On an Emerald river cruise Europe itinerary, your experiences will vary from a Viennese concert featuring music from Mozart and Strauss to a guided hike to Dürnstein Castle. Make sure you pack for various conditions to make the most of your cruise. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about lugging your bags around, because the beauty of a river cruise is that, you literally unpack just once. Stow away your belongings in the wardrobes provided within your spacious suites or staterooms on board your elegant Emerald ‘Star-Ship’ and begin exploring your wondrous surrounds.

How do you say “no dairy” in French? On a river cruise, you don’t need to worry about the language barrier. If this is your first time river cruise, you will be pleased to know, on an Emerald ‘Star-Ship’ food will never be a concern. From a hearty buffet breakfast to a five-course à la carte menu, sitting down to another delicious meal will soon become one of the highlights of your cruise. What’s more, all meals are included in the price of your trip, as well as complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. On selected days, you’ll even enjoy a flavourful grilled feast on the Sun Deck, a BBQ meal you’ll remember forever. If you’re concerned about dietary restrictions, our helpful, English-speaking kitchen staff will be more than happy to prepare something that suits your dietary requirements.

The joys of a happy holiday are often followed by the sorrows of the holiday weight gain. On an Emerald river cruise Europe, we’ll help you burn off all that amazing food you enjoy. You’ll have several opportunities to enjoy our EmeraldACTIVE program of excursions with occasions to stretch your legs, including guided hikes to centuries-old castles, cycle rides from one spectacular town to the next, and canoe excursions. You can look forward to yoga and Pilates sessions, aqua aerobics in our heated pool and our ‘walk-a-mile’ classes on the Sun Deck. We also have a fully equipped gym with modern state-of-the-art equipment.

At Emerald Waterways, we’ve selected the best staff and crew to ensure that you enjoy every moment of your holiday. At each of our destinations you’ll be taken on guided explorations by English speaking and highly knowledgeable local guides. Moreover, your Cruise Director is a gifted storyteller with a unique passion for Europe’s diverse history and culture and will regale you with exciting facts and trivia all through the cruise. Emerald’s crew to guest ratio is one of the best on the European waterways, which means, there’s always someone available to address your requests.

Between walking through the historic cobbled streets of Europe onshore and enjoying delicious fare on board, there will be time to relax and explore your deluxe ‘Star-Ship’. Enjoy a game of mini golf up on the Sun Deck or walk along its walking tack, unwind with a massage or facial at the spa, or have a refreshing swim in the indoor heated swimming pool. Come night-time, the pool area converts into a cosy cinema where you can grab a tub of popcorn and watch a selection of classic and contemporary films. And if all you want to do is relax by yourself, then your suite or stateroom will serve as the perfect spacious retreat to read a book, order room service and watch TV, or simply sit back and enjoy the passing scenery.