Scenic River Cruises | Distinct Vacations
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LUXURY RIVER CRUISES

Luxury European river cruises

 

Luxury European river cruising offers you small ships, personalized service, gourmet dining, and all-inclusive experiences. You will be spending your days at the most charming European towns and villages as you are immersed in their culture and foods.

 

And our luxury travel agents will work with you to design your private pre and post land packages so you get the most out of your small luxury cruise. Below are some sailing ideas...

scenic river cruises

DANUBE RIVER CRUISE

Immerse yourself in the culture of four spectacular countries… Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Sailing on the Danube River you will pass ruins of ancient castles, lush vineyards and stunning river towns. You will dock in medieval cities full of charm and history to bike, hike, and sample delicate wines and hearty beers.

DANUBE RIVER CRUISE
BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO SAIL THE DANUBE
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Spring through Fall has the best weather for visiting this region. July and August are the warmest months.

 

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES ON THE DANUBE
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  • Enjoy a walking tour exploring a medieval city

  • Sample Bavarian specialties such as beer, sausage, and pretzels

  • Take a guided bike tour along the Danube River

  • Hike up to a fortress for panoramic views overlooking three rivers

  • Join a bike tour to the UNESCO designated Wachau Valley

  • Enjoy a walking tour to explore Vienna, including the majestic Opera House and palace

  • Visit the Great Market Hall in Budapest

danube luxury river cruise
danube river european cruises
SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR A DANUBE RIVER CRUISE
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Your journey on the Danube starts in the medieval city of Nuremberg.

 

Then continue to Germany’s best preserved medieval city, Regensburg, where you will enjoy a walking tour oR guided bike tour.

 

In Passau admire its beautiful cobblestone streets and Gothic Italian architecture.

 

Sail along the vineyard lined Wachau Valley on the way to Austria. Arrive in the spectacular city of Vienna. Enjoy the historic center, Opera House, palace and Cathedral.

 

Your last stop is Budapest where you can take a tour of this vibrant city or hike up to a castle for breathtaking views of the city.

RHINE RIVER CRUISE

Cruising along the Rhine you’ll have Germany on one side and France on the other. Marvel at castles and medieval cathedrals that line the river on both sides. Visit historic cities, including ancient Cologne and picturesque Strasbourg; stroll through the fairytale town of Rüdesheim (my personal favorite on this sailing); and taste delightful wines in the villages where the grapes are grown. 

RHINE CRUISE
BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO SAIL THE RHINE
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Spring through Fall is the best time to cruise along the Rhine. The landscape is vibrant in the Fall as the leaves change colors.

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UNIQUE EXPERIENCES ON THE RHINE
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  • Explore the Alsatian Wine Road which hugs the foothills of the Vosges mountain range

  • Bike or hike to explore the banks of the river along the beautiful city of Strasbourg

  • Experience Riquewihr... a fairytale village in France where the timber-frame buildings still boast colorful shutters and cheerful flower boxes, and stone arches still lead to cobbled squares with cafés and carved fountains

  • Enjoy an exclusive tasting of estate-grown Rieslings at a castle in Rüdesheim then hike through the vineyards along the river

  • Marvel at the many stunning castles along the sublimely beautiful and romantic Upper Middle Rhine Valley

rhine river cruise
rhine river luxury cruises
SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR A RHINE RIVER CRUISE
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Start your journey in Basel, Switzerland as you spend the day discovering this beautiful city along the river. Your floating boutique hotel will take you through the most charming towns along the Rhine River. From picturesque French villages to German wine towns where you'll taste delightful white wines in the villages where the grapes are grown. Then marvel at medieval castles along the river that were once mighty fortresses. Visit historic cities, including ancient Cologne and picturesque Strasbourg before ending your journey in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe... Amsterdam. 

 

We work with you to design your customized private pre and post land package so you can get the most out of your vacation.

PROVENCE & BURGUNDY RIVER CRUISE

Sail along France’s beautiful countryside enjoying the region’s incomparable wine and local cuisine. In Provence, explore French villages with local markets, visit olive groves, Roman ruins and a papal palace. For those looking for more activity, you can kayak on the Gardon River. Enjoy biking through Lyon and learning all about Burgundy wines.

PROVENCE RIVER CRUISE
BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO SAIL THROUGH PROVENCE & BURGUNDY
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Spring through Fall has the best weather for visiting this region. July and August are the warmest months. Lavender fields in Provence are in bloom from June to August, not to be missed!

 

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES IN FRANCE
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  • Stroll streets made famous by Van Gogh

  • Visit palaces and castles in medieval towns

  • Kayak on the Gardon River under a 2,000 year-old Roman aqueduct

  • Hike through vineyards on the Rhone River

  • Join a bicycle tour while in Lyon, the culinary capital of France

  • Explore the world renowned wine regions of Burgundy – vineyard visits and tastings

  • Go hunting for truffles at a local farm with the hunter and his dog

provence & burgundy river cruise
european river cruises
SAMPLE ITINERARY IN PROVENCE & BURGUNDY
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Your all-inclusive experience starts in Lyon, France’s culinary capital and sails down the river to Burgundy, one of the world’s renowned wine regions. Enjoy walking tours, bicycle tours, hikes, and vineyard visits.

 

Your cruise continues to the Provence region of France where you will go back in time as you visit the medieval towns and castles of this region. Kayak down the river in Avignon under a 2,000 year-old Roman aqueduct.

 

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BORDEAUX RIVER CRUISE

Spend a week exploring one of the most famous wine regions in the world. France’s breathtaking landscape leads you to exploring castles, wines and cultural treasures across the Bordeaux region. Wine tastings, village tours, and visits to farmers’ markets will fill your days.

BORDEAUX CRUISE
BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO VISIT​ BORDEAUX
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Spring and Fall are the best times to visit the Bordeaux region.

 

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES IN BORDEAUX
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  • Village tours will take you to local farmers’ markets

  • Enjoy multiple wine tastings at world renowned châteaux

  • Tour the Remy Martin facility and learn how this elixir is created, then taste three different cognacs with complementary nibbles

  • Explore the Médoc wine route and indulge in fresh Médoc oysters tasting

  • Wander the cobblestone streets of the medieval town of Saint-Émilion

  • Enjoy a guided bike tour through the picturesque city of Bordeaux

bordeaux river cruise
bordeaux luxury cruise
SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR THE BORDEAUX REGION
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Set sail along three stunning rivers, the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde, on one fascinatingly historical and invigorating journey.

 

Explore the country’s breathtaking backdrops, wines and cultural treasures across the region in Bordeaux, Fort Médoc, Cadillac, Blaye, Libourne and more.

 

Wander through archaeological marvels, historic landmarks and magnificent vineyards where you’ll be treated to samplings of local French goods, from cheeses to wines and local delicacies.

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And we will work with you to design your customized private pre and post packages so you include other cities in your journey.

Download our FREE Guide on River Cruising with Comparison CHART of Top Cruise Lines

european luxury river cruises
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