Castles · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS
The 15 best castle cruises & boat tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and whether the entry ticket is in the price. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Cruise the 1000 Islands from Gananoque, enjoy scenic views and audio commentary, and add a Boldt Castle stop with the required passport.
“Really enjoyed the variety of places we cruised past. Commentary was informative. Thank you for a lovely three hours.”
Explore Prague by hop-on hop-off bus, Vltava River cruise, and guided Castle tour with practical tips on routes, timing, and value.
“Great way to view the city. River cruise is a must to see the views from the river.”
Cruise Loch Ness from Clansman Harbour to Urquhart Castle, with sonar, Highland views, onboard commentary, Wi-Fi, and snacks.
“The trip through Loch Ness was great! Our only disappointment was we couldn’t hear the tour guide as the speaker volume was so low”
Cruise Dresden’s Elbe to Pillnitz Castle aboard a paddle steamer, passing grand castles, bridges, and old-town sights for $37.
“The boat itself was very beautiful and felt truly luxurious. Everything was spotless, the staff were very kind, and despite the bad weather outside, the vessel was pleasantly warm and comfortable. We went in January, so personally I wasn’t completely captivated by the views – I can imagine it must be much more stunning in summer. (Maybe 3 hours was little bit long.) One funny note: I ordered the soup because I was really hungry, and it turned out to be a traditional Saxon specialty… let’s just say it’s probably something I won’t eat again! 😄”
Cruise Loch Ness, explore Urquhart Castle, and hear Highland stories on a well-priced half-day trip from Inverness.
“Spent the day exploring the Loch Ness and Urqhhart castle after being transported by a bus and boat combo. Perfect amount of time to spend at the castle and afterwards we were driven to the Loch Ness centre to experience a video walk through of the Loch Ness monster history and myths. Very fun and I recommend doing this. The guide was awesome!!”
Cruise from Koblenz through the Rhine Valley past castles, palaces, and villages, with outdoor seating, onboard service, and optional Marksburg stop.
“The ride was nice and peaceful. We were able to see the river and nice views on it! Overall nice experience!”
Cruise from Rüdesheim through the UNESCO Middle Rhine Valley, passing castles, vineyards, Bingen, and the Mouse Tower for $19.
“It was very nice, but seemed like we spent more time at the other ports than we did cruising. Staff was nice and ship was great.”
Review of a Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Outlander, Culloden, and Clava Cairns day tour from Inverness, with practical booking tips.
“If you have one day in the highlands, this is the tour to do. Group was small and manageable, about 16 of us total and we had time on our own for lunch and exploring the different sites. Our tour guide Emily was amazing and kept us laughing all day. Definitely the tour to choose!”
Cruise the 1000 Islands from Ivy Lea to see Boldt Castle, tiny islands, and the St. Lawrence with clear bilingual narration.
“It was wonderful to see the St. Lawrence from the vessel.”
Review of the one-hour Loch Ness cruise from Clansman Harbour, with Urquhart Castle views, Nessie stories, onboard sonar, and practical tips.
“Excellent river cruise. The boat had plenty of space. Great views from top deck. Was great to see the castle from the loch. Staff all very friendly.”
Cruise from Koblenz to Marksburg Castle aboard La Paloma, with Rhine castles, English commentary, food, and fine river views for $22.
“The weather was so good and the service is good as well. we had a wonderful journey.”
See Prague by coach, on foot, and from the Vltava for $75.30, with Prague Castle courtyards, Czech lunch, and a central finish.
“Dear team Client was alone having the tour , feed back was not positive in regards Pick up from the hotel as other suppliers do , Guide , food on the boat was not as he expected ... hope next time will have better review from my client”
Cruise from Bratislava to Devín Castle for river views, two hours to explore, indoor seating, and a relaxed return along the Danube.
“blessed with really good weather the boat trip to the castle was a pleasure. the countryside and views on the way are beautiful and the boat is modern and clean with good facilities. I didn't actually bother with the walk up the the castle but had a nice meal at the restaurant as you disembark. journey back is quicker as you go with the flow of the river. nice way too spend a few hours relaxing and taking on the views. good value for money.”
Review of Inverness’s Loch Ness cruise, Urquhart Castle, Beauly, Culloden, Clava Cairns, and Outlander sites in one day.
“the tour is nice to see a lot of things but the Destillery they could skip because you can only buy whiskey at the bar ...which you can do everywhere else”
Review of the Leeds Castle, Canterbury, Dover and Greenwich day trip from London, with practical advice on timing, stops, value and boat ride.
“A wonderful tour to see some great sites. Leeds Castle was interesting as was the Battle of Britain Museum with a glimpse of the Dover cliffs. Canterbury Cathedral was just magnificent and time spent here did not disappoint. Our guide Trish was informative and funny and our driver was very good.”
A keep, a citadel, a palace with battlements, or a day trip to reach one.
