With more than 50 years of experience and five offices in Europe, A&K’s European River Cruise Journeys offer the only complete, boutique small-group river cruise experience available. Though you cruise on a ship of 150 or so passengers, Connections guests dine and go ashore as a small group of no more than 24 like-minded travellers, with exclusive insight from a Resident Tour Director. All off-ship sightseeing is exclusive to your Connections group, and your group dines together at reserved tables both aboard ship and on shore. A&K offers only the cabins and suites most preferred by our guests, including those with full, walk-out balconies or French balconies with unrestricted views through wide, glass panoramas. And every cruise offers a complete itinerary, with stays in smaller, hand-selected hotels in major cities and enriching, guided visits to must-see destinations, ensuring a boutique-style travel experience from start to finish.

QUICK STATS

ABERCROMBIE & KENT

1962

The year Abercrombie & Kent was founded

50

years of luxury travel experience

4+

land, sea, river, expedition, & more awaits you with A&K

For more than 50 years, Abercrombie  and  Kent has been internationally recognized as a leader in luxury adventure travel. Born in 1962 as a safari outfitter, A and K’s travel and tour operations now extend around the globe to more than 100 countries on all seven continents. Travel with Abercrombie  and  Kent combines the convenience, service and security of a U.S.-based company, with support 24/7 from a network of 50 on-site offices that ensure “by invitation only” access in A and K’s personalized, low-profile and intelligent style.

A and K’s varied list of luxury and adventure holidays combine active days with comfortable, often luxurious nights. Small group tours allow guests to confidently travel to places they might otherwise hesitate to go on their own, with a choice of itineraries at varying levels of luxury. Independent vacations give travelers more flexibility to spend their days however they prefer.

A and K’s family programs offer escorted services and itineraries designed for all generations’ enjoyment:

• Airport transfers on arrival and departure, regardless of the day and flight on which you travel
• Child- and teen-friendly activities that are both fun and educational
• Family-oriented hotels and guides
• Some departures featuring a Children’s Activity Coordinator throughout
• A wide choice of departure dates, especially during school holidays and summer breaks

Backed by more than 25 years’ experience, A&K’s exclusive chartered journeys to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Northwest Passage, Japan, Greece, Australia and Italy and take place on luxurious all-balcony, exclusively chartered ships.

Every A&K cruise is exclusively chartered. That means we select an ideal ship for every destination, always from among the most innovative mega-yachts available, and then optimize each to include a private balcony with every accommodation. We limit every ship’s guest capacity to a number well below its maximum while simultaneously bringing aboard a robust team, all to deliver one of the most intimate personnel-to-guest ratios in the industry at 1 to 1.3. It’s an experience available only to A&K guests and only on our Luxury Expedition Cruises.

Antarctica Will Change You

The only continent governed by peace and science, Antarctica is the world’s last true wilderness and a profoundly moving place. Discover the White Continent, wildlife-rich South Georgia and the Falkland Islands as well as our luxury all-inclusive voyages to these gems of the Southern Ocean, always led by A&K’s award-winning Expedition Team.

The Magical Arctic is Calling

Follow the world’s greatest explorers to the Arctic, a culture-rich expanse bounded by glaciers, ruled by the polar bear, and illuminated by the dazzling northern lights. Learn more about the Luxury Expedition Cruises we lead to the top of the world — including treasures like Greenland, Svalbard and the Northwest Passage — and the extraordinary A&K experts that take you there.

European river journeys feature A&K-exclusive shore excursions, stays in boutique hotels in the heart of major cities, meals at reserved tables with your group of like-minded travelers — both on board and ashore — and sightseeing in Europe’s greatest locales, with the exclusive services of an A&K Resident Tour Director.

A Complete Itinerary on Both River and Land

Each river cruise journey is a complete itinerary that reveals the heart of your destination on land as well as on the water. Explore vital cultural hubs such as Prague, Amsterdam, Munich, Budapest and Paris before or after your cruise, with sightseeing and meals included.

A Small Group of 24 or Less

While your river ship carries a complement of around 150 passengers, you enjoy every shore excursion and meal in a group of no more than 24 Connections guests, making for a far more personal, boutique-style experience. Your Resident Tour Director leads you to a private vehicle for your Connections-only shore activities, where you experience your destination in a relaxed, intimate ambience.

Always Exclusive Excursions

Every trip ashore on your journey is an invitation-only affair — just you, your fellow Connections guests and your Resident Tour Director and local guide. Set out on visits to local neighborhoods and markets or meet one-on-one with remarkable artisans, musicians and culinary experts who lend an incomparable firsthand perspective on the local people and culture.

Private Dining on Board and on Shore

On board ship, your Connections group dines at reserved tables, joined by your Resident Tour Director. Going ashore, your small group has the opportunity to dine at local restaurants. In addition, local wine and beer are always included at lunch and dinner, and every journey features a specially arranged Chef’s Highlights dining event with an exclusive tasting menu.

Elegance on Shore: Boutique Hotels

Your time on shore before and after your cruise is every bit as important as the cruise itself, so A&K chooses each hotel with exquisite care. We seek out centrally located, intimately scaled boutique properties that embody the unique traits of your destination — places like Prague’s BoHo Hotel and Zurich’s Hotel Storchen; places that put delectable food and intriguing culture right at your doorstep.

Experience France and other countries at their most scenic and serene on a barge cruise, enjoying relaxed sightseeing and delicious food and wines. Book a scheduled cruise or charter a vessel for your family or group.

Step aboard a comfortable canal barge, a floating country inn where you enjoy gourmet food and wine every day while only having to unpack once. Relax on deck as the lovely scenery flows by, or borrow a bicycle for a serene pedal along the towpath. Thanks to our European offices and extensive local connections, we can provide a truly comprehensive journey, with pre- and post-cruise stays in some of Europe’s greatest cities and all transportation arranged for you.

Superb Cuisine in an Idyllic Setting

While on board your graceful canal barge, inspiring dining opportunities, prepared by an expert chef, abound. Each morning, your crew offers a tempting spread of locally sourced pastries, fresh fruit and jam. Lunch comes complete with colorful salads, silky pátés, quiches, cheeses and wine pairings. Later, sit down to a multicourse dinner, a culinary adventure in itself. As you moor beneath the stars, savor a delightful, relaxing feast prepared with market-fresh, local ingredients. Throughout your evening meal, enjoy a selection of specially chosen fine wines is served to complement the evening’s cuisine.

Exploring by Foot and Bicycle

Canal cruising opens up endless opportunities to explore. Most vessels carry enough bicycles for everyone on board. During your journey, you may take a gentle pedal — or a stroll — along scenic towpaths. While on land, you may venture into a nearby town or village, perhaps following recommendations that your hosts are ready to provide for the asking. Afterward, rejoin the vessel at another lock along the cruise route, possibly arriving in advance of your floating hotel.

A Choice of Ways to Cruise

To allow you to experience Europe as a couple, on your own, or with a circle of friends or family members, many canal barge journeys curated by A&K offer you the choice to book independently or travel as a group on a private charter. On an independent booking, you secure a cabin the way you would book a room in a country inn, sharing the vessel’s amenities, sightseeing excursions and meals with your fellow guests. On a private charter, you and your group of family or friends hire the entire vessel, enjoying sightseeing activities specially tailored to your interests. 

Extend Your Stay in Tailor Made Luxury

If you would like to travel in Europe for a while before or after your canal barge cruise, consider a Luxury Tailor Made Journey by A&K. Our Travel Consultant can fashion an itinerary to your exact specifications as well as offer suggestions for must-see highlights in and around the region through which you are cruising. Contact an A&K Travel Consultant or speak to your travel professional to extend your stay in Europe.

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