What is new in river cruises for 2026

One of the most leisurely ways to explore Europe’s waterways is on a river cruise and our new 2026 itineraries are now even better value.

On our three all-inclusive river ships – Spirit of the Rhine, Spirit of the Danube and Spirit of the Moselle – there’s now no extra cost when flying from your local airport on selected cruises.

When sailing into the heart of capital cities, towns and villages, an included tour is always on the itinerary, and they include tempting experiences such as tickets to see violinist André Rieu in concert or a visit to the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens on the Keukenhof Gardens and Highlights of Holland cruise, sailing aboard Spirit of the Moselle.

Our cruise and stay option in the Austrian capital of Vienna adds further inspiring options that will help you make the most of your river sailing.

Here’s a round-up of what to look forward to.

Take flight from your local airport at no extra charge

Wherever you live in the UK, when you book selected sailings on a river cruise on Spirit of the Rhine, Spirit of the Danube or Spirit of the Moselle you can get off to a flying start from a choice of convenient airports. These include Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle, as well as Heathrow and Gatwick.

Combine this with the already included chauffeur service to begin and end your river cruise in style, enjoying a far simpler journey and without an additional charge.

Find out more about flying from your local airport

Cruise and stay: linger longer in Austria’s capital

Vienna is one of Europe’s grandest cities, with music and arts at the heart of the Austrian capital’s culture.

Before your river cruise you can now delve deep into the city life by booking Cities of the Danube with Vienna City Stay or Gems of the Danube with Vienna City Stay to enjoy three nights at the Savoyen Hotel in a central location, close to the Belvedere Palace and botanical garden.

And, of course, a visit to Vienna is not complete without listening to a classical music concert – included on the second day of your stay, you can celebrate composers with a connection to the city when The Vienna Residence Orchestra plays music by Mozart and Strauss.

There’s also time to make use of the extensive tram system or take a leisurely walk amid all the imperial magnificence to see the baroque beauty of Karlskirche (St Charles’ Church).

If art is your thing you’ll enjoy spending plenty of time in the MuseumsQuartier, which is home to impressive art collections including art by Egon Schiele in the Leopold Museum; the Pieter Bruegel works at the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Art History museum); modern art at the Mumok; and the world’s largest collection of paintings by artist Gustav Klimt, including The Kiss, at the Belvedere Palace.

Horse lovers shouldn’t miss the Spanish Riding School to see the Lipizzaner horses and their riders training in the historic arena or watch a full classical dressage performance. The white horses’ unique breeding and training make them an icon of Austrian cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO.

All this before you even board Spirit of the Danube means a full immersion into Viennese culture and history ahead of sailing the Upper Danube and on into the scenic Wachau Valley.

There are also two five-night mini cruises which visit the elegant capitals of Budapest in Hungary; Bratislava in Slovakia; as well as Vienna. They are an ideal choice for first-time cruisers to get a taste of a river cruise.

Aboard Spirit of the Moselle

Spirit of the Moselle is our newest river ship, launched in July 2025. Next year, this stylish ship will be gliding along her namesake river, the Moselle, as well as the Dutch Waterways, the Rhine and the Main. Check out the itineraries to enjoy this sparkling new ship christened by Louise Robinson, Saga Magazine’s Editorial Director.

Louise said: "I just love the stunning contemporary interiors which have been inspired by the paintings of JMW Turner, with accents of rich reds, greens and golds. The design also nods to the rich architecture and vineyards of the region. The main deck has floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the ship in light and offering a fantastic vantage point to take in those ever-changing views."

Discover Spirit of the Moselle

Guaranteed tickets to see André Rieu in concert

Tickets to see Dutch violinist André Rieu in concert are like gold dust but don’t worry: on four of Spirit of the Rhine’s 2026 cruises you will be guaranteed a concert seat in his hometown of Maastricht in the Netherlands.

There are four summer sailings and two festive season sailings to choose from – and each cruise takes guests to see André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra’s magical performance at the MECC Maastricht in December or the open-air concerts in Vrijthof Square.

To attend a summer concert, choose from André Rieu in Maastricht: Rotterdam to Maastricht or André Rieu in Maastricht: Maastricht to Rotterdam.

In the festive season choose from André Rieu’s Festive Celebrations: Nijmegen to Utrecht or André Rieu’s Festive Celebrations: Utrecht to Nijmegen.

Included excursion at every port

It doesn’t matter which river cruise you decide on, every one will feature an included excursion at each port.

A new excursion visits the fairytale Castle De Haar, near Utrecht. It’s the largest and most lavish castle in the Netherlands with a rich history including the flamboyant life of the van Zuylen family in the 20th century. Discover it for yourself on our Lake IJessel and Keukenhof Gardens cruise, aboard Spirit of the Moselle or Spirit of the Rhine.

Walking tours are popular included excursions in the cities of Maastricht and Nijmegen, the latter where Allied airborne forces met fierce resistance during Operation Market Garden in World War Two.

There are lesser-known towns to explore, too, such as Roermond, on the River Meuse, in the Netherlands, where guests can learn about an intriguing history dating back to the 14th century.

Tempting maiden port of call

Who doesn’t love a maiden port of call? In 2026, Linz am Rhein is our newest destination on the Rhine. Discover it for yourself on our From the Dutch Waterways to the Rhine cruise.

With cobbled streets that lead to a market square framed by 15th-century timbered buildings, this little town makes for a lovely place to explore. While ambling around, see the town hall and castle or find small bakeries and cafés in which to order a slice of traditional cherry cake, perhaps.

Book your 2026 river cruise today.