A city break, a tour and a boutique hotel on water: Why this should be your year to book an all-inclusive river cruise
- From the vineyards of the Moselle to grand cities on the Danube, try one of these incredible Saga river cruise itineraries
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Set sail on the rivers that thread together the countries of Europe and you’ll enjoy a unique perspective of the continent’s rich history.
These waterways have charted the rise and fall of empires, generated thriving trade, supported winemaking traditions and connected communities. They are fringed by medieval villages and splendid cities, fairy tale castles and lush vineyards.
A Saga river cruise offers the chance to enjoy it all at a leisurely pace, stepping aboard your boutique hotel on water, unpacking just once and visiting a variety of distinctive destinations in one unforgettable journey.
Saga river cruises are a fantastic way to explore Europe’s great waterways (Pictured: Spirit of the Rhine)
Glittering new ships, design with guests in mind – Spirit of the Danube and Spirit of the Rhine each offer elevated elegance (Pictured: Spirit of the Rhine)
Choose from Saga’s two new Spirit ships, designed to offer elegant style and soothing surrounds, or one of their hand-picked ships, selected to offer that same signature Saga service, so you can enjoy a truly memorable experience.
All those little details that make your journey a seamless experience come included. From the chauffeur-driven car that will pick you up from home and whisk you to your UK departure point, to your Eurostar or flight, exquisite dining, drinks+ and even gratuities like onshore excursions, you won’t need to worry about a thing.
Simply relax, enjoy the intimate atmosphere on board your ship, the personalised service and the beautiful spaces as the scenery slips past your windows.
From the mighty Rhine to the meandering Danube, the vineyard-flanked Moselle and Douro to the Elbe, Oder and the Dutch and Belgian waterways, you can take your pick from thoughtful itineraries that showcase the best of every region you’ll visit.
Set sail in style
Saga’s river cruises feature a selection of elegant and stylish ships, hand-picked to provide the ultimate cruising experience. Spirit of the Rhine and Spirit of the Danube, their two newest ships, each promise the warmest of welcomes on board.
Choose where to dine at no extra cost with an all-inclusive river cruise (Pictured: Spirit of the Danube)
Rheinfels onboard Spirit of the Rhine and Delta onboard Spirit of the Danube gives guests the chance to partake in a speciality dining experience (Pictured: Spirit of the Rhine)
As Saga’s first purpose-built river cruise ship, Spirit of the Rhine was designed to offer an unmatched standard of comfort, service, and value.
There is sense of space throughout the ship, from the panoramic lounge and bar to the shaded sun deck with its splash pool and barbecue area. Cabins are spacious and those on the ship’s middle and upper decks come with a French balcony.
With both the main Panorama restaurant and speciality restaurant Rheinfels included in your cruise, you’ll enjoy gourmet cuisine, as well as afternoon tea and drinks, with both Wi-Fi and gratuities included in your cruise, too.
On both ships, buffet breakfasts and waiter-served lunch and dinner are on the menu at the Panorama restaurant (Pictured: Spirit of the Danube)
Not to be outdone, Spirit of the Danube, Saga’s newest river cruise ship, maintains the same high standards as her boutique sister ship.
Equipped with the latest engine technology to significantly reduce emissions, she is one of the greenest ships on the rivers. Panoramic windows invite you to enjoy the every-changing vistas, the majority of cabins come with balconies, and the Panorama restaurant is joined by speciality restaurant Delta.
With the large sun deck and same inclusions as Spirit of the Rhine, you’re sure to enjoy an equally exclusive experience. Both ships welcome just 182 guests aboard, ensuring a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and crew who’ll know you by name and remember that favourite tipple you like to order.
Discover enchanting destinations
Saga’s boutique ships sail along some of Europe’s most storied rivers, offering guests an array of unforgettable itineraries.
Each journey is carefully crafted to showcase the rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cultures of the regions that the rivers wend their way through.
Set sail on a seven-night Castles of the Rhine itinerary from Amsterdam to Basel and you’ll meander past majestic castles, fortresses, and rolling hills. Drifting between the Netherlands and Germany, with a darling excursion to France, this a cruise for travellers who enjoy their history.
As the world rolls by: Sail from historical landmarks to darling wine towns (Pictured: Spirit of the Rhine)
Hungary to Austria along the Danube – stopping by an array of destinations along the way (Pictured: Spirit of the Danube)
Over this weeklong tour of medieval gems, you’ll get acquainted with flower-filled Koblenz where the Rhine and Moselle merge, with the red-sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle and with the striking cobbled streets of Strasbourg.
Then on the Danube, Europe’s second-longest river which flows from the Black Forest to the Black Sea, you can join a cruise to explore majestic cities as varied as Vienna, Prague and Budapest.
The 10-night Autumn Colours of the Danube cruise sails from Hungarian capital Budapest to pretty Linz in Austria, via golden-hued vineyards, an 11th-century Benedictine monastery, medieval towns and stoic castles.
For a taste of Iberian charm, glide along the Douro River, where you’ll encounter ancient cities, terraced vineyards, and dramatic gorges on the seven-night Douro Discovery.
Meanwhile, the enchanting Moselle River offers an equally tranquil experience, as you make your way through lush valleys, charming towns, and picturesque vineyards.
Visit the wine town of Cochem, see the Renaissance architecture of Bernkastel-Kues and explore historic Trier on an included excursion on the 14-night Magnificent Rhine, Main and Moselle river cruise. The fortnight concludes with a visit to a traditional dairy farm on the outskirts of Amsterdam where you’ll sample delicious locally produced cheese.
Everything included, all cruise long
No matter which itinerary you select, Saga’s river cruises promise a captivating journey through Europe. Each voyage is carefully curated to deliver unique and immersive experiences, with an elegant atmosphere on board.
Service unlike you’ve ever experienced before – Saga river cruises pride themselves on a high standard of attentiveness (Pictured: Spirit of the Rhine)
With so many inclusions, from your chauffeur-driven UK transfer service to return travel and excursions in selected ports of call, you’ll feel like a VIP from the moment you close your front door.
Along with delicious on-board dining and premium drinks at no extra cost+, you can also make the most of complimentary Wi-Fi and you won’t need to worry about gratuities. Saga even offers included travel insurance^ with up to £5m emergency medical and repatriation cover.
As you traverse the captivating waterways, all that’s left is for you to delight in the opportunity to uncover hidden gems and immerse yourself in the local culture. From the grand architecture of Vienna to the fairy tale charm of winemaking town Rudesheim, to the vineyards of the Alto Douro and Roman delights in Trier, you can explore it all in incredible style.
Find out more and book your river cruise at saga.co.uk/mail-rivercruise or call 0800 056 9947
+All-inclusive includes a choice of wines, Saga house-branded spirits, cocktails containing Saga house-branded spirits, draught beer and lager, non-alcoholic cocktails, all mixers and soft drinks.
^Travel insurance is underwritten by Astrenska Insurance Limited and includes up to £5m emergency medical cover. A price reduction is available if you choose not to take the included insurance and additional cancellation cover. Cover is subject to a few medical questions. Pre-departure cancellation cover is provided by Saga, and only available when taking the included optional travel insurance. Saga cruising is for guests over 50.
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