From temples and museums to gorgeous castles and UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, Essential Journeys got together with Emerald Waterways to bring you some of the world’s most interesting places (https://www.emeraldwaterways.co.uk/).
With a new historically rich destination to explore almost every day, knowledgeable tour guides, and an attentive team with a service that is second-to-none, these river cruises are perfectly suited to those who want to go beyond the history books.
Unearth the Jewels of the Rhine: Architecture, history and natural beauty are ever-present on this journey down the Rhine, beginning in the Dutch capital and sweeping up Cologne (main image), Koblenz and the Black Forest on its route. On this eight-day Jewels of the Rhine river cruise, history enthusiasts will enjoy highlights such as a canal boat passing Roman patrician houses in Amsterdam, visiting Cologne Cathedral in the oldest city of Germany, seeing the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress – one of the largest preserved fortresses in Europe and taking a guided tour of La Petite France – the historic quarter of the city of Strasbourg.
Jewels of the Rhine, eight-days from £1,970 per person, saving £750 per couple*, based on October 23, 2021 departure.

Explore the Danube; This river is a fault line of Europe that passes through 10 countries and was once the natural boundary of the Roman Empire. It is both bountiful and rustic as it flows past abbeys and palaces, through gorges, and encompasses a breathtaking variety of cultures, cuisines and curiosities. On this eight-day Danube Explorer from Passau to Budapest, highlights include sights of the Mariahilf, a place of pilgrimage, and St. Severin, an ancient church from the Ottonian dynasty; the quaint town of Ceský Krumlov with 300 protected medieval buildings and an iconic castle, as well as the chance to marvel at the Renaissance style architecture of the Bratislava Castle.
Danube Explore, eight-days from £1,970 per person, saving £750 per couple*, based on April 9, 2021 departure.

Delve into Israel and ancient Egypt: So much can be learned about this region from history books, but delve deeper and witness spectacular desert landscapes and thousands of years of history as you follow in the footsteps of the mighty Pharaohs as well as a visit to the biblical Holy Land. On a 16-day river cruise and land tour from Tel Aviv to Cairo, highlights include a tour of the Knights’ Halls, the Crusaders’ main fortress; the Garden of Gethsemane; access to the open-air temple complex of Karnak with ancient hieroglyphs; as well as the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor, a woman whose reign is a storied part of Egyptian history
Israel & Ancient Egypt River Cruise, 16-days from £5,420 per person, saving £1,000 per couple, based on November 8, 2020 departure.
All prices include relevant discounts, return flights (or rail on selected itineraries), transfers, the cruises as stated above, all tipping and gratuities, all on board meals and selected drinks**, excursions and experiences.
For more information or to book visit www.emeraldwaterways.co.uk or call 0808 301 3352.