Wine Cruises: An Introduction

The muted ‘pop’ of a cork, sunlight filtering softly through green vines...as wine lovers, we understand the simple pleasures of an afternoon spent wandering around a sun-dappled vineyard or browsing bottles in a hushed wine cellar. Some of your most treasured memories have likely been forged laughing around a table with friends, regally arrayed glasses just waiting to be sampled. At the heart of these gatherings is a shared passion—not only for the vino itself but also for the sense of connection that forms over the bottle. Could there be a better place to enjoy all of this than on an ultra-luxury cruise ship?

Intrigued? Well then, pour yourself a glass and pull up a chair—let us introduce you to cruising as you’ve never seen it before.

Picture the scene: yourself and a group of like-minded wine lovers relaxing on the sun-drenched deck of one of the most luxurious cruise ships in the world, the only thing on your mind which vintage you’ll order with dinner, and how many bottles you’ll return with at the next glorious port. The verdant valleys of the Douro, the hilltop castles of the Rhine, or even the endless expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, bridging the Old and New World of winemaking—the choice is yours. No longer confined to the wistful realms of your imagination and “Wouldn’t that be amazing?”, several luxury cruise lines across both the ocean and river cruising sectors have opened their doors to oenophiles on the hunt for a unique travel adventure.  

Forget mass-market, one-size-fits-all sailings. With more and more cruise lines hopping on the wine cruise bandwagon, there’s an itinerary to suit each and every traveller—you can have your pick of the bunch.

If you have visions of clinking glasses as you meander through Europe’s iconic waterways, vineyard-dotted hills rising steeply on either side, you’re in luck. AmaWaterways prides themselves on their diverse itineraries, with over 60 different European Celebration of Wine River Cruises along the Rhine, Danube, Moselle, Rhône, and Douro, including private wine festivals in Bourg and Spitz. 

Looking to combine two wine capitals of the world in one unforgettable journey? No problem! Uniworld’s Wine Roads of France and Portugal itinerary does just that, taking curious guests from Bordeaux – the jewel in any wine lover’s crown – all the way to Lisbon. 

For the more adventurous oenophile, Viking’s Chateaux, Rivers and Wines voyage offers a host of exciting activities from sunrise to sunset, including truffle hunting in Périgon and creating your own personal blend of Cognac at the Camus distillery, before heading back to your luxurious river cruise ship to sip Saint-Émilion and Sauternes on the deck.

But perhaps rivers aren’t your thing? Maybe you dream of taking to the seas, nothing but blue skies above, gently lapping waves below, and gleaming glasses of Médoc as far as the eye can see? In that case, we’ve got you covered!

Regent Seven Seas Cruises don’t mess around when it comes to wine, as their guests – a third of whom are registered wine club members – will testify. Their popular Epicurean Spotlight cruises include a European Wine & Whiskey itinerary, as well as the unique Wildlife & Wine cruise, which includes stops at Cape Town, Namibia and Mozambique.  Over on the other side of the globe, Celebrity Cruises boasts over 500 onboard wine selections as well as signature Australian wine journeys featuring excursions to wine producers in the Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley, and McLaren Vale wine regions. Budding sommeliers may prefer Cunard’s Wine Academy, in which they can choose from 480 different wines, enjoy Food and Wine Festivals onboard, and even earn a WSET Level 1 Award whilst at sea. 

So, whether you’re a wine aficionado or just dipping your toes in, your next bucket list adventure is just around the corner. Our dedicated team of cruise connoisseurs are on hand to help curate the perfect trip for you—all you have to do is sit back, relax and raise a glass to a cruising experience like no other. Cheers!

If you're thinking of booking a group cruise, you can find out more about group cruises here.