10 Reasons to Go on An Italian River Cruise

Italy is one country that’s on pretty much everybody’s holiday hit list. The art, the history, the architecture, the Italian food – it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most visited and loved destinations in Europe. For those looking for a more laid-back and relaxed holiday, rather than the fast-paced, list-ticking experience of many tourists, there is another way… cruise Italy at leisure on a luxury river cruise.

What Do River Cruises Around Italy Entail?

Anyone who’s discovered the sheer pleasure of luxury river cruising knows how wonderful it is to meander sedately along pristine rivers and canals, watching the picturesque scenery drift by. But if you’ve yet to experience Italy like this, you’re in for an absolute treat. Not only do you get the benefits of the slow pace, but you can also enjoy a host of well-planned shore excursions to take in the culture and history of the towns and villages you’ll pass through.

Add to that the fact that you get to see so many lesser-known, off-the-beaten-track places. You really do feel like you’re getting to see the authentic soul of this wonderfully warm-hearted country.

We often say that it’s the perfect country for luxury cruising, with a host of beautiful rivers and canals that take you through some of the most charming scenery in the country. Our Italian cruise itineraries encompass the stunning waterways of Venice and the surrounding Veneto region, and up through the Po Valley via the River Po and the Bianco Canal to the Renaissance city of Mantua.

Highlights of An Italian River Cruise

Venice, the surrounding provinces, and the Po Valley are gems that you have to see on your cruise in Italy. Traditional Venetian cuisine is a particular highlight, with delicious seafood sourced locally from the lagoons. Of course, you must sample all of the delicacies you’d associate with a trip to Italy, the cheeses, lavish desserts, and mouthwatering pasta dishes.

Historic towns and cities are an unmissable part of any cruise in Italy, with the country famed for its Renaissance and neoclassical architecture. You don’t have to look far to spot a work of genius here. In particular, you have the opportunity to see unique places and visit quaint regions unsullied by the tourist masses.

Italy Waterways Map

Here’s where we travel on our itineraries.

10 Reasons to Cruise Italy’s Rivers and Canals

1. Stay in a home-away-from-home on your Italian river cruise
We don’t call our luxury barges ‘floating hotels’ for nothing, especially aboard hotel barge La Bella Vita. Every one of our vessels is designed with guests’ comfort in mind, and so much care has gone into their interiors, facilities and ambience.

Once you’re on board and unpacked, that’s the last time you’ll have to do it – so much more relaxing than having to pack and unpack again every couple of days. With a choice of cabins, from staterooms to suites, delightful common areas to relax and socialise, and fabulous crew on hand to make everything seamless, a cruise from Italy really is an experience to remember.

2. See stunning Renaissance architecture
Our Italian river cruises allow you to explore a host of towns and cities, particularly in the Veneto region. In the company of your onboard Tour Guide, you will be taken on an insiders view of Venice, Ferrara, and Mantua. These wonderful cities are packed to the brim with magnificent Renaissance architecture and, with opportunities to go ashore on private guided tours or to explore at your own pace, you’ll be able to get a truly first-hand experience.

3. Enjoy fantastic Italian gastronomy
The top-quality gourmet food and wine are a big part of our Italian cruise experiences. Your on-board master chefs prepare fine dining with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients from local markets. The authentic Italian cuisine will give you a taste of the region through which you’re cruising, and the intimate nature of the small group cruises means your chef will present each meal, whilst the hosts will talk through the accompanying wine choice. It’s a gastronomic journey in every bite!

4. Cruising in Venice
Because of the intimate size of La Bella Vita, we can go where larger vessels often cannot, and cruise ships are already banned from certain waterways in and around Venice. While we call them Italian river cruises, we also travel along a network of canals, including in Venice and the wider Veneto area and the picturesque Bianco Canal, which runs adjacent to the River Po.

5. Delve into history and culture
We’ve designed a range of private, and often exclusive, shore excursions as part of our Italy river cruises, so you’ll be able to experience an immersion into the rich culture and history of places along the way.

You can discover the Roman, Etruscan, and Byzantine history of the Veneto region and the stunning Renaissance art and architecture of Chioggia, Ferrara and Mantua. Having an onboard Tour Guide throughout the cruise means you’ll get a history lesson delivered in the most appealing of ways.

6. Cruises in Italy offer unique experiences
We’ve designed some very special and exclusive events for those wanting a little ‘something extra’ as they cruise through Northern Italy. Our private dining experiences, for example, offer some truly unique opportunities to make your holiday even more memorable – including dinner with a real life Italian Countess at the 17th century Villa Ca’Zen on the banks of the River Po where Lord Byron wrote some of his most famous works.

7. Get up close to nature
For anyone who enjoys the feeling of being embraced by nature, you can’t get much closer than a cruise. We travel through an incredibly diverse range of landscapes and natural environments, and the slow nature of our cruising means there’s time to genuinely appreciate it. From the lagoon islands of Venice to wild beach dunes and pinewoods brimming with birdlife further out in the Po Delta, your body and soul will be revived by nature as the vessel navigates the waterways.

8. Italian hospitality
The wonderful English-speaking crew members aboard La Bella Vita are there to make sure you have the time of your life. The personal service and attention to detail extend from the Captain and the Chef right through to every single Tour Guide, Host and Deckhand. They are trained to be discreet but attentive, and to cater to your every need, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the scenery, food and on-board facilities.

9. You can book the whole vessel
Whole barge charters aboard La Bella Vita are a fantastic option for 10-20 people if you’re looking for an idea for a family get-together or special occasion. Whether it’s a multi-generational family holiday or a group of friends looking for a catch-up, having the entire barge to yourselves (including the captain, chef and crew) is an unbeatable experience. Cruises of Italy are like one big happy house party!

10. Enjoy a themed Italy Cruise
Another fabulous way to enjoy a cruise in Italy is on a private theme cruise itinerary, designed to suit your interests and hobbies. At European Waterways, we offer a wide range of whole boat charters themed cruises such as wine appreciation, golf, opera or family getaways. It’s an incredible way to tailor your holiday to the individual interests of your family and/or friends.

We’ve designed our itineraries with a great deal of thought to ensure our guests are able to enjoy their holiday at their own pace, exactly as they want to. We offer a diverse range of shore excursions for those who want to delve into more of the culture and history, but if you prefer to spend the day lazing on deck sipping an aperitif, you’re free to do exactly that.

Italy Cruise Itinerary Examples

You can cruise Italy on La Bella Vita from April to October each year, for six magical nights and seven thrilling days. Our Italian river cruise itineraries are brimming with cultural delights, guided excursions, and themed activities.

Here’s an example of what an itinerary might look like for one of our cruises in Italy:

Day 1 – Explore the Venice sights from the Giudecca Canal aboard La Bella Vita
Day 2 – Explore Venice’s quieter Castello Distric or head to Murano by private water taxi
Day 3 – Visit the fish market at Chioggia, enjoy dinner at 17th century Villa Ca’Zen
Day 4 – Take in Renaissance architecture, enjoy wine tasting at Villa Widmann Borletti
Day 5 – Excursion to the historic city of Ferrara before dinner and wine tasting aboard La Bella Vita
Day 6 – Discover Mantua and its Gallery of Mirrors with some 12,000 paintings and sculptures
Day 7 – Breakfast and transfers

Experience the Joys of Italian River Cruises

While we’ve mentioned ten reasons to cruise Italy by river and canal, there are, of course, so many more reasons – but half the fun is discovering them for yourself! Everyone will have a different highlight, and that’s the beauty of this mode of travel. If you’re attracted to small groups, slow-paced travel with fine dining, excellent accommodation and an attentive crew, then luxury river cruising is definitely for you.

If we’ve won you over, why not get in touch with us so we can talk you through your options and help tailor an itinerary to your needs? This small-group, slow and relaxed way to travel is genuinely like no other and we can guarantee that once you’ve joined us on one trip, you’ll be back for another! So, what are you waiting for? Now is the time to make your booking before you miss your chance.

Let’s Talk Italy Cruises

If we’ve won you over, why not get in touch with us so we can talk you through your options and help tailor an itinerary to your needs? This small-group, slow and relaxed way to travel is genuinely like no other and we can guarantee that once you’ve joined us on one trip, you’ll be back for another! So, what are you waiting for? Now is the time to make your booking before you miss your chance.

By the way…

As well as our Italian river cruises, we offer fantastic itineraries in France (including Burgundy, the Canal du Midi, Bordeaux & Gascony, Champagne, the Loire Valley and many other places including, Holland, Scotland, England and Ireland.