Whether clients are new to cruise or seasoned river travellers, themed sailings are the perfect option, says Jeannine Williamson
1. Jazz in Germany and Austria
Music fans can get into the groove on A-Rosa’s new five-night Jazz Journey itinerary with the Mood Messengers. There are two departures on the Rhine and Danube, sailing round-trip from Cologne and from Vienna to Passau respectively.
Between famous sights such as the pretty wine-growing town of Rüdesheim and the Unesco-listed Wachau Valley, the talented band will take passengers on a toe-tapping musical journey. The Mood Messengers will host two evening concerts showcasing their repertoire of jazz ballads, sensual bossa nova, danceable swing and jazz, plus interpretations of pop favourites.
Book it: From £1,299 departing on November 3 on the Rhine and November 19 on the Danube, on an all-inclusive basis with flights.
arosa-cruises.co.uk
2. Mark Twain on the Mississippi
History comes to life on this literary lovers’ voyage with American Cruise Lines. The Mark Twain cruise on the Upper Mississippi explores the northerly reaches of the USA’s great river, which inspired Twain to write classics such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Setting off from St Louis (pictured), the cruise first calls at Twain’s hometown Hannibal, Missouri, where the author’s childhood home is now a museum. En route to St Paul in Minnesota, cruisers will hear hilarious tales from the writer’s life, as told by a Mark Twain impersonator.
Book it: A full-board cruise costs from £5,999 per person, based on two sharing an outside balcony stateroom with a September 9 departure. Includes return flights from London.
americancruiselines.com
3. Walking through Italy
CroisiEurope’s Cruise & Walk sailings feature guided hikes through beautiful scenery by day combined with cruising by night, as well as a programme of excursions for non-walkers. On the six-night sailing in Italy, guests will discover some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Veneto and Lombardy regions, from the islands of the Venetian Lagoon to the banks of Lake Garda.
There is also a hike through a verdant regional park in the Euganean Hills alongside the plains of the River Po. And when customers have worked up an appetite and a thirst, CroisiEurope’s fares include all meals and an open bar.
Book it: From £2,659 all-inclusive departing on May 26, including excursions, hikes and flights.
croisieurope.co.uk
4. Golf on the Rhine
Golfers can tee off at four championship courses in Germany and France on this golf-focused Amadeus sailing – aimed at keen enthusiasts and novice players alike – along the Rhine from Basel to Amsterdam.
The price includes green fees, golf carts and transfers to the courses. Customers can also up their game with the help of an expert. Courses include Le Kempferhof near Strasbourg, which is listed as one of the top-five golf courses in France. Meanwhile, non-golfers can head off on daily sightseeing tours in destinations including Cologne, Koblenz and Dusseldorf.
Book it: From £3,699 departing on October 12 including the golf programme, wine and beer with meals, and flights.
amadeus-rivercruises.co.uk
5. Flowers in southern France
Riviera Travel’s seven-night horticultural cruises explore the natural beauty of southern France, from vine-clad slopes in Burgundy to fragrant lavender fields in Provence. Sailing on the Rhone from Lyon to Avignon, excursions include a visit to Lyon’s Parc de la Tete d’Or, famous for its 350 varieties of rose, 1,000 types of orchid and the largest collection of greenhouses in France.
Clients will also see the Eden Garden of Tournon – overlooking the river – and the breathtaking Ardeche Gorge with its hanging gardens. In Arles, look out for the courtyard depicted in Vincent Van Gogh’s 1888 painting Courtyard of the Hospital in Arles, which is little changed today.
Book it: From £1,899 full board departing April 24, May 22, July 30 and August 21, 2025, including flights.
rivieratravel.co.uk
PICTURES: Mitchell Giebels; Sean Mcveigh; American Cruise Lines
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