Taste of Bordeaux: Cruising the Waterways of Southwest France

8 days from $5,279

A cruise offering from Smithsonian Journeys and AmaWaterways

Embark on an enchanting seven-night voyage through Bordeaux and its picturesque wine regions. Explore charming towns and historic sites from Cadillac to the Dordogne, and enjoy tastings at celebrated wine estates. Along the way, savor exquisite local cuisine and take in the scenic beauty of vineyard-covered hills, riverfront villages, and the timeless elegance of southwestern France.

River Cruising

departure

passengers

or Call 1-855-330-1542

Highlights

World Heritage Sites: Sail the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers to World Heritage sites, from the fortresses of Vauban to the Saint Émilion wine region to the majestic heart of Bordeaux.
Bordeaux Wines: Sample grand cru wines and visit the astonishing Cité du Vin museum in Bordeaux.
Historic Sites: Set out on excursions to the charming town of Bergerac, the prehistoric petroglyphs of the Pair-non-Pair caves, and one of King Henri IV’s castles.
Active Exploration: Explore stunning vineyards and historic villages on optional bike rides and hikes.
Smithsonian Journeys Exclusives:* Enjoy a range of excursions specially designed or enhanced for Smithsonian Journeys travelers, denoted by an asterisk below.

Itinerary

To see itinerary, please click on an option below.

Day 1 — Arrive Bordeaux, France

Arrive in the wine capital of Bordeaux and embark the ship, docked on the Garonne River an easy walk from the city’s historic center. After time to get settled in your stateroom—and to explore Bordeaux on your own if time allows—kick off your voyage with a welcome reception on board this evening. (D)

AmaDolce

Day 2 — Libourne and Saint Émilion

Just north of Bordeaux, the Garonne converges with the Dordogne River, forming the Gironde Estuary. Follow the Dordogne during a relaxing morning on the water, cruising between vineyards and villages to Libourne, the gateway to some of Bordeaux’s most prestigious wine regions. Discover them on your choice of excursions.

Saint Émilion: Travel to this charming town, perched on a cliff overlooking an endless patchwork of vineyards. Here, you’ll tour an unusual church carved out of a single piece of limestone, and then descend beneath the church to discover its catacombs and caves.
Vineyard Bike Ride: If you seek a more active adventure, pedal through the vineyards of this World Heritage-listed region on a guided bike ride from Libourne to Saint Émilion.

The ship overnights in Libourne. (B,L,D)

AmaDolce

Day 3 — Libourne and Bergerac

Enjoy another day in to explore the Dordogne region on the excursion of your choice.

Bergerac:* Set out for Bergerac, known for its storied 17th-century writer, Cyrano de Bergerac. Follow winding lanes lined with half-timbered houses on a walking tour, and visit the Cloître des Récollets at the Maison du Vin as well as the Tobacco Museum, housed within a stunning 17th-century townhouse.
Libourne Market: Delve into the lively market of Libourne, tasting the region’s specialties as you meander among open-air stalls stocked with everything from olives and herbal soaps to epicurean cheeses and local honey.
Water Mill: Visit an age-old watermill used to ground flour and learn about breadmaking traditions in the region.
Hike and Wine Tasting: Hike through picturesque vineyards with a guide before enjoying a wine tasting accompanied by hors d’oeuvres.

(B,L,D)

AmaDolce

Day 4 — Blaye and Bourg

Return west along the Dordogne toward Blaye, situated at the entrance to the Gironde Estuary. A renowned wine appellation in its own right, Blaye is also known for its imposing 17th-century citadel. Today’s choice of excursions include:

Blaye Citadel Tour: Take a guided tour of Blaye’s expansive cliff-top fortifications, one of 12 fortresses designed by military engineer Vauban that are now collectively a World Heritage site.
Pair-non-Pair Caves:* View some of the world’s oldest cave paintings, representations of horses, ibexes, and mammoths that date back some 30,000 years.
Bourg: Travel to the medieval village of Bourg by road or bike there through the idyllic countryside. On a walking tour, visit the Carriage Museum and the World War II Petrol Cistern.

In the late afternoon, meet local wine growers at a wine festival in Bourg and enjoy the region’s wine as well as live French music and dancing. (B,L,D)

AmaDolce

Day 5 — Cussac-Fort-Médoc

Across the estuary lies Cussac-Fort-Médoc, a lovely base from which to explore the famed Médoc region, renowned for producing some of the finest Bordeaux wines. Dock in nearby Pauillac and choose among the following excursions:

Cussac-Fort Médoc Tour: Visit the town and the 17th-century Fort Médoc, another of Vauban’s World Heritage-listed fortifications, which guards the western bank of the Gironde Estuary.
Guided Hike: Set off to explore this picturesque region on foot, visiting the fort as well as the verdant vineyards that blanket this surrounding landscape.

You’ll also have the chance to sample grand cru wines accompanied by local specialties. (B,L,D)

AmaDolce

Day 6 — Cadillac-sur-Garonne

After a morning sail to Cadillac, choose an afternoon excursion.

Château Royal de Cazeneuve:* Meet the owner of this medieval castle, where King Henri IV held Queen Margot captive in the 1500s. Tour the magnificent property, owned by only four families since its founding, and see the original furnishings within.
Château de Roquetaillade: Visit this masterpiece of medieval military architecture owned by the same noble family for 700 years. If you wish, to continue with a tour of the intriguing Cadillac Ducal Castle, a once-splendid chateau that served as a women’s prison until the mid-20th century.
Cadillac by Bike: Choose to pedal through Cadillac and its environs on a guided bike tour.

(B,L,D)

AmaDolce

Day 7 — Bordeaux

Glide back into the heart of Bordeaux, a capital of not only wine, but also art and culture. Discover the rich traditions and golden-hued neoclassical architecture of this World Heritage site on a city tour, then visit the indoor Les Halles de Bacalan market for a tasting of local delicacies. End your walking tour with one of three options:

Les Bassins des Lumières: Witness a spectacular sound and light show.
La Cité du Vin: Visit this interactive wine museum housed in a whimsical building designed to capture the liquidity of wine.
Musée d’Aquitaine*: Take a guided tour of the museum, which traces the history of the region from prehistory and the Roman period to the Atlantic slave trade, and through the modern era.

(B,L,D)

AmaDolce

Day 8 — Bordeaux

After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)

Included meals are denoted as follows: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Reception (R), Dinner (D)

Slideshow

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Optional Extensions

Pre Ext.: Bilbao-San Sebastian

Please note: To accommodate as many travelers as feasible on these popular river cruise extensions, we may occasionally select alternate hotels of similar quality. Rest assured, your final accommodations will be confirmed before departure.

Pre-Cruise Extension: Bilbao and San Sebastian - 2 nights Bilbao, 2 nights San Sebastian

Day 1 – Bilbao

Check into your hotel for the beginning of your Basque Country land package.

Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao (or similar)

Day 2 – Bilbao

Travel to the Basque town of Guernica, infamously bombed by German and Italian air forces during the Spanish Civil War – and the subject of one of Picasso’s most renowned paintings. Immerse yourself in culture and visit the open-air market where you’ll find a variety of local specialties, from cheese to peppers to fish. Later in the day, take an informative walking tour through Bilbao and learn how to order Basque tapas, known locally as pintxos, and revered for their small size and big taste. (B)

Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao (or similar)

Day 3 – Bilbao-San Sebastián

Take a deep dive into the contemporary art within the world-famous Guggenheim Museum, a work of art itself. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the museum features a daring and innovative façade and showcases work by such artists as Andy Warhol, German artist Anselm Kiefer, and Basque masters Eduardo Chillida and Jorge Oteiza. Later in the day, transfer to San Sebastián and check into your hotel. In the evening, take a stroll through Old Town, the second oldest neighborhood in the city, where distinctive architecture and pintxos bars beckon, made even more romantic by the evening light. (B)

Catalonia Donosti (or similar)

Day 4 – San Sebastian

Discover the charms of the “City by the Bay of Biscay.” Known in the Basque language as Donostia, San Sebastián was once a prominent fishing village and was burned to the ground in 1813 after being occupied by Napoleonic troops. However, by 1887, after rebuilding, the city flourished as a popular tourist destination and spa resort. Later in the day, enjoy some free time in the city renowned for holding the second highest number of Michelin stars per square meter. (B)

Catalonia Donosti (or similar)

Day 5 – San Sebastian/Bayonne/Bordeaux and Embarkation

Check out of your hotel and transfer to Bordeaux via the French Basque town of Bayonne. Later, embark the ship in Bordeaux for your cruise. (B,D)

Pre Ext.: Madrid-San Sebastian

Pre-Cruise Extension: Madrid and San Sebastian - 2 nights Madrid, 2 nights San Sebastian

Day 1 – Madrid

Check into your hotel for the beginning of your land package in beautiful Spain.

NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa (or similar)

Day 2 – Madrid

Begin your day in this spectacular Spanish city on a walking tour to see the Royal Palace and stroll through Madrid’s Old Town to Plaza Mayor, brimming with shops, taverns and restaurants, which you will have free time to explore. In the afternoon head out on a panoramic tour that takes you past some of the city’s most iconic symbols, including the Alcalá Gate and Cibeles Fountain. Drive down Castellana Avenue to see Picasso’s Tower and the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. (B)

NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa (or similar)

Day 3 – Madrid-Burgos/San Sebastian

Check out of your Madrid hotel and transfer to Burgos and set out on an orientation walk and visit to the Burgos Cathedral followed by free time for lunch. Then travel onward to San Sebastián, where you will have some time to settle into your new hotel. In the evening, take a stroll through Old Town, the second oldest neighborhood in the city, where distinctive architecture and pintxos bars beckon, made even more romantic by the evening light. (B)

Catalonia Donosti (or similar)

Day 4 – San Sebastian

Catalonia Donosti (or similar)

Day 5 –San Sebastian/Bayonne/Bordeaux and Embarkation

Check out of your hotel and transfer to Bordeaux via the French Basque town of Bayonne. Later, embark the ship in Bordeaux for your cruise. (B,D)

Post Ext.: Loire Valley

Post-Cruise Extension: Loire Valley - 2 nights Loire Valley, 1 nights Paris Airport

Day 1 – Loire Valley/Amboise

Disembark the ship and transfer to Amboise, with a visit to Cognac en route for lunch and free time before arriving in the Loire Valley, where you will check in to your Amboise hotel. (B)

Château de Pray in Amboise (or similar)

Day 2 – Amboise

Visit three of the Loire Valley’s regal châteaux starting with the Château de Chenonceau, one of the most beautiful castles in France. This château has been referred to as the “Women’s Castle” since it is the only castle in the region that has been built, inhabited and saved by women during the Renaissance. Château du Clos Lucé was Leonardo da Vinci’s last home where he completed some of his most famous works under the patronage of the King of France. The Château d’Amboise, perched on a promontory overlooking the Loire River, was the first Renaissance château built in the Loire Valley and features extravagant residences, gardens and a Gothic chapel, where Leonardo da Vinci is buried. (B)

Château de Pray in Amboise (or similar)

Day 3 – Amboise/Paris

Check out of your hotel this morning and depart by bus to Chambord, where you will visit the astoundingly massive Château de Chambord. Located at the heart of Europe’s largest enclosed wooded park, its 156-yard façade, 426 rooms, 77 staircases and 282 fireplaces make this the largest castle in Loire Valley. Afterwards, depart for Blois and enjoy free time for lunch on your own. Next, marvel at the residence of seven kings and ten queens of France during your tour of the famous Château Royal de Blois. Then continue by bus to your hotel, located at Charles De Gaulle Airport. (B)

Pullman Paris Roissy CDG Airport (or similar)

Day 4 – Depart

Bid farewell to Paris and prepare for your flight home. (B)

Post Ext.: Paris

Post-Cruise Extension: Paris - 3 nights

Day 1 – Train to Paris

Disembark the ship and transfer by train to beautiful Paris, where you will check into your hotel. (B)

Hotel: To be announced

Day 2 – Paris

Enjoy taking in the signature sights of Paris during your guided city tour, including the awe-inspiring Arc de Triomphe and iconic Eiffel Tower. You will also see Champs Élysées with its cinemas, sidewalk cafes and luxury specialty shops. (B)

Hotel: To be announced

Day 3 – Paris

After a day at leisure, join us for a visit of Montmartre, long known as the city’s premier artist's enclave. During the mid to late 1800s, artists also began calling Montmartre home. Pissarro and Jongkind were two of the first to live there, followed by other notable artists, including Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Pablo Picasso. You’ll be taken on an evening illumination tour, discovering why Paris is renowned as the “City of Light.” (B)

Hotel: To be announced

Day 4 – Depart

Bid farewell to Paris and prepare for your flight home. (B)

Dates & Prices

Click on the departure date to see pricing. Click the for more information.

Dates

Availability

Price

Oct 1 - 8, 2026

Available

from $5,849

Ship: AmaDolce Experts: Maria Fadiman | April Nowell

Piano Deck - Category E

Fixed Window - 170 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$5,849	$7,249
Pre Ext.	$1,440	$2,000
Pre Ext.	$1,640	$2,320
Post Ext.	$1,590	$1,980
Post Ext.	$1,590	$2,370

Piano Deck - Category D

Fixed Window - 170 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$6,148	$7,623
Pre Ext.	$1,440	$2,000
Pre Ext.	$1,640	$2,320
Post Ext.	$1,590	$1,980
Post Ext.	$1,590	$2,370

Violin & Cello Deck - Category C

French Balcony - 170 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$7,348	$10,897
Pre Ext.	$1,440	$2,000
Pre Ext.	$1,640	$2,320
Post Ext.	$1,590	$1,980
Post Ext.	$1,590	$2,370

Violin & Cello Deck - Category B

French Balcony - 170 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$7,648	$11,347
Pre Ext.	$1,440	$2,000
Pre Ext.	$1,640	$2,320
Post Ext.	$1,590	$1,980
Post Ext.	$1,590	$2,370

Violin Deck - Category A

French Balcony - 170 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$7,748	$11,497
Pre Ext.	$1,440	$2,000
Pre Ext.	$1,640	$2,320
Post Ext.	$1,590	$1,980
Post Ext.	$1,590	$2,370

Violin Deck - Category A+

French Balcony - 225 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$8,748	$17,246
Pre Ext.	$1,440	$2,000
Pre Ext.	$1,640	$2,320
Post Ext.	$1,590	$1,980
Post Ext.	$1,590	$2,370

Violin Deck - Suite

French Balcony - 255 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$9,048	$17,846
Pre Ext.	$1,440	$2,000
Pre Ext.	$1,640	$2,320
Post Ext.	$1,590	$1,980
Post Ext.	$1,590	$2,370

Dates

Availability

Price

Sep 30 - Oct 7, 2027

Available

from $5,279 $5,029

Special Offer

Early booking savings available for a limited time!

Ship: AmaDolce Experts: Bernard Moitt | Ursula Rehn Wolfman

Piano Deck - Category E

Fixed Window - 170 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$5,279 $5,029	$6,529
Pre Ext.	$1,600	$2,200
Pre Ext.	$1,800	$2,560
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190

Piano Deck - Category D

Fixed Window - 170 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$5,329 $5,079	$6,591
Pre Ext.	$1,600	$2,200
Pre Ext.	$1,800	$2,560
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190

Violin & Cello Deck - Category C

French Balcony - 170 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$6,878 $6,628	$10,177 $9,927
Pre Ext.	$1,600	$2,200
Pre Ext.	$1,800	$2,560
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190

Violin & Cello Deck - Category B

French Balcony - 170 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$7,078 $6,828	$10,477 $10,227
Pre Ext.	$1,600	$2,200
Pre Ext.	$1,800	$2,560
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190

Cello Deck - Single

French Balcony - 140 sq ft - only two available per departure

Occupancy	Single
Price	$7,078 $6,828
Pre Ext.	$1,600	$2,200
Pre Ext.	$1,800	$2,560
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190

Violin Deck - Category A

French Balcony - 170 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$7,178 $6,928	$10,627 $10,377
Pre Ext.	$1,600	$2,200
Pre Ext.	$1,800	$2,560
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190

Violin Deck - Category A+

French Balcony - 225 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$8,178 $7,928	$16,076 $15,826
Pre Ext.	$1,600	$2,200
Pre Ext.	$1,800	$2,560
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190

Violin Deck - Suite

French Balcony - 255 sq ft

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$8,678 $8,428	$17,076 $16,826
Pre Ext.	$1,600	$2,200
Pre Ext.	$1,800	$2,560
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190
Post Ext.	$1,770	$2,190

A deposit of $400 per person is required to reserve space on all European river cruises. Deposits are applied toward final payment of the cruise price. Pre- and post-program options where applicable, are available at an additional cost.

Rates include port taxes and fees, as well as your choice of shore excursions as described in the published itinerary. Smithsonian Journeys and AmaWaterways have collaborated on a series of enhanced excursions for these river journeys, with one or two excursions included daily in the program. Gratuities are optional and additional, recommended guidelines will be provided ahead of your cruise.

Special Air Rates & Services: Through our alliance with AmaWaterways, a variety of air rates are available for this cruise, including special savings for those who reserve flights 330 days or more in advance. Visit the Tour Details tab and click on "Special Air Rates/Services" drop down.

Prices are based on rates of exchange, airfare & fuel (where applicable), tariffs, taxes, and other costs as of the tour publication date. We reserve the right to correct errors and to increase program prices to cover increased costs, tariffs, and taxes received after prices are published and to reflect currency fluctuations.

Experts

Departure: Oct 1 - 8, 2026

Maria Fadiman

Geographer

Dr. Maria Fadiman is a cultural and environmental geographer and a professor in the department of geosciences at Florida Atlantic University. A National Geographic Emerging …

Dr. Maria Fadiman is a cultural and environmental geographer and a professor in the department of geosciences at Florida Atlantic University. A National Geographic Emerging Explorer and an Explorers Club Fellow, she has lectured at universities and public venues across the globe and presented two TEDx talks. Since earning her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin, her research has taken her throughout the world—from the rainforests of Latin America and Asia to the African savanna, and from villages across Europe to remote islands in Oceania.

In addition to her scholarly publications, Maria contributed to the book, Global Chorus, along with Jane Goodall and the Dalai Lama (among others). Her essays have been included in the National Geographic Survival Manual, No More Endlings, and American Way Magazine. She and her international work have been featured in various science and language textbooks, news publications, and the Conversation with a Geographer video series, among others. She is even featured on the children’s toy, the Toniebox. Maria enjoys sharing her international work through connecting with those around her and was awarded the Degree of Difference Award and the Service to the Community Award from her university. When not exploring, she likes to jog, read, and pet any animal that crosses her path.

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Departure: Oct 1 - 8, 2026

April Nowell

Archaeologist

Dr. April Nowell is a Paleolithic archaeologist, professor of anthropology and a Distinguished Lansdowne Fellow at the University of Victoria, Canada where she has taught classes …

Dr. April Nowell is a Paleolithic archaeologist, professor of anthropology and a Distinguished Lansdowne Fellow at the University of Victoria, Canada where she has taught classes on cave art for more than 20 years. She directs an international team of researchers in the study of Lower and Middle Paleolithic sites in Jordan and collaborates with colleagues on the study of cave art in Australia and France and on ostrich eggshell beads in South Africa. In 2016, she and her colleagues working in Jordan published the world’s oldest identifiable blood on stone tools, demonstrating that 300,000 years ago early humans ate a range of animals from duck to rhinoceros.

She is known for her publications on Paleolithic art, cognitive archaeology, neandertals, the archaeology of children and the relationship between science, pop culture, and the media. Her work has been covered by more than 100 outlets including the Washington Post, the Guardian, the New York Times, CNN’s website, the Economist, and NPR; and her blood residue work was named one of Time magazine’s top 100 discoveries.

April is the author of the book Growing Up in the Ice Age, winner of the 2023 European Archaeological Association Book Prize. She is featured in episode 5 of the NOVA series Ancient Earth and in the CBC documentary Little Sapiens.

Click here to read in Smithsonian magazine about one of April's projects.

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Departure: Sep 30 - Oct 7, 2027

Bernard Moitt

Historian

Bernard Moitt is professor of history and former chair of the history department at Virginia Commonwealth University, and the former president of the Association of …

Bernard Moitt is professor of history and former chair of the history department at Virginia Commonwealth University, and the former president of the Association of Caribbean Historians. Born and raised in Antigua, he has focused his research on slavery in Francophone West Africa, primarily Senegal, as well as the French Antilles. Bernard has authored or edited three books on the topic, including most recently Slavery and Guardianship in Colonial Senegal. An internationally recognized scholar, Bernard has also penned numerous articles and book chapters that focus on Atlantic history. His work draws on the history of principal French ports including Bordeaux, and assesses their socio-economic development—before and after the French Revolution—in a global context. Bernard has travelled extensively and is passionate about gastronomy.

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Departure: Sep 30 - Oct 7, 2027

Ursula Rehn Wolfman

Art Historian

Ursula Rehn Wolfman is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Born in Steinfeld, Austria, Ursula was educated in Germany, England, France, and …

Ursula Rehn Wolfman is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Born in Steinfeld, Austria, Ursula was educated in Germany, England, France, and the United States. As an independent scholar who formerly worked with the National Gallery of Art in Washington, her particular field of interest is the relationship between the arts, literature, painting/sculpture, architecture, and music. She has lectured extensively in the U.S. and abroad on French literature and its relationship with the arts. She received the Diplome Superieur from the Sorbonne in Paris and completed her graduate studies in the United States at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a doctorate in French literature and philosophy as well as a minor in art history.

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Ship

AmaDolce

Slideshow Deck Plan

Guest Capacity: Up to 140 Guests Crew Size: 45 crew members Length: 360 feet Width: 38 feet Flag: Switzerland

Enjoy the sweet life aboard AmaDolce. Your experience starts in your elegantly appointed stateroom, where Entertainment-On-Demand and soothing bath and body products bring you the ultimate in comfort before your cozy bed envelops you in sweet dreams. The Main Lounge is tinged with reds and pinks that complement the distinctive red wines of Bordeaux, a region this ship currently calls home as it cruises along the Garonne and Dordogne rivers and Gironde Estuary. Warm caramel and honey-colored tones adorn the room while a French balcony—available in most staterooms—allows you to indulge in scenic views. Follow your nose to the Main Restaurant or clink glasses in the bar, where rich, chocolate-hued woods bring beauty to the backdrop of your every craving. The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant is the cherry on top of an already exquisite culinary experience on board that includes lunch and dinners paired with unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks. And should you wish to stay active, a Sun Deck walking track, fitness room and a fleet of onboard bicycles are ready and waiting to assist you on your wellness journey.

Tour Details

Activity Description

Expectations: River cruise including a variety of excursion choices daily, ranging from three to nine hours. Excursions often entail walking or standing for extended periods during city tours or museum visits, occasionally over varied terrain (e.g. uneven surfaces, cobblestones, stairs without handrails, etc). Often walking tours are available at varied pacing, and bicycle and hiking excursions are available for more active travelers in certain locations. At times, the ship may dock alongside other river vessels, in which case travelers may need to traverse multiple flights of stairs to exit and return to the ship.

Appropriate for: Travelers who are comfortable with full days of touring including motorcoach and walking tours.

Reading List

*As an Amazon Associate, Smithsonian Journeys earns from qualifying purchases.

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Special Air Rates/Services

Through our alliance with AmaWaterways, we are pleased to advise that a variety of flight options will be available through AmaWaterways’ air program AmaAir. When you reserve flights with AmaAir, you will enjoy convenience and peace of mind, allowing you to rest easy before and during your much-anticipated river cruise.

The Benefits of Reserving Your Flights with AmaAir

Excellent Fares
Trusted Airlines
Quality Experience
Peace of Mind
Airport Representative
Transfers (to and from airport included)
Convenience

The AmaAir team will be delighted to assist you with fully customized air arrangements upon booking your cruise. For travelers who book their air arrangements early, fixed AirPlus* rates are also available across all European sailings when reserved 330 days or more prior to departure, and may be available closer in on certain departures.

AirPlus Special Rates*;

Economy Air: $999 (2026)
Premium Economy Air: $2,299
Business Class Air: $4,299

*AirPlus rates are round-trip, trans-Atlantic airfare departing from all gateways (based on availability). Advertised AirPlus rates may not be available for your preferred airline, flight, routing, or travel dates; ask for details.Additional airfare deposits are required in order to confirm AirPlus rates. AirPlus is limited to availability, capacity controlled and subject to modifications, changes, reductions, or termination without notice. Additional instructions and terms and conditions apply, and will be provided with your booking confirmation.

Travel Insurance

For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, at no additional charge. This plan provides post-departure Medical and Dental coverage of $250,000 per person and Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage of $1,000,000 per person (U.S. Residents Only). Note: For full details regarding these coverages please review the following Plan Documents here.

In addition, we recommend that travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect their travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. For your convenience, Smithsonian Journeys offers an optional Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. For those interested, optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage is available for an additional charge. Note: Certain eligibility requirements apply and Cancel for Any Reason coverage is not available to New York residents. For full details regarding this coverage please review the following Plan Documents here.

To learn more about the Travel Protection Plan, you may visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252.

River Cruising - Water Levels

Occasionally, river cruise schedules may be impacted by high or low water levels, or unannounced lock maintenance. As safety is always our top priority, alternative plans are developed in the event local authorities temporarily curtail river traffic on any portion of the rivers. In these rare circumstances, the local staff will endeavor to arrange visits to all advertised ports of call, though these plans may include alternative docking locations, modified shore excursions as well as ship swaps, if necessary. In very rare circumstances a substitute activity may be necessary.

AmaWaterways' experienced teams monitor the situation on all the rivers very closely and will communicate any major modifications affecting upcoming cruises to guests as quickly as possible and will offer travel assistance if the port of embarkation or disembarkation is affected.