Top European River Cruises Luxury Culture River Cruises & Packages 2025/2026

Our 50 most popular European River Cruises Luxury Culture River Cruises & Packages trips. Compare tour itineraries from 8 tour companies. 6 reviews.

50 Trips match your criteria (45 - 50 shown)

Jewels of the Rhine
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4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Explore 8 different cities, towns and villages with a guide during our included tours and shore excursions
  • Take an orientation walk through Amsterdam
  • Tour of Cologne’s Old Town
  • Visit the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz
  • Cruise the majestic Rhine Gorge
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Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"We booked an Emerald Waterways river cruise a year ago and paid in full to get a discount. A river cruise was on our bucket list and our travel agent raved on and on about Emerald Waterways. Fast forward to 2020 and the pandemic hit the world hard. We fully expected the cruise to be cancelled and just yesterday it was. I knew that per the terms and conditions that if Emerald cancelled the cruise we were to be offered an alternate sailing date or a FULL refund. BUT, the letter I received said they were "suspending" (not cancelling) all sailings and if I didn't want the future cruise credit I could cancel under their standard terms and conditions. If I cancelled then I would lose a $1,000 deposit! This is a bad faith offer in my opinion. I am so upset with the way this was handled. I understand we are all suffering from the pandemic but Emerald Waterways needs to step up and do the right thing. Rest assured I will not be a future customer of Emerald Waterways."

Trip dates & details
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Legends of Moselle, Rhine and Main
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4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Explore beautiful old city Trier
  • Opportunity to Cruise along the beautiful Moselle River to Bernkastel
  • Visit Miltenberg
  • Cruise through the Main–Danube Canal, to Bamberg and explore UNESCO world heritage site

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"We booked an Emerald Waterways river cruise a year ago and paid in full to get a discount. A river cruise was on our bucket list and our travel agent raved on and on about Emerald Waterways. Fast forward to 2020 and the pandemic hit the world hard. We fully expected the cruise to be cancelled and just yesterday it was. I knew that per the terms and conditions that if Emerald cancelled the cruise we were to be offered an alternate sailing date or a FULL refund. BUT, the letter I received said they were "suspending" (not cancelling) all sailings and if I didn't want the future cruise credit I could cancel under their standard terms and conditions. If I cancelled then I would lose a $1,000 deposit! This is a bad faith offer in my opinion. I am so upset with the way this was handled. I understand we are all suffering from the pandemic but Emerald Waterways needs to step up and do the right thing. Rest assured I will not be a future customer of Emerald Waterways."

Trip dates & details
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Majestic Europe
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River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Explore the abundant museums and galleries of Basel
  • Sample the numerous wines in a tavern in Koblenz
  • Discover the castle ruins in Wertheim
  • Admire the spectacular Christmas market in Nuremberg

Themes

Cultural

Trip dates & details
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Grand Europe - Budapest to Amsterdam
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River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Take-in the striking skyline of Budapest
  • Admire the colorful buildings and cobblestone maze of Bratislava
  • Experience the thriving vineyards of Durnstein
  • Explore the joyus and historical streets of Nuremberg

Themes

Cultural

Trip dates & details
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Inaugural - Jewels of the Rhine
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River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Sit a spell in a convivial cafe, explore world-class museums and feel the significance of the unique history of Amsterdam
  • Marvel at the diamonds in the sparkling city of Antwerp
  • Explore the waterside scenery and the amalgam of traditional and modern architectural styles in Nijmegen
  • Take a glimpse of the breathtaking architecture and photogenic scenery located in the cities of Germany

Themes

Cultural

Trip dates & details
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Legendary Rhine - Basel to Amsterdam
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River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Experience the cultural vibrancy of Basel
  • Admire the fairytale nature of Strasbourg
  • Explore the Rudesheim Christmas market during the holidays
  • Take-in the avant-garde architecture of Cologne

Themes

Cultural

Trip dates & details
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European River Cruises Luxury Culture River Cruises & Packages Reviews

W

Wayne H

Jan 2017

Written on

The most amazing river trip in Europe

Traveling from Belgium through 6 countries to Switzerland is one of the most amazing travel experiences in Europe, especially if traveling with Grand Circle Travel. ...

R

Rick & Fran

Aug 2015

We enjoyed the entire experience

We enjoyed the entire experience; Normandy and Omaha Beach were especially moving. The food and service deserve praise too. This is our third Viking cruise and we'll...

L

Larry

Oct 2018

Misleading and often just plain dishonest.

We paid for a 3 week luxury river cruise but received a large group bus trip across Europe with many days of packing and unpacking. I called our Viking representativ...

C

Charles

Oct 2022

Good and no so goog

Recently returned from a Viking Rhine trip on 10/14. The good: Rhine water levels were good, no issues. Service on the vessel was A+, excluding one attendant with...

T

Tonya

Aug 2015

Incredible experience

Incredible experience sailing on the Grand European tour from Amsterdam to Budapest! Just wonderful! The tours were interesting, and most allowed for adequate free t...

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