Five ways to savour the very best of Europe

Europe is a masterclass in everything that’s great about travel. It’s as diverse as it is rewarding – freeing in summer and fairytale-like in winter, brimming with modernity and filled with ancient history, culture and tradition around almost every corner.

That is, of course, before you even get started on its dramatic landscapes, from those iconic rivers like the Rhine, Main and Danube to emerald fields dotted with idyllic vineyards and castles.

And one of the best ways to experience Europe is on a luxurious 5-star Scenic river cruise.

Scenic Cruises let you see and experience Europe in a very different way.

Think of Scenic as your all-access pass to the heart and soul of Europe, in style: with elegant generously-proportioned suites, all-inclusive gourmet cuisine for every mood and taste, plus captivating included visits to castles, museums and palaces, guided by experts.

Naturally, the itineraries are diverse too, with a cruise for every passion, duration or time of year.

What unites them is the custom-built ships, or ‘Space-Ships’ as they’re known, which cater for 163 guests so that everyone has plenty of room and to allow you dock in the heart of the towns you visit along your journey.

Sleek and luxurious, these five-star ships deliver personalised journeys replete with butler service for every guest, all-inclusive dining and drinks in up to five venues, plus exclusive Scenic Freechoice excursions and Scenic Enrich cultural experiences you won’t find anywhere else.

Every Scenic guest enjoys butler service.

And as the most all-inclusive cruise on Europe’s rivers, the difference when travelling with Scenic is that all activities, Wi-Fi, transfers, even tipping and more are included, creating a seamless experience so you can focus on making memories on your holiday.

Sound like your kind of travel? There’s still time to secure your suite in 2025… although you’ll want to get in quick, as best-in-market offers for the new year are coming to an end.

Jewels of Europe

Multiple departures from March to November 2025

Gothic spires and timeless hillside ruins; pastel-hued houses and a maze of busy canals.

Add in Dutch windmills lapped by a sea of flowers, and you have the makings of a classic European river cruise – and that’s only the first few days. This is the ideal journey for first-time river cruisers.

Instead of just flying over the Rhine Valley, why not cruise through it?

On this 15-day journey from Amsterdam to Budapest, you’ll weave in and out of six countries, visiting the likes of the wine mecca of Würzburg, Austria’s artistic capital Vienna, and the UNESCO powerhouse of Regensburg.

When not relaxing in your suite or recounting the day’s discovery with fellow guests on board, you can personalise your trip with up to 34 Scenic Freechoice activities, such as wine and walking tours, e-biking and excursions to the Czech Republic’s exquisite Cesky Krumlov.

E-bike tours are just one of Scenic's scores of 'Freechoice' activities.

One of many highlights is the classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein.

Breathe in the opulence and luxury of Palais Liechtenstein as you relish an exclusive private classical concert, enjoying a glass of fine Austrian Sekt while listen to the timeless music of Strauss and Mozart performed by a renowned orchestra.

This private classical concert brings to life the finest works of Strauss and Mozart.

An experience only shared with your fellow Scenic guests, you’ll be seated in Vienna’s largest secular baroque hall, an ornate space where royals and nobles have sat for centuries.

Accompanied by ballet dancers and vocalists and surrounded by world-famous art, this will be a concert that you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Discover more about Scenic’s Jewels of Europe cruise

Christmas Markets

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year… for a Scenic river cruise in Europe.

The famed Christmas markets are in full swing with twinkling lights and stalls purveying seductive delicacies, and there’s a palpable sense of togetherness.

Immerse yourself in the famous festive Christmas markets of a dozen European cities.

Ideal for multigenerational families, this 15-day Budapest to Amsterdam cruise places the festive spirit front and centre with stops in Cologne, Krems, Passau, Nuremberg and Miltenberg and many more. 

As you’d hope, the swirling scent of fresh gingerbread and mulled wine is never far away, although with up to 26 Scenic Freechoice activities (including making and baking your own gingerbread), you can also go behind the marketplaces to uncover the unique stories and traditions of each port.

Discover more about Scenic’s Christmas Markets cruise

Normandy & Gems of the Seine

Multiple departures from March to October 2025

The number ‘777’ isn’t only a model of Boeing jet. It’s also the length in kilometres of the Seine River, which twists and turns from Normandy and the English Channel to downtown Paris and beyond. 

Every visitor to Paris has seen the Seine, but few experience the city from this perspective.

That very waterway is at the heart of this 11-day immersion in French history and culture, from chic Paris to the ruins of King Richard the Lionheart’s castle ‘Les Andelys’, Claude Monet’s adopted former home of Giverny and the Somme Battlefields and D-Day beaches.

Visit the Australian war memorial at the Somme Battlefields.

In fact, the Scenic Gem is the only cruise ship specifically designed to access the Upper Seine and the estuary at the Normandy harbour city of Honfleur, where the Seine meets the English Channel – making this another unique and exclusive part of the Scenic experience.

The Scenic Cruise Director and expert local guides (a part of every Scenic cruise) are on hand to bring each destination to life, while the limited passenger numbers – a maximum of just 122 – dials up the intimacy even further.

Discover more about Scenic’s Normandy & Gems of the Seine cruise

Romantic Rhine & Moselle

Multiple departures from April to October 2025

Picture yourself on a Scenic Space-Ship sun deck as a quaint Rhineland village glides into view – first a church steeple in the distance, then the odd house on the vine-covered banks, and ultimately the bustling town centre criss-crossed by stone bridges. 

Slowly wind your way down the Rhine.

This blissful image is a regular sight on this 15-day itinerary following the Rhine and its tributary, the Moselle, through France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Yet it’s not the only drawcard.

Among the highlights are Cochem, where you can join an e-bike tour in the shadow of Reichsburg Castle; wine tasting in Bernkastel, famed for its Riesling vineyards and 13th century square; and an opportunity to learn about the infamous WWI battle of Passchendael.

Take time to stretch your legs on a Scenic Freechoice walking tour.

Another exclusive Scenic Enrich experience is a private classical evening concert held in the spectacular surrounds of the impressive Liebfrauenkirche, in the heart of Trier.

Discover more about Scenic’s Romantic Rhine & Moselle cruise

Delightful Douro

Multiple departures from April to December 2025.

Embracing the suite life is easy on board Scenic Azure: the 96-guest Scenic Space-Ship cruise carries culture buffs and port wine connoisseurs along Portugal’s meandering Douro River in exceptional style.

Scenic's Azure Space-Ship is the best way to explore Portugal's Douro Valley.

Over eight days it takes in Porto, with its vibrant medieval district of Ribeira; sees guests break bread with locals in the charming village of Provesende; dazzles with the gold interiors of Sao Francisco Church over a private concert – and more.

Every Scenic Space-Ship offers a dazzling choice of accommodation options.

There are also up to 10 Scenic Freechoice activities, including an excursion to Salamanca in Spain, known as the ‘golden city’ for its honey-coloured sandstone buildings, and a visit to Ducal Palace, which dates from the 15th century.

Discover more about Scenic’s Delightful Douro cruise

Every Scenic European river cruise offers industry-leading experiences that are truly in a class of their own – so now is the time to start planning your next holiday of a lifetime.

Are you ready to create stories for life with Scenic in 2025? For a limited time, secure Economy Flights Included or a Business Class Air Credit valued at $4,500pp* on select itineraries (offers end 31 October).

To book visit www.scenic.com.au, call 138 128 or speak to your local travel advisor.

This article was produced in collaboration with Scenic.