How Australians Can Combine Europe and River Cruising
A European river cruise is not an island. The ship moors in European cities; you arrive via European airports; and on either side of the cruise, some of the world's greatest travel destinations are within easy reach. For Australians making the long-haul journey to Europe, combining the cruise with independent exploration before and after is one of the smartest travel decisions you can make.
The Core Principle: Fly Once, Do Everything
Australians flying to Europe spend 20+ hours in transit each way. Getting the maximum value from that journey means not limiting the trip to just the cruise. Adding 5 10 days of independent travel before and after a 7-day cruise turns a river cruise holiday into a comprehensive European experience for relatively modest additional cost.
The Best Pre-Cruise City Combinations
Danube (Vienna to Budapest): 3 5 days in Vienna before
Vienna is one of the world's great cities and it's also the starting point for the most popular Danube cruise. Arriving 3 5 days early lets you recover from the flight, explore the Imperial palaces and museums, sit in the coffee houses, and board the ship refreshed and ready. Post-cruise: 3 5 days in Budapest.
Rhine (Amsterdam to Basel): 3 4 days in Amsterdam before
Amsterdam's canal network, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House, and the cycling culture all reward 3 4 days of exploration. Amsterdam Schiphol is one of Europe's best-connected airports from Australia. Post-cruise: Basel → train to Zurich (1 hour) → Swiss Alps.
Seine (Paris to Honfleur): 4 6 days in Paris before
Paris needs no justification. 4 6 days allows the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, Versailles, Montmartre, the Marais, and the restaurants. Post-cruise (ending in Normandy or returning to Paris): extend in Paris or take the Eurostar to London.
Douro (Porto to Barca d'Alva): 3 4 days in Porto before
Porto is one of Europe's most extraordinary cities and Australian visitors consistently rate it as a revelation. Post-cruise (ending near Salamanca): spend 2 3 days in Salamanca and/or Madrid before flying home.
The Open-Jaw Flight Strategy
The key to combining a river cruise with independent travel is the open-jaw ticket. Rather than flying return to a single city, fly into the pre-cruise city and home from the post-cruise city. Example: Sydney → Vienna (pre-cruise) / Budapest → Sydney (post-cruise). This typically costs the same as or less than a return ticket, and eliminates the cost of getting from the end of the cruise back to the start.
How CroisiEurope Australia Can Help
CroisiEurope Australia (1300 739 652) can advise on the best cruise and travel combination for your preferred destinations, budget, and available time. The team can also assist with pre/post cruise hotel recommendations in most European cruise cities.
Book Your 2027 River Cruise with CroisiEurope Australia
CroisiEurope Australia handles all bookings for Australian travellers local support, AUD pricing, no credit card surcharges on Visa or Mastercard.
Phone: 1300 739 652 | Email: contact@croisicruises.com
Website: www.croisieuroperivercruises.com.au | Office: Tweet World Travel, 544 Magill Road, Magill SA 5072
2027 Early Booking is open now. Enquire today.
