Travel News: Trafalgar Tours launches new river cruise itineraries in Europe

Straits Times

7 days ago

The Trafalgar Reverie will sail the Danube river from April 2026. PHOTO: TRAFALGAR TOURS
SINGAPORE – Come April 2026, Trafalgar Tours – a brand under travel company The Travel Corp – will sail down the Danube and Rhine rivers in Europe on two newly launched river cruise trips.
Its 10-day river cruise itinerary (from US$3,249 or S$4,165 ) takes travellers on a journey along the Rhine from Dutch capital Amsterdam to Basel , a city in north-western Switzerland famed for its blend of historic and modern architecture.
Alternatively, its eight-day voyage (from US$2,799) on the Danube sails from Hungarian capital Budapest to Passau, a German city on the Austrian border. The ship will pass Slovakian capital Bratislava, as well as Austria's capital Vienna and Unesco World Heritage site Wachau Valley, known for its lush vineyards on mountains.
These journeys will take place on two 128-passenger ships – the Trafalgar Reverie and Trafalgar Verity – obtained from its sister brand Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.
Trafalgar Tours' inaugural sailing will take place on April 11, 2026. Mr Nick Lim, the company's Asia chief executive, says its new river cruise products come as more travellers embrace slow travel – a more relaxed and immersive approach to vacations.
Guests exploring the Rhine on the 10-day river cruise itinerary can take in the sights and sounds of Koblenz – the gateway to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a Unesco World Heritage site.
PHOTO: TRAFALGAR TOURS
He adds that the brand was encouraged by the growth of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, which saw bookings triple from June 2022 to May 2025.
The Trafalgar Reverie and Trafalgar Verity will each have 64 cabins across seven categories, ranging from its 14 sq m Classic staterooms to its largest 20 sq m Riverview Suites.
Prices include hotel stays before embarkation, food and drinks – alcoholic and non-alcoholic, on-board entertainment and access to a games room, gym, sundeck, bar and lounges.
The 14 sq m French Balcony staterooms on the Trafalgar Verity come with floor-to-ceiling windows for guests to soak in river views.
PHOTO: TRAFALGAR TOURS
Activities such as walking tours through historic streets, guided tours of tourist attractions and visits to local businesses are included in the trips. Optional excursions to attractions such as Germany's Heidelberg Castle or Budapest's Jewish Quarter can be booked at extra cost.
Meaningful engagements with local communities will feature prominently in the cruise itineraries.
For instance, the trips will include interactions with non-profit organisations and activities that patronise local family-owned businesses. Tours will also delve into historically and culturally significant events for travellers to better appreciate the destination.
For instance, in Bratislava, passengers will learn about its Cold War history in a tour of key communist-era sites and meet a representative of non-profit organisation Post Bellum, which preserves first-hand accounts of life under totalitarian regimes.
Mr Lim says: 'Unlike ocean liners that are stocked with entertainment and known to be the destination in itself, river cruising keeps the actual destination as the main focus. The comfort, convenience, meals and activities of a river cruise trip are curated so guests can intimately experience their surroundings.'
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