Shore bets for brushes with royalty and a sacred secret – the best river cruise excursions

Navigating the world’s greatest rivers opens up a world of fresh experiences. Here we chart a course through some of the enticing possibilities...

Let’s face it, given the chance, most of us don’t shy from peeking into worlds that are far removed from our own. Many river cruises in Europe sail great waterways that flow through once-mighty empires filled with lavish palaces and chateaux – and one of the best ways to experience the historical legacy of emperors, empresses, counts and countesses is on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. As well as admiring priceless art and antiques you might be wined, dined and entertained in rooms where royalty once held court. Plenty more unforgettable experiences await river cruisers in Asia or America. Wherever you cruise the breadth of excursions won’t disappoint – and many are included in the cruise fare.

Ride the royal train

The royal waiting room at Budapest Nyugati Station that was once used by Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth sets the scene for a spectacular journey on the Grand Empress steam train. The tour, exclusive to APT, includes a three-course lunch with wine in one of the train’s historic teak carriages and a private tour of the couple’s baroque Godollo Palace. The palace was Empress Elisabeth’s favourite royal residence. The trip is complimentary on the operator’s 15-day Magnificent Europe cruises between Amsterdam and Budapest.

From £3,895 per person departing May 11 2019 (0800 012 6683; aptouring.co.uk).

Dine at the Popes’ Palace

On this excursion in the south of France you will arrive at the medieval Popes’ Palace in Avignon just as the doors are closing to the public. The exclusive after-hours classical concert and gala dinner is part of the itinerary on a Scenic cruise along the Rhône. You’ll be welcomed with champagne, before taking your seat in the huge banqueting hall where 700 years ago the French popes would have entertained nobility.

A 13-day cruise costs from £4,815 per person departing July 29 2019 (0161 236 2444; scenic.co.uk).

Pass the port

Savour the tastes of northern Portugal by lunching in the vineyards of the family-run Quinta da Avessada on AmaWaterways’ Enticing Douro cruise. The event starts with welcome drinks, followed by a museum tour and a traditional Portuguese lunch with music provided by a local band.

From £2,592 per person cruise-only departing Nov 9 2019 (0800 320 2335; amawaterways.co.uk).

Behind closed doors

A beat-the-crowds tour of the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg hosted by an art historian is a bonus in itself, but Viking’s Behind Closed Doors excursion also includes a money-can’t-buy trip inside vast secured vaults where furniture, priceless art works and frescoes that belonged to the Romanov family are stored. The eight-hour excursion, on Viking’s Waterways of the Tsars cruise, costs £176 per person.

From £3,795 per person for a 13-day cruise departing on Sept 17 2019 (0800 319 6660; vikingcruises.com). 

Champagne at the chateau

Peek into the life of the 17th Duke of Uséz, who opens his chateau for an exclusive evening of wining and dining under the stars for those sailing the Rhône with Tauck. After a champagne welcome there’s time to explore the chateau, in medieval Uséz, about 25 miles (40km) outside Avignon, before dinner is served in the grounds to the sounds of a classical trio.

From £5,235 per person for the 14-day French Escapade voyage departing Aug 4 2019 (0800 810 8020; tauck.co.uk).

Winery in Washington

Meet a vintner in the Washington winelands on a private excursion on American Queen Steamboat Company’s cruise along the Columbia and Snakes rivers. You’ll learn about wine growing in the region and taste award-winning vintages at Lindsay Creek Vineyards and Clearwater Canyon Cellars. The cost is $129 (£99).

From £3,395 per person for an eight-night cruise departing Nov 3 2019 (01223 568904; lightbluetravel.co.uk).

Meet a Princess

Sip champagne with royalty on a trip to Artstetten Castle, the Austrian home of Princess Anita von Hohenberg, the great-granddaughter of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, whose assassination in Sarajevo in 1914 sparked the outbreak of the First World War. The complimentary tour is on Crystal River Cruises’ Danube sailings from Vienna.

From £3,383 per person cruise-only for 10 days departing April 30 2019 (020 7399 7604; crystalcruises.co.uk).

Make it a night to remember

The opulent Palais Liechtenstein in Vienna is the venue for a magical evening of Mozart and Strauss music, ballet and opera on Scenic’s Gems of the Danube cruise. The evening is free and exclusive, the palace magnificent, with gold accents, frescoed ceilings and parquet flooring, there’s Austrian Sekt to greet you and the stirring Radetzky March to play you out.

From £2,820 per person including flights for eight days, departing Oct 24 2019 (0161 236 2444; scenic.co.uk). 

Pasta La Vista

Learn to cook like a local in Bologna, the home of fresh pasta, mortadella sausage and the ragu sauce the city gave its name to on an exclusive tour on Uniworld’s one-week Venice and the Gems of Northern Italy cruise on the Po. You’ll get into the foodie spirit with a visit to the produce market in Via Della Pescherie and then it’s off to Cantina Bentivoglio for a lesson in pasta-making, followed by lunch.

From £2,499 per person departing March 31 2019 (0808 168 8231; uniworld.com). 

Water blessing

Allow peace and happiness to flow after an exclusive traditional water blessing by Cambodian monks in Wat Hanchey, courtesy of Emerald Waterways. The ceremony, available on the river cruise line’s Mekong sailings, involves being sprinkled with water and receiving a red wrist tie from the monks to signify the blessing.

From £3,425 per person including flights for a 14-day Mekong Discoverer departing April 11 (0808 159 4193; emeraldwaterways.co.uk). 

Oodles of noodles

Enjoy being wined and dined on a complimentary night out at one of Ho Chi Minh City’s finest restaurants on a cruise along the Mekong with APT. Vietnam House is owned by chef Luke Nguyen, who creates authentic dishes with oodles of noodles, meats, fish and spicy sauces. The tour is offered on APT’s 15-day Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia cruise.

From £4,840 per person including flights departing Sept 20 2019 (0800 012 6683; aptouring.co.uk). 

Raptors on the Danube

On a 520-acre piece of marshy land where the Sava and Danube rivers meet, there’s the chance to see white-tailed eagles with an 8ft wingspan. These, and some 160 other bird species, are reason enough for joining Crystal Cruises’ kayak safari on its Eastern Danube Discoveries voyages. Need another? There’s two hours of paddling to Great War Island, with a dip in the river once there.

From £6,247 per person for 11 days departing Aug 14 2019. The excursion costs €149 (£128) per person (020 7399 7604; crystalcruises.co.uk).