Danube

Grand Cruise - Black Sea to the Danube (Fly & Cruise)

Imperial Cities & Black Sea Cruise

Imperial Cities & Danube Cruise