Travel across Europe in unmatched luxury, where unique dining experiences abound, including leisurely four-course dinners, refined lunches, breakfasts served in the comfort of your cabin, and brunch or traditional English afternoon tea depending on the journey. Elegant Twin Cabins allow you to admire the passing scenery from your plush seats, and are transformed at night into inviting bedrooms, while the Cabin Suites offer extra space to unwind. The exquisite Grand Suites have interiors inspired by Paris, Venice and Istanbul and provide every modern comfort; spacious ensuites and impeccable cabin service complete the experience.
There is no better way to join or return home from your cruise than this most refined of rail journeys. These ever-popular trips have now been released for 2023, with many already sold out, so we've combed through the extensive schedule to find the best rail and cruise combinations with some of our favourite luxury cruise lines.
1. Seabourn
Enjoy an 11-night cruise departing Venice on 17th June 2023 on the wonderful Seabourn Quest, exploring the gems of the Adriatic with time in Malta, Sicily, and southern Italy. Highlights include the handsome belle époque villas of Opatija, the compact medieval centre of Šibenik, the charmingly underdeveloped island of Vis, as well as the Bay of Kotor. Disembarking in Venice you'll transfer to Santa Lucia station for the overnight Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journey to London.
2. Silversea
In August the lovely Silver Spirit operates two identical 7-night round-trip Venice voyages exploring the Croatian coast, with a late evening in Hvar, the most popular of Croatia's islands, and time to stroll around the perfectly preserved old town of Dubrovnik, a highlight of any cruise to the region. Choose either the 2nd August or 9th August departure and return to London on the VSOE straight from your cruise.
3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent are no strangers to combining their cruises with Belmond's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, with packages included regularly in their Concierge Collection. In 2023, however, options are limited, with only the 10-night Venice round-trip sailing on Seven Seas Voyager on 29th October fitting neatly with the return Venice to London journey. Sailing highlights include the delightful Croatian ports of Split and Zadar, the stunning Bay of Kotor, time in Greece and a call to Kusadasi, gateway to Ephesus, one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the Eastern Mediterranean.
4. Windstar Cruises
Depart Athens under sail on 18th September 2023 on board the wonderful Wind Surf with a 9-night sailing. Enjoy watersports from the ship's marina in Monemvasia, discover ancient Olympia from Katakolon, and hop from port to port along the Dalmatian Coast before arriving in Venice to travel on to London.
5. SeaDream Yacht Club
SeaDream's intimate yachting style is perfectly suited to a port-intensive Adriatic journey. Travelling from London on 13th July 2023, arrive in Venice the following evening for an overnight hotel stay before boarding SeaDream I for a 7-night cruise including overnight calls at the pretty town of Piran and 'The Pearl of the Adriatic', Dubrovnik.
6. AmaWaterways
Choose a more unusual VSOE journey departing London on 2nd May 2023, arriving in Budapest the following day for a 3-night pre-cruise hotel stay. Then join AmaSonata for the 6th May Melodies of the Danube itinerary to Vilshofen, enjoying time in the pretty Bavarian town of Passau, the grandeur of Vienna, and a call in Linz for a trip to Salzburg.
7. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Travelling off the beaten path from Prague, to Nuremberg and on to Vienna, uncover the scenic wonders and remarkable histories of the cities that rest along the Danube on board Uniworld's 21st September Authentic Danube & Prague itinerary. After an overnight hotel stay in Vienna join the VSOE for an overnight journey back to London.
