Five fabulous river cruise highlights of Saga’s spring 2027 season

From the tulip fields of the Netherlands to the vineyards of Portugal, here are just a few of the delights you can experience on our river cruises.

By Sue Bryant

Spring is a wonderful time to set sail along Europe’s waterways. The bulb fields of the Netherlands are in full bloom, unfurling ribbons of brilliant colour across the countryside, while along the Rhine and the Danube, the vineyards are a vibrant green with new growth. Al fresco dining is underway in cities like Lisbon and Prague – and the heat of summer is yet to descend, making this a perfect time for sightseeing.

Here are five cruises to choose from to see spring at its most stunning:

Stroll through the tulips in Keukenhof Gardens

The Keukenhof Gardens, day trip from either Amsterdam or Zaandam, offer one of the most famous displays of spring blooms in the world. Between April and May, an astonishing seven million bulbs – from crocuses and hyacinths to daffodils and those famous tulips – bloom in swathes of glorious colour across 79 acres of gently rolling parkland. 

There’s been a garden here since the 15th century (Keukenhof means “kitchen garden”), originally producing fruit and vegetables and later serving as the landscaped grounds of Keukenhof Castle. Since the 1950s, top Dutch bulb producers have used Keukenhof to display their prized blooms and today more than 100 growers exhibit here in addition to some 500 flower growers who show cut flowers and pot plants at shows across the season.

Wander along flower-lined paths, drop into the themed pavilions for exotic displays of lilies and orchids and stop for snacks at cafés around the park.

Keukenhof is featured on several of Saga’s spring cruises, with departures throughout its short season – check out Keukenhof Gardens and Highlights of Holland on the Spirit of the Moselle.

Keukenhof Gardens and Highlights of Holland 2027 aboard Spirit of the Moselle

Prague, Vienna and the Wachau Valley

New for 2027, with departures from March onwards, is the chance to spend three days in beautiful Prague prior to joining Spirit of the Danube for a week-long Wachau Valley to Vienna cruise from Vilshofen to the Austrian capital.

Prague is filled with landmarks and sights. Stroll across the 600-year-old Charles Bridge, which spans the Vltava River, with wonderful views over the city’s spires. The parapets of the bridge are lined with baroque statues – legend has it that if you rub the bronze plaque of St John of Nepomuk, you’ll return to the city.

Prague Castle is the world’s largest ancient castle complex, dating back more than 1,100 years: the stones have borne witness to everything from coronations to wars. In your own time, return to the magnificent picture gallery to admire the work by Tintoretto, Titian and Rubens and check out the dazzling stained-glass windows in St Vitus Cathedral, within the castle complex. If you can face it, drop into the grisly torture chamber, too.

With your local guide, visit the Old Town Square to watch the hourly animation on the Prague Astronomical Clock, the oldest functioning medieval clock of its kind, then in your free time, enjoy the spring sunshine in one of the city’s leafy beer gardens.

After your city break, you’ll be taken to Vilshofen to start your cruise, which takes you through the Wachau, one of the most beautiful stretches of the Danube, lined with vineyards and apricot orchards, the whole valley protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the highlights here is a tour of the baroque Melk Abbey, perched high above the river.

The cruise ends with an overnight stay in stately Vienna. Enjoy a panoramic drive along the Ringstrasse, passing its grand Baroque and historic architecture, then return to spend some free time in the Stadtpark, where Johann Strauss and his golden violin shimmer in the spring sunshine.

Wachau Valley to Vienna 2027 with Prague City Stay

Lovely Lisbon and the Douro at its beautiful best

Spring is one of the best times of year to cruise the Douro, where you’ll find medieval hilltop villages, sleepy riverside towns and mile upon mile of port wine vineyards snaking around the contours of the steep hills. Early in the season, the wildflowers are in blossom, the vineyards are green with new growth and the temperatures pleasant. 

Saga’s Lisbon and the Heart of the Douro itinerary, starts with a three-night stay in the Portuguese capital, exploring the different neighbourhoods, museums and monuments. Wander the steep, cobbled lanes of the Bairro Alto district, where soulful fado singing drifts out of the tascas, or local restaurants, in the evenings. Stroll the ramparts of the Castelo de São Jorge for magnificent views down over the city’s rooftops and the Tagus river.

Admire the elaborate, 16th-century Jeronimos Monastery and the Belem Tower, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the nearby Monument of the Discoveries, a contemporary structure celebrating the Age of Discovery with intricate statues of Portugal’s great explorers.

In Lisbon there are opportunities for independent excursions to enjoy traditional dishes at the well-known Time Out Market, where you can sample a wide range of local favourites in one place, including bacalhau (salt cod) and grilled sardines. For something different, you can also join a workshop to learn how to make pastel de nata—the city’s beloved treat, known for its rich custard filling, crisp flaky pastry, and light sprinkle of cinnamon.

Once onboard Douro Serenity you will float peacefully through glorious scenery, exploring historic churches, towns and vineyards on shore excursions, and relaxing on the sun deck or in your comfortable cabin.

Lisbon and the Heart of the Douro 2027

Castles, vineyards and medieval towns: the Main, Rhine and Moselle

A river cruise as a delightful way to visit riverside towns and locations, as well as wonderfully varied landscapes. Saga’s springtime Main, Rhine and Moselle explorer itinerary is the perfect example, taking you along three rivers to some of the most beautiful towns in Germany and France over 11 days. 

Join the Spirit of the Moselle in Mainz and cruise south along the Rhine to enchanting Strasbourg. In your free time, you can stroll through the medieval heart of the city before stopping for tarte flambée – a crisp flatbread topped with white cheese, crispy bacon lardons and onions – washed down with a glass of chilled Alsace white.

You’ll sail north through the dramatic Middle Rhine Gorge to the pretty wine-growing village of Rüdesheim. Then at Koblenz, the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle, you’ll head into the steep-sided, vineyard-lined Moselle Valley, and explore the medieval town of Cochem, overlooked by the neo-Gothic Reichsburg Castle.

Then you’ll cruise along the Main to Frankfurt, an ultra-modern city with atmospheric Römerberg, the medieval old town, at its heart, and Aschaffenburg, dominated by the vast, 17th-century Schloss Johannisburg. Finally, there’s a day in Mainz, birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, the father of modern printing.

Main, Rhine and Moselle Explorer 2027 aboard Spirit of the Moselle

Go Dutch: History, Art and delicious dishes on a cruise through the Netherlands

See the best of the Netherlands in March on Saga’s five-night A Taste of the Netherlands itinerary, a round-trip from Rotterdam on the Spirit of the Rhine. This is an opportunity to experience four Dutch cities, each one completely different.

In Rotterdam, you’ll see the modern Cube Houses, bright yellow and tilted at a jaunty 45º angle, and the striking Markthal, or market hall, full of tempting food stalls and restaurants.

Later, you’ll visit historic Dordrecht – there’s been a castle here since the 11th century, guarding the all-important confluence of three rivers, the Rhine, the Meuse and the Merwede. The medieval centre is home to 1,000 monuments, as well as museums, churches, medieval facades, galleries and antique shops.

Arty Utrecht also has medieval origins, its centre defined by the Domtoren bell tower, the tallest of its kind in the Netherlands, at 368 feet.

You’ll have a whole day to explore Amsterdam, from the art treasures of the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum, to the flower market and the Royal Palace. Admire the grand old merchants’ houses lining the canals and stop at a food stall or café for stroopwafel, the iconic Dutch treat of crisp waffles sandwiched around an irresistible cinnamon-flavoured caramel filling.

A Taste of the Netherlands