Whether you have a phobia of flying or you simply want to avoid the hassle of travelling from an airport, rail options are always a great choice for river cruising. Not only does travelling by train give you a more relaxed start to your holiday, you also get to see much more during your journey.

Some departure ports are simply too far away to reach via rail, but others are close enough that it becomes a fantastically viable alternative to flying. Here are four ports where this is definitely the case.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most-used river ports because it offers the chance to explore the Belgian and Dutch Waterways and to sail Rhine River cruises. It may only be a short flight away but excellent rail routes direct to Amsterdam Centraal with Eurostar provide a much more scenic and relaxed route. Having only launched in April, the 3-hour and 41-minute journey has already become a popular way to reach the Netherlands’ capital – especially with fares starting from as little as £35 each way. As with every Eurostar service, there is no need to arrive two hours early, no restriction on liquids and baggage allowances are much more lenient.

Paris

Part of Eurostar’s original route, Paris is possibly the UK’s most-visited foreign destination via train. With a journey time of just over two hours, a morning departure will have you in the City of Light before lunchtime, ready to depart on your Seine River cruise. This journey may take you through the Channel Tunnel but recent upgrades in technology mean that Wi-Fi and mobile phone service are still available. On arrival at the Gare du Nord, you can either step into a taxi or take the reliable metro across the city to the river cruise port close to the Eiffel Tower.

Venice

The farthest destination on our list provides one the most glamorous train journeys available in Europe. River cruises through Venice and Po River cruises from the city are becoming a more attractive way of exploring this part of the world, and any holiday that also includes arriving via train is sure to be a memorable one. That’s because the train in question is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – a luxurious locomotive owned by Belmond that will woo you with vintage charm. Travelling overnight, you’ll be treated to a spacious cabin and spectacular dining options.

Lyon

Prefer the south of France to its capital? Well, a Rhone River cruise will serve up the perfect itinerary – and one that features many opportunities to try the local food in this gourmet region. Another direct Eurostar service (running up to four times a week between May and September) will take you to Gare de Lyon-Part-Dieu in 4 hours and 41 minutes. As you relax and enjoy the French countryside gliding past your window, you’ll savour the fact that you haven’t had to cram everything into one small suitcase and that your legs aren’t cramped up against the seat in front.

Plus, stay on board for another hour and the train will arrive in the city of Avignon, meaning you can still travel via rail if you are doing the reverse Rhone River cruise itinerary.

If you would like to learn more about our rail and sail cruises, including opportunities to add a rail extension to your trip, call us on 0800 954 0064 or click here to send your enquiry via the website.