Scenic Group Announces Early Access for 2028 Europe River Cruises & Land Journeys

New itineraries, enhanced land extensions and early access to Scenic and Emerald Cruises’ 2028 Europe River Journeys

Scenic Group has opened early access to its 2028 luxury Europe river cruising and land journeys collection, unveiling new itineraries, enhanced land extensions, with more ways for guests to combine and explore.

Across its award-winning luxury brands, Scenic and Emerald Cruises, the 2028 program has been aligned to growing demand for longer stays, more immersive regional experiences and flexible combinations. From the vineyards of France and imperial cities of Central Europe to the cultural crossroads of Eastern Europe, guests can secure preferred travel dates and suites ahead of the general release.

“Europe is one of the world’s most immersive regions to explore by river, and for 2028 we have expanded the ways guests can experience it,” said Elisabeth Sadler, Vice President, River Cruising Product, Scenic Group. “Every season we look at how our guests are travelling and where we can provide more meaningful journeys.

For Scenic, we’ve reimagined some of our most popular river and land itineraries to provide longer stays, new destination pairings and expanded extension options, whilst retaining the exclusive Scenic Enrich and Freechoice experiences. For the Emerald Cruises collection, we have introduced a new itinerary along the lower Danube River, where we see strong demand for guests to explore more authentically.”

With early access prices and Super Earlybird offers now open, travel advisors can secure preferred dates and suites for their clients, ahead of the general release.

Scenic: The Ultimate in All-Inclusive Europe River and Land Journeys

Scenic's 2028 Europe collection introduces new land extensions and enhanced cruise-and-land combinations, reaffirming its position at the forefront of all-inclusive ultra-luxury travel. Thoughtfully crafted and seamlessly connected, these journeys offer an unrivalled level of inclusions, personalised service and enriching experiences.

The 11 day Spectacular South of France River Cruise has been resdesigned, now operating between Lyon and Tarascon, or reverse, with six overnight stays in port, two late departures and extended cruising to Chalon-sur-Saône, opening up further access to Burgundy’s riverside towns. Guests will continue to enjoy signature Scenic Enrich experiences at the Pope’s Palace in Avignon and Chapelle de la Trinité, alongside curated culinary experiences, regional wine tastings and a hosted dinner on board by Michelin-starred Chef Didier Goiffon.

New and enhanced extensions include:

·       A four-day Monte-Carlo & French Riviera extension, featuring a stay at Fairmont Monte-Carlo and Scenic Freechoice touring to Èze and a traditional perfumery, or Menton with a local limoncello tasting.

·       A five-day Grand Castles of the Loire Journey, paired with Seine and Bordeaux River cruises immerses guests in the Loire Valley’s magnificent châteaux, Renaissance heritage and celebrated wine-country landscapes.

·       A four-day Brittany Discovery extension, paired with Seine itineraries with Scenic Forechoice excursions to Mont-Saint-Michel or Saint-Malo.

·       A three-day Munich extension, connecting via Regensburg on selected Gems of the Danube departures.

Emerald Cruises: New Danube Capitals & Crossroads River Cruise

Emerald Cruises will launch Danube Capitals & Crossroads, a new 10-night river cruise from Passau, Germany, to Belgrade, Serbia. The 11-day itinerary travels through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia, combining classic Danube capitals with the cultural energy and heritage of Eastern Europe.

Available on select departures in March, April and August 2028, the itinerary reveals a compelling mix of river landscapes, imperial cities and lesser-explored cultural treasures, including Passau, the City of Three Rivers, the Wachau Valley, Vienna, Bratislava, Esztergom, Budapest, Novi Sad and Belgrade. Highlights include a Bavarian Beer Experience, EmeraldPLUS Vineyard Stories of Wachau with local wine tasting, overnight stays in Vienna and Budapest, wine tasting beneath Esztergom Basilica and a Serbian folklore evening on board creating an authentic connection to the region’s traditions, flavours and spirit.

Guests can tailor their journey through a choice of EmeraldACTIVE experiences and optional DiscoverMORE tours. Active options include hiking to Veste Oberhaus in Passau, walking through Wachau vineyards, e-biking in Vienna, hiking around Bratislava Castle and Gellért Hill, and guided cycling in Novi Sad and Belgrade. DiscoverMORE experiences tour Salzburg, Schönbrunn Palace, Mauthausen Memorial, the Carpathian Wine Route and Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Museum. Late departures in Passau, Linz, Bratislava and Novi Sad also give guests additional time to explore.

The Emerald Star-Ship experience includes all meals with complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, daily guided excursions, EmeraldACTIVE excursions and EmeraldPLUS experiences, airport transfers, gratuities and more.

The new itinerary joins Emerald Cruises’ signature European favourites, delivering the brand’s distinctive blend of relaxed luxury and authentic experiences, with exceptional inclusions and the flexibility to explore each destination your way.