On February 21, World Tourist Guide Day is celebrated around the globe. It is a day dedicated to the people who bring destinations to life with their knowledge, their stories and their passion.
They also play an important role on our journeys. No matter how impressive a route along the water or by bike may be, it is often the experiences on land that make a destination truly memorable. A guided city tour, a wine tasting or an encounter with regional culture often reveal sides of a place that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Whether on a bike & boat tour or a river cruise along the Danube, the Moselle or through the Netherlands, our excursions add valuable new perspectives to every itinerary.
In the following, we offer an insight into selected program highlights and some of our team’s personal favorite excursions.
Bike & Boat: Between cycling and shore leave
Our bike & boat trips focus on daily cycling tours. Here, cities and regions are actively explored from the saddle. Optional excursions complement this experience – they are carefully selected and can be booked directly on board.
The range of excursions is smaller than on our river cruises, but they are closely linked to the respective route. Guided city tours by bike are particularly popular, for example along the Danube in Vienna or Budapest. On the South Holland trip with the MS Normandie, the city tour of Rotterdam is also one of the most popular items on the program.
On the Danube route with the MS Princess Katharina, many guests in Vienna choose to attend a concert at the Vienna Hofburg. After an active day on the bike, this evening offers a completely different setting and has a festive, musical, and peaceful atmosphere.
This creates a balanced mix of exercise, culture, and special moments on land on a Bike & Boat trip.
Culture and enjoyment on our river cruises
On our classic river cruises, cities and regions really come to life during the excursions. Thanks to organized transfers to and from the ship, you can start your discoveries in a relaxed manner – sometimes even in a vintage bus, as is the case in Bratislava.
Along the Danube, cities such as Budapest and Vienna delight visitors with their architecture and history. Our colleague Kerstin, who is responsible for purchasing classic river cruises excursions, has tested some of these herself. She was particularly impressed by the trip to the Hungarian Puszta, where she was able to experience traditional horsemanship in the open air and take part in a picnic with typical local specialities.
If the ship is centrally located, there is often time for your own discoveries – such as a short detour to the Fisherman's Bastion in Budapest or through the alleys of the baroque old town of Linz.
Personal tips and favorite excursions from the team
We have tested many of our excursions ourselves, whether as part of a bike & boat trip or on a river cruise along the Danube or Moselle. Two personal favorites from the team show how varied these experiences can be:
In fall 2025, Ricarda from product management explored the Moselle on a bike & boat trip with the MS Olympia from Koblenz to Saarburg. She particularly remembers the covered wagon ride through the Zell vineyards: between golden yellow vines and gently rolling hills, the day ended with an atmospheric wine tasting in the warm light of the early evening. It is on trips like these that exercise in the fresh air combines wonderfully with moments of enjoyment – active during the day, leisurely in the evening.
Sabine from product management was also on the road, this time in South Holland with the MS Normandie. The city tour by bike through Rotterdam led from the pier in Rotterdam-Schiedam to the center. The Erasmus Bridge, market hall, and cube houses were not only explained, but also experienced firsthand. Two hours and around 20 kilometers later, the impression remained of a lively tour that showed the modern side of the Netherlands.
Our conclusion
Whether you're actively exploring on a bike & boat trip, enjoying a river cruise along the Danube, or cycling through the Netherlands, our excursions always open up new perspectives on familiar and unfamiliar places.
Some take you right into historic old towns, others out into vineyards or along modern waterfront promenades. Sometimes the focus is on activity, sometimes on culture, sometimes simply on shared experiences.
It is precisely these complementary program items that make the difference—small experiences along the way that often create the greatest memories.
A wonderful occasion to thank all those who make these insights possible on February 21.
