Chartered River Cruises - a new approach

What can you look forward on our exclusive charter cruises? For one thing, you can enjoy the classic high quality of escorted experience for which Great Rail Journeys is famous, but on some of the finest cruise itineraries available.

Our cruises take place on 5-star exclusively chartered ships, sailing on one-way itineraries up the most beautiful rivers in Europe. Each holiday features sublime on-board food inspired by the destination.

In an industry first, you can pick your own cabin using our intuitive booking system, and all of those cabins are some of the most spacious and generous in the European river cruising industry today.

Exclusive River Cruise Charter 2019. Welcome to a new kind of 5-Star river cruising experience.

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Cruising by Rail & Air
On-board Experience
Our Ships
Tours

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

Cruising by Rail & Air

Fly and Cruise

Hop aboard a plane from your nearest airport and fly to the closest companion airport in either Switzerland, Holland or Hungary.

Escorted Rail and Cruise

We have a number of rail options available, as some departures make the most of the comfort that First Class rail travel has to offer, while some take advantage of the value for money that Standard travel provides.

Escorted Tour and Cruise

One exciting option available to you when choosing our cruises is the opportunity to add a brief tour on to the beginning, or end of your cruise.

The cruising experience

On-board experience

Our ships

Staterooms and suites

Flexible Excursions

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

On-board Experience

On board every Great Rail Journeys charter vessel, the level and dedication to professional service is second to none.

From your first moment on board, you'll be greeted by a designated porter who will take your luggage from reception straight to your cabin. From this point on, your every care and need will be taken care of by a team of hard-working, friendly and professional crew, all under the leadership of a designated Hotel Manager.

Each staff member speaks superb English, and is always happy to answer any questions, whether that be a query about the river or about the ship. Above, on the top deck, the Captain himself is a fountain of knowledge, as is your Cruise Director, and both are readily available to provide information about the waterways, countries and cities you pass through on your holiday.

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

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.

Our fleet of chartered Amadeus ships are designed specifically to provide you with the highest level of comfort and convenience throughout the duration of your river cruise. As such, each ship has a range of excellent and well-maintained amenities and facilities at your disposal, all run by a friendly, professional and multilingual crew. Take a look at our floating hotels below, and enjoy browsing all that they offer.

Amadeus Silver II

Amadeus Silver III

Amadeus Queen

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.