Mercury Holidays Logo
  • Offers
    Special Offers (view all)
    • All-Inclusive
    • No Single Supplement & Solo Offers
    • 2nd Week Free & 14 Night Offers
    • 3rd Week Free & Long Stay Offers
    • Newspaper Offers
    • Escorted Tour Offers
  • Destinations
    Trip Type
    • Holidays
    • Escorted Tours
    • River Cruises
    • Escorted Rail Journeys
    • Solo Tours
    • Escorted Walking Tours
    • Private Tours
    • Multi-Centre
    • Cruises
    Sort by
    • Alphabetical
    • Flight Times
    • Abu Dhabi
    • Algarve
    • Antigua
    • Bali
    • Barbados
    • Benidorm
    • Costa del Sol
    • Croatia
    • Cyprus
    • Dubai
    • Egypt
    • Fuerteventura
    • Goa
    • Gozo
    • Gran Canaria
    • Greece
    • Grenada
    • Jamaica
    • Kenya
    • Kerala
    • Lanzarote
    • Madeira
    • Majorca
    • Maldives
    • Malta
    • Mauritius
    • Mexico
    • Morocco
    • Oman
    • Seychelles
    • Sri Lanka
    • St Lucia
    • Tenerife
    • Thailand
    • Turkey
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Vietnam
    • View All Holidays
    • Albania
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Bhutan
    • Borneo
    • Botswana
    • Brazil
    • Bulgaria
    • Cambodia
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • China
    • Colombia
    • Costa Rica
    • Croatia
    • Ecuador
    • Egypt
    • Georgia
    • Greece
    • Guatemala
    • Iceland
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • Jordan
    • Kazakhstan
    • Kenya
    • Kerala
    • Kyrgyzstan
    • Laos
    • Lithuania
    • Madagascar
    • Malaysia
    • Malta
    • Mexico
    • Mongolia
    • Morocco
    • Namibia
    • Nepal
    • North Macedonia
    • Peru
    • Philippines
    • Poland
    • Romania
    • South Africa
    • South Korea
    • Spain
    • Sri Lanka
    • Taiwan
    • Tanzania
    • Thailand
    • Tibet
    • Tunisia
    • Turkey
    • USA
    • Uzbekistan
    • Vietnam
    • View All Holidays
    • Austria
    • Czech Republic
    • France
    • Germany
    • Italy
    • Netherlands
    • Portugal
    • Spain
    • View All Holidays
    • China
    • France
    • India
    • Japan
    • Norway
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Turkey
    • Vietnam
    • View All Holidays
    • Chile
    • China
    • Costa Rica
    • Georgia
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • Jordan
    • Kerala
    • Malaysia
    • Morocco
    • Nepal
    • Peru
    • Romania
    • South Africa
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • Turkey
    • Uzbekistan
    • Vietnam
    • View All Holidays
    • Madeira
    • Nepal
    • View All Holidays
    • Albania
    • Argentina
    • Borneo
    • Brazil
    • Cambodia
    • Chile
    • China
    • Colombia
    • Costa Rica
    • Croatia
    • Ecuador
    • Egypt
    • Georgia
    • Greece
    • Guatemala
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Jordan
    • Kazakhstan
    • Kenya
    • Kerala
    • Kyrgyzstan
    • Laos
    • Madagascar
    • Madeira
    • Malaysia
    • Malta
    • Mongolia
    • Morocco
    • Namibia
    • Nepal
    • Peru
    • Philippines
    • Romania
    • South Africa
    • Sri Lanka
    • Taiwan
    • Tanzania
    • Thailand
    • Tibet
    • Uzbekistan
    • Vietnam
    • View All Holidays
    • Bali
    • Cyprus
    • Dubai
    • Kenya
    • Kerala
    • Maldives
    • Mauritius
    • Seychelles
    • South Africa
    • Sri Lanka
    • Tanzania
    • Thailand
    • View All Holidays
    • Antarctica
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • Croatia
    • Hong Kong
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
    • Norway
    • Panama
    • Seychelles
    • Singapore
    • Thailand
    • USA
    • Vietnam
    • View All Holidays
  • More Info
    More Info (view all)
    • About Us
    • Contact us
    • Online Brochures
    • Order a FREE Brochure
    • Terms and Conditions
    • ABTA & ATOL
    • How to Book
    • Holiday Insurance
    • Airport Extras
    • Charities we support
    • Early Holiday Booking
    • Privacy Policy
    • Payment Options
    • Request a Quote
  • Help
  • My Booking
  • Contact
  • 01732 809 181

Enter destination or hotel
Airports
Select a date
7 nights
2 Guests
Enter destination or hotel
Select a date
7 nights
2 Guests
Any Destination or Escorted Tour
Any Airport
Any Date
2 Guests
Any Destination or Private Tour
Any Date
2 Guests
Any Destination or Solo Tour
Any Airport
Any Date
1 Guest
Any Destination or Multi-Centre
Any Airport
Any Date
2 Guests
Any Destination or River Cruise
Any Airport
Any Date
2 Guests
Any Destination or Cruise
Any Airport
Any Date
2 Guests

River Cruises

What better way to experience a unique perspective of Europe's most well known landmarks, marvel at spellbinding natural landscapes and discover unchanged hill-clinging towns, than with a charming river cruise. Following the success of our escorted tours, we have introduced eleven hand picked river cruise itineraries that we believe best showcase true European elegance, aboard ships that offer a first class service. The additional benefit of our new cruises, is the all-inclusive package* that allows you to wine and dine with complete peace of mind.

Best-selling River Cruises

Journey from Porto to the Douro Valley

6 Day River Cruise

from £1,629 pp

Grand Capitals of the Danube

8 Day River Cruise

from £2,129 pp

Enchanting Waterways of Venice

5 Day River Cruise

from £1,279 pp

Christmas Market River Cruises

Experience the magic of Christmas as Europe’s charming cities come to life with twinkling lights, artisan markets, and timeless seasonal traditions.

Andalusian Navidad and Markets

6 Day River Cruise

from £1,469 pp

Premium Parisian Noel: Christmas Lights and Markets

4 Day River Cruise

from £1,289 pp

Christmas Markets of the Enchanting Rhine: Strasbourg to Cologne

5 Day River Cruise

from £1,479 pp

Discover River Cruising

An elegant and immersive way to explore Europe's most beautiful waterways. With expertly curated itineraries, all-inclusive comfort, and intimate ships, guests enjoy stunning landscapes, rich cultural experiences, and exceptional service for an unforgettable journey.

All-inclusive Value

Gourmet dining, fine wines, open bar drinks, excursions, and onboard entertainment. With no hidden costs, guests can fully relax and enjoy seamless, worry-free travel while exploring Europe’s most picturesque rivers and waterways.

Exceptional Experiences

Personalised service, expertly crafted itineraries, and top-tier hospitality coupled with a modern fleet, experienced crew, and all-inclusive comfort guarantee a seamless and unforgettable journey. An exceptional cruising experience is yours to enjoy.

All you need to know

Once you have booked, we will send you a comprehensive dossier with all your accommodation details, flight and airport information, country advice and other useful tips such as what to pack and luggage allowance.

Destinations

Spain

Andalusian Navidad and Markets

from £1,469

Treasures of Andalucia and Seville

from £1,869

Treasures of Andalucia and Seville with Seville City Stay

from £2,244

Discover Andalucia and Seville

from £2,429

Discover Andalucia and Seville with Seville City Stay

from £2,754
France

Christmas Markets of the Enchanting Rhine: Strasbourg to Cologne

from £1,529

Premium Parisian Noel: Christmas Lights and Markets

from £1,289

Bordeaux's Chateaux, Rivers, and Wine

from £1,689

Paris, Normandy and the Seine

from £2,029

Lyon, Provence and the Camargue

from £2,129

Premium Christmas Markets of the Enchanting Rhine: Cologne to Strasbourg

from £1,499

Premium Captivating Rhine, Moselle, and Main Rivers

from £2,259

Christmas Markets of the Enchanting Rhine: Cologne to Strasbourg

from £1,479

Captivating Rhine, Moselle, and Main Rivers

from £2,069
Italy

Enchanting Waterways of Venice

from £1,279

Enchanting Waterways of Venice with Venice City Stay

from £2,023
Czech Republic

Prague, Bohemia and the Elegant Elbe with Prague City Stay

from £2,736

Prague, Bohemia and the Elegant Elbe

from £2,279
Portugal

Valley of the Douro from Porto to Spain

from £2,179

Premium Valley of the Douro from Porto to Spain with Porto City Stay

from £3,095

Premium Valley of the Douro from Porto to Spain

from £2,579

Journey from Porto to the Douro Valley

from £1,629

Premium Journey from Porto to the Douro Valley

from £1,779
Netherlands

Cruising the Rhine: Basel to Amsterdam

from £2,349

Cruising the Rhine: Amsterdam to Basel

from £2,429
Austria

Classic Danube, Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava with Vienna City Stay

from £1,519

Grand Capitals of the Danube

from £2,129

Grand Capitals of the Danube with Vienna City Stay

from £2,543

Classic Danube, Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava

from £1,229

FAQs for River Cruises

Expect a smooth and scenic journey with plenty of cultural immersion. River cruises are typically slower-paced than ocean cruises, with daily stops in charming towns and cities. You’ll enjoy guided tours, regional cuisine, and a more personal onboard atmosphere. It’s a great way to explore multiple destinations without constantly packing and unpacking.

River cruises tend to be relaxed when it comes to dress code. During the day, comfortable casual wear is ideal - remember layers, walking shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing for excursions. In the evening, smart casual is usually the norm. Some cruises may have a welcome or farewell dinner where guests choose to dress up a little more.

We welcome travellers of all ages, and our river cruises often include people from their 30s to their 80s and beyond. While age varies, what truly connects our guests is a shared love of discovery, a curious spirit, and a desire to explore the world with others who value meaningful travel experiences.

Most river cruise ships are equipped with Wi-Fi, and you can check specific details under the ‘Ship Information’ section in your chosen cruise’s dossier. However, connection quality can vary depending on your location along the river. It’s perfect for checking emails or sharing photos, but streaming or video calls may be limited in some areas.

While river cruises are designed for a multilingual audience, English is widely spoken and supported across all ships. The primary onboard language may vary but crew members are typically fluent in several languages, including English. Commentary during excursions and onboard announcements are usually delivered in both English and other languages, ensuring that all guests feel informed and included throughout their journey.

Trustpilot

Sign up to our E-newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
About UsContact UsHelp and FAQsPrivacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsABTA & ATOLHoliday InsuranceHow To BookOnline BrochuresOrder a BrochureModern Slavery StatementSitemapTravel Agents

01732 809 181

Opening Times
Mon - Fri:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Bank Holidays:
9.00am - 8.00pm
9.00am - 7.30pm
9.00am - 7.30pm
10.00am - 5.00pm

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information visit www.gov.uk/travelaware.

Abta Atol
Chat Specialists