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Introducing our new range of European Garden Cruises

2 December 2019

One of the biggest travel trends predicted for 2020 is the rise in slow travel, meaning that enjoying the journey will become as much a part of the holiday as the destination itself. And what better way to travel than aboard a small ship, gliding at a relaxed pace along some of Europe’s most scenic rivers and stopping at charming ports along the way to explore glorious gardens.

According to ABTA's 2019 Holiday Habits report, UK cruise passengers reached over 2 million for the first time last year. One in seven people surveyed are considering a cruise in 2020, a figure that is 2% up on last year. The Silver Travel Advisor's 2019 Industry Report also revealed that 23% of respondents have taken a river cruise and that an impressive 74% would take another. The main reasons for the popularity of cruising is getting to see a selection of places on one trip and then only having to unpack once!

We’ve created a series of four river cruises that offer a dazzling array of horticulture as well as wonderful small ships, which will allow you to travel leisurely in both comfort and style.

Seine River Cruise

This 8-day holiday begins with a journey via Eurostar to Gare du Nord in Paris and, from there, we transfer to our ship – the A-ROSA VIVA – on the banks of the Seine. There are a selection of gorgeous French gardens to explore on this cruise, the first of which is Jardin Plume, which boasts a central square mirror pool, a kitchen garden and impressive seasonal plantings. Next, we explore Le Bois des Moutiers, a garden near to Dieppe that was in part influenced by Gertrude Jekyll. From here, it’s on to Jardins Agapanthe with its sunken lavender garden, Jardin d’Angélique with its wonderful roses, and then Le Vasterival, which created in 1957 by Princess Sturdza. One of the highlights of this holiday is undoubtedly our visit to Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, which is accompanied by a chance to visit the little church where the legendary artist is buried. Finally, we stop at the magnificent Palace of Versailles. Click here to view the tour.

The River Seine

Picardy Gardens Cruise

This is a river cruise with a twist because it includes six nights at a hotel in Amiens as well as three half-day cruises on the Somme waterway. So, while you’ll be spending your overnights on dry land, parts of your days will be enjoyed on the river. The barge we’ll travel on is electrically-powered, and will act as a floating observation lounge – offering us the chance to cruise in armchair comfort with close-up views of the passing scenery. Highlights of this tour include visits to Château de Long, an elegant pink-brick building known for its rose gardens an orangery; the Gardens of Maizicourt, recently voted the best in Picardy by television viewers in France; and the Moulin Ventin, characterised by its 19^th century water mill and water garden features. There is also a tour of the remarkable floating gardens of Les Hortillonnages, which cover 300 hectares of small islands and are criss-crossed by 55km of canals. The gardens and ancient marshes here are best appreciated by water, so we board small boats to explore the area fully. Click here to view the tour.

The River Somme

Summer Gardens of Holland and Belgium

Your boat for this cruise will be the MS Gérard Schmitter, a spacious and well-appointed river cruiser that accommodates around 180 passengers. Along with a welcome cocktail reception and a gala dinner to kick off the holiday, this four-day river cruise will take you to a number of memorable gardens. We’ll visit the garden of Mien Ruys, which is home to areas that include the Water Garden and Sun Border; the dazzling garden created by Ada Hofman, which is the largest and most complex series of water gardens in all of Holland – with no fewer than 30 gardens, 50 ponds and 3,000 different types of plants; and Bloemenmarkt, a floating flower market at Singel – a relic of the days when fresh flowers were brought into Amsterdam daily by barge. Elsewhere, you’ll tour Museum Van Loon and its collection of Dutch paintings, there’s a chance to take an optional canal cruise in Amsterdam at night, and there will also be free time to explore this city at your leisure. Click here to view the tour.

The MS Gerard Schmitter

Rhine and Moselle River Cruise

Hop aboard the A-ROSA FLORA for a six-day holiday cruising the wonderful Rhine and Moselle in Germany. This trip offers a series of optional excursions, such as Reichsburg Castle in Cochem with its opulent furnishings, the Roman city of Trier with its UNESCO-listed sites, Bernkastel-Kues with its charming half-timbered buildings, and the city of Koblenz. This particular river cruise, perhaps, is for the more independent traveler as all excursions are optional, meaning you can pack as much into the experience or keep it as relaxed as you like. Click here to view the tour.

Reichsburg Castle, Cochem

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Introducing our new range of European Garden Cruises was published on 2 December 2019