With increasing popularity in cruise holidays and competition between cruise lines, companies are now using ‘themes’ to try and grab the attention of consumers, particularly through Europe.  Wine and food is one of the most popular themes that many cruise lines already have, offering upgraded culinary options as well as more wine-focused on-board activities and off-ship excursions.

If you are planning on touring Europe during the northern hemisphere summer months, there are some excellent cruise lines on both River and Ocean offering exciting wine & food themed itineraries. 

Rivers
Wine lovers have a variety of itineraries that sail the Rhine, Rhône, Seine, Danube and the Douro rivers through Europe.

Avalon Waterways offers several wine-themed itineraries that sail along the Danube, Rhine, Rhône, Saône and Seine. Featured programs include “The Blue Danube Discovery for Wine Lovers,” “Burgundy & Provence for Wine Lovers,” “Grand France for Wine Lovers” and “Rhine & Rhône Revealed for Wine Lovers.”

Uniworld covers the best of France, with specific departures for Paris & Normandy, Burgundy & Provence, and Bordeaux. The trips include excursions to famous restaurants, vineyards, truffle farms and other wine and culinary points of interest. For example, in Bordeaux, guests visit the La Cité du Vin, an interactive museum devoted to wine.

Viking is another company that includes itineraries through the rivers of Europe  offering occasional winery visits in Portugal, France, Germany and Austria. Quality and intensity of programming, as well as access to regional wines on board, varies by ship and itinerary. Generally, Viking’s offerings are better suited for wine beginners.

As an alternative to cruising on a large river boat with 120+ other people, you can also cruise by barge. The  canals  and rivers that meander through Europe’s countryside are ideal for barge cruising. Once used for cargo transport, many of these barges have been converted into floating boutique hotels. The refurbished ships are perfect for groups of 2 to 22 passengers seeking a wine program that takes them through places like the Loire, Burgundy or Alsace.

Ocean
While a multi-country itinerary across the Mediterranean doesn’t immediately conjure visions of vineyard picnics, in fact, many of its great cities are tucked into storied wine regions. 

Oceania will be hosting sailings with Food & Wine Trails through out 2019. Good food has always been a pillar of this luxury line, and now, in partnership with Food & Wine Trails, it will offer 11 wine-focused tours through the Mediterranean with their Tuscany & Santorini itineraries.

The SeaDream Yacht Club, voted Best Luxury Small Cruise Ship of 2015 by Forbes, sells “Wine Voyages.” These feature enhanced cuisine and beverage selections in conjunction with guest wineries, where a representative from the producer conducts tastings and hosts dinner on board. For example, the nine-day Lisbon to Bordeaux program features famous Douro Valley winery Niepoort, while Rome to Venice boasts hosts Ca’ del Bosco from Franciacorta, or Dievole from Tuscany.

Silversea’s Wine Voyages call on destinations with dedicated wine ambassador, Lawrence d’Almeida as your host. D’Almeida, who’s on board up to 70 days per year, pours three wines during a 45-minute overview of topics like “The Nature and History of Wine, from Antiquity to 1970,” and “The Wine Revolution: The World of Wine since 1970.” There’s also a chance to take a Sommelier Certificate Course, and high-profile wine producers are invited frequently to sail and share their knowledge.

Education is also a component of some Seabourn sailings. Its cruises offer classes run by sommeliers for an additional fee. 

Have a chat to your travel consultant to get the best information on any of the cruise lines or itineraries mentioned.

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