Culinary Experiences & Wine Tasting on a River Cruise in Europe
Below I highlight four AmaWaterways river cruises that will whet your appetite for a culinary and wine tasting experience through Europe.
Cruise through Bordeaux (France), Portugal & Spain, or Netherlands, Germany, Switerzerland & Luxembourg
What better way to travel through Europe, experiencing regional cuisine and tasting a variety of wines, than on an AmaWaterways River Cruise?
Luxury accommodation, superb service, exceptional regional cuisine on board and on land, plus a wide selection of included excursions and activities (including bicycles to ride), make AmaWaterways European river cruises an excellent choice for food and wine lovers. And if you love to see beautiful scenery that you can’t get to by car, enjoy learning about different European cultures but only want to unpack once during your trip, a river cruise is an ideal way to travel.
My top 4 picks for a culinary experience and wine tasting river cruise in Europe that will tantalize your taste buds are the Enticing Douro, Flavours of Portugal and Spain, Taste of Bordeaux and the Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle.*
Watch the video below to get a glimpse of what makes an AmaWaterways Wine Cruise so special and ideal for food and wine lovers who want to visit Europe.
Taste of Bordeaux (France)
Highlights
CRUISE FROM: Bordeaux to Bordeaux
Travel to France’s legendary Bordeaux wine region onboard the magnificent AmaDolce. During this 7-night AmaWaterways river cruise of the Garonne and Dordogne, you’ll visit Libourne, Blaye, Bourg, Pauillac and Cadillac, where there is an abundance of iconic châteaux, timeless vineyards and delicious wine.
Luxury accommodation, superb service, exceptional regional cuisine, and delicious local wine tastings, as well as a wide selection of included excursions, make this river cruise in France ideal for anyone interested in the best of French culture, lifestyle, food and, of course, wine.
Award-Winning Dining
- All onboard dining in a variety of venues
- Regionally inspired cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients
- The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant
- Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Dinner, Captain’s Cocktail and Gala Dinner
- La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs exclusive dining experience
- Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast
- Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks
- Tapas, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge
Enticing Douro (Portugal and Spain)
Highlights
CRUISE FROM : Porto to Porto
Rambling vineyards and charming native farms cling to the steep sides of the Douro River Valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions and to Port country— the world’s oldest demarcated wine region. Sail roundtrip from Porto, the beautiful “City of Bridges”; visit Barca d’Alva, the last Portuguese village along the Douro; and marvel at Salamanca, the UNESCO-designated “Golden City.” Taste wines from historic wineries and soak up the genuine beauty of one of Europe’s most unadulterated landscapes.
COUNTRIES: Portugal, Spain
RIVERS: Douro
Award-Winning Dining
- All onboard dining in a variety of venues
- Regionally inspired cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients
- Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, Captain’s Cocktail and Gala Dinner
- Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast
- Sandwiches, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge
- Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks
Flavors of Portugal and Spain
Highlights
CRUISE FROM: Porto to Vega de Terrón
Two iconic cities, Lisbon and Madrid, provide the perfect start and end to a grand journey through Portugal and Spain. Cosmopolitan Lisbon offers a treasure trove of Old World architecture and a wealth of stories about its famed explorers; and then there is the seaside town of Sintra, one of the loveliest mountain villages in Portugal and a favorite summer residence of the Portuguese royal family for more than 500 years. Set sail in Porto, the beautiful “City of Bridges” and gateway to the Douro River Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with rambling vineyards and charming quintas, which cling to the steep sides of the river. Taste wines from these vineyards and discover the timeless traditions of Portuguese winemaking throughout your journey before visiting some of Spain’s glorious cities: the golden-hued city of Salamanca, the ancient walled city of Toledo, and cosmopolitan Madrid, renowned for its world-class museums, stately gardens and lively tapas bars.
COUNTRIES: Portugal, Spain
RIVERS: Douro
Award-Winning Dining
- All onboard dining in a variety of venues
- Regionally inspired cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients
- Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, Captain’s Cocktail and Gala Dinner
- Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast
- Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks
- Tapas, sandwiches, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge
Vineyards of the Rhine and Moselle
Highlights
CRUISE FROM: Amsterdam to Luxembourg
Drink in the beauty, history and flavor of the Rhine and Moselle river valleys’ iconic vineyards. Begin your journey with a gentle ride through Amsterdam’s legendary canals, then head to Cologne where you can whet your palate for the wines ahead by tasting Kolsch beer. As for the vineyards, you’ll soar above them by gondola or hike among the grapes in Rüdesheim and sip wines in Bernkastel as well, learning the legend of the Bernkasteler Doctor. Whatever you choose to do ashore, the stories you’re told and flavors that grace your palate will surely transform you.
COUNTRIES: France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Netherlands.
RIVERS: Rhine, Moselle
Award-Winning Dining
- All onboard dining in a variety of venue
- Regionally inspired cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients
- The Chef’s Table specialty restaurant
- Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Dinner, Captain’s Cocktail and Gala Dinner
- La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs exclusive dining experience
- Unlimited fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- Unlimited sparkling wine and fresh juice with breakfast
- Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drink
- Tapas, sandwiches, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge
If you’re looking for a culinary experience in Europe like no other, as your AmaWaterways Certified Advisor, I would love to help you book your 2020 or 2021 wine cruise in Europe.
View current AmaWaterways offers or contact me for more details, available dates, pricing and to book.
*These four wine cruises are subject to availability. I chose these four wine cruises for the culinary experiences I believe food and wine lovers will enjoy. However, there are many more European river cruises to choose from that also include culinary experiences. Visit my AmaWaterways website to view more river cruise itineraries and to check availability.