With food and wine being such a big part of any vacation venture – wherever in the world you’re headed – you may find yourself making destination decisions based solely on your stomach. If this is true for you, Riverside Luxury Cruises has a plan – and it is Europe.
Riverside’s commitment to culinary excellence and authentic experiences captures the complete essence of European cuisine. Riverside has been voted Best Dining in the River Cruise category by Cruise Critic for the second year in a row. Winding down the Danube, Rhine, Rhône, Main and Moselle rivers, Riverside offers more than 170 departures to some of the top food and wine regions in Europe. You can experience exclusive curated excursions that celebrate the diverse cuisine along these iconic European rivers.
Safe to say, you will easily find a Riverside cruise a luxurious and intimate way to explore Europe’s storied waterways, visiting centuries-old wine cellars, strolling down cobblestone streets of fairytale medieval villages, poking about gourmet market stalls. Have you ever been to a chocolate museum before? Maybe this is the year!
Here are a few different ways to taste your way through Europe with Riverside. The menu is diverse and delicious.
Wine Tasting in Austria
Riverside’s vineyard tours in the Wachau Valley feature fabulous wine and regional delicacies along the Danube River, between the 11th-century towns of Krems and Melk. Visitors witness breathtaking landscapes and terraced vineyards, compare wines like Grüner Veltliner and Riesling from diverse microclimates, and learn about the centuries-old traditions of family-run wineries.
Cooking Classes in Provence
Hands-on learning is the name of the game in this part of France. Guests learn to cook traditional Provençal dishes using local ingredients, mastering techniques for ratatouille, bouillabaisse, tapenade and more. Gain insight into the regional philosophy of seasonal and local French cooking with trips through vibrant markets, and settle into the picturesque vineyards, olive groves and rustic farmhouses.
Michelin-Starred Dining in Lyon
France’s gastronomic capital is filled with renowned restaurants, serving not only traditional Lyonnaise cuisine but also inventive and modern wonders. Legendary chefs create menus that evolve with the seasons, the dishes served alongside perfect Rhône Valley wines. Going right to the source, the seat of all French cooking, will give you serious bragging rights at home.
Beer Tasting in Germany
Dive into Germany's rich beer heritage – particularly Bavaria – with brewery visits and tastings that showcase centuries-old traditions. Enjoy the fabled outdoor beer gardens or the spectacle of the grand beer halls, learn about regional ingredients and traditional methods, and get to know renowned beer styles like Dunkel and Doppelbock.
Pastry Sampling in Vienna
With iconic desserts like Sachertorte as well as lesser-known gems like Buchteln, this is a city worth tasting! Riverside excursions get you sampling the city’s famous cakes and pastries, while you acquaint yourself with Austrian coffeehouse culture. Pastry-making is an artform and a delicious one at that.
Fine Dining On Board
Riverside’s onboard dining experiences are inspired by the cuisine of the regions you’re sailing, and prepared by skilled chefs who know how to bring the local experiences back to the fleet’s elegant dining rooms. Exceptional wine and food pairings make the meal all the more magical, while culinary events like chef-hosted dinners draw you even deeper into gastronomic bliss.
Experience Europe’s rich culinary heritage
Riverside Luxury Cruises is the ultimate choice for travelers who want to satisfy their cravings along with their wanderlust. The Tully Travel Designers can also make plans for your river cruise to be expanded or combined as you desire, so there’s no need to hold back. Excursions can be booked well in advance to suit your specific interests and preferences. The time to awaken your palate to the flavors of Europe is definitely right now.