Stylish Sailings: New River Cruises and Itineraries

Whether it’s a bike ride along the blue Danube, wine tasting in a medieval castle or an art class with an expert painter, a European river cruise can deliver authentic local experiences, plus luxurious accommodations and highly personalized service. As 2019 begins its downward slope, Luxury Travel Advisor looks at a sampling of what’s new in 2020 for luxury sailings on European rivers. 

Certainly, the south of France is an enticing draw, and Scenic will debut a new 12-day “Spectacular South of France” itinerary from Paris to Lyon next year. After an overnight stay in the City of Light, Scenic’s guests will board a high-speed TGV train to Lyon, where they’ll embark on the 155-passenger Scenic Sapphire. Cruising highlights? Guests will explore Beaune, Tournus, Pérouges, Avignon and Arles. Culinary-minded travelers likely will appreciate the “local” experience in Avignon, where guests will shop with the ship’s chef at a fresh food market and then return to the ship’s Scenic Culinaire kitchen for a cooking lesson.

In addition, we particularly love the Chalon-sur-Saône call for Scenic’s included wine tasting experience at Château de Meursault, an estate that’s tantalizing to the senses. Dating from the 12th century, the château’s wine cellars hold several thousand barrels and hundreds of thousands of bottles. The estate’s vineyards span the Côte de Beaune, with prestigious AOCs (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, the French wine classification system), including Aloxe-Corton, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault.