Explore Europe
with EmeraldACTIVE

Perfect for guests who like a faster pace, our exclusive - and included - EmeraldACTIVE program provides river cruising guests with the opportunity to experience each destination from a different perspective. Join guided hikes, bike rides, and canoeing experiences, and see a new side to each destination. Explore rolling vineyards, and cobblestone streets, and take to the water by canoe. It's all available at no extra cost on our Europe river cruise collection.

On board, you’ll also have access to your Star-Ship’s wellness and fitness centre, and on selected sailings, you’ll have the opportunity to join your on board wellness team for guided fitness classes.

Wellness experiences on board your European Star-Ship

 

Our activity managers and wellness coaches will elevate your river cruising experience, working closely with their cruise directors to enhance the EmeraldACTIVE program, leading daytime classes on board, like yoga, Pilates, and aqua aerobics.

You'll also have access to bicycles, used on your guided cycling tours and also available for independent exploration. For our guided hikes, or independent strolls, you’ll find trekking poles in your suite or stateroom.

Head to the innovative indoor heated pool^, complete with a retractable roof, allowing you to enjoy the river breeze on warmer days, and a propulsive current, enabling you to swim for as long as you like. And on the Sun Deck, sharpen your golfing skills at the putting green^, and get your steps up as you take in the views of the surrounding riverbanks from the walking track..
 
^Emerald Radiance on the Douro River does not have an indoor heated pool or putting green. Instead, you’ll find the spa-style Serenity Pool on the Sun Deck.

Our Europe river cruising EmeraldACTIVE program

See the destinations we visit from a different perspective. Explore the famed rivers of Europe with our EmeraldACTIVE programe. Below, we have highlighted a selection of our top active river cruise excursions.

Bike tour between Melk & Dürnstein

This is a 23-mile bike tour through rolling vineyards and quaint towns in the Wachau Valley. This is a beautiful region in northern Austria designated UNESCO World Heritage status for its dramatic landscapes and viticultural heritage. On this unique active excursion, look forward to stopping for lunch on the banks of the Danube, where you may see your Star-Ship pass by on its way to the next docking point. The duration of this guided bike tour is approximately four hours. The going is relatively flat, and with compelling views all around, it’s an unmissable highlight for those feeling up to the challenge.

You can enjoy this unforgettable cycling sojourn on our Splendours of Europe, Danube Delights and Danube Explorer river cruise itineraries.

Guided Bike Tour in Breisach

Visit the city of Freiburg, considered the ‘capital of the Black Forest’. Here, join your guide and cycle the area of Black Forest to Freiburg where you’ll enjoy lovely sights which will leave you amazed. After your guided bike tour to Freiburg, enjoy a cup of coffee and some delicious Black Forest cake before returning to your Star-Ship.
 
Explore the Black Forest region on our Jewels of the Rhine and Tulips & the Rhine river cruise itineraries. 

Hike through the vineyards in Tournon

Beyond the limits of medieval Tournon lies the terraced vine slopes of the Côtes du Rhône, one of France’s most esteemed wine-making appellations. It’s here, within sight of the Rhône River, that you can enjoy an active vineyard hike, taking in the fragrant grape rows, inspiring scenery, and warm, Mediterranean climate. Climb from the river’s edge to the summit of the valley through these celebrated wine lands, taking in landscapes you’d only expect to see on film. And don’t worry, while you may be keen to sample the wines on offer, your efforts will be rewarded with a post-walk wine-tasting—the perfect end to a wonderful excursion.

Enjoy a vineyard hike, bike tours and canoeing on our Sensations of Lyon & Provence cruise.

On board yoga lessons against the backdrop of Southern France

There's no better way to start your day on Europe’s iconic waterways than to enjoy an invigorating yoga class onboard your Star-Ship with the iconic landscapes of Europe as your backdrop. Taking place on the Sun Deck, an open-air leisure space at the top of your Star-Ship, this event gives you the chance to practice yoga with an experienced coach. A great workout for body and mind, this class is suitable for all levels.

Canoeing experience in Pinhão

We’re giving you the opportunity to get closer to the water with an unforgettable canoeing experience. With an expert guide teaching you the ropes and leading the way, you’ll soon be navigating these amazing waters in invigorating style. Taking place in Pinhão, whose waters are serene and ideal for beginner canoeists, this is a wonderful opportunity to try something new amid spectacular surroundings. Have a go yourself—you might just discover a new hobby!

Enjoy this EmeraldACTIVE experience on our Secrets of the Douro river cruise.

Hike to Buda Hill

With its 1,000-year heritage and web of cobblestone streets, Budapest’s Buda Hill district is ripe for an immersive guided hike. Take up your walking poles and set forth up through the curious byways of Buda Hill in the company of an experienced local guide, who will provide intriguing insight into the history of the area. At the summit, Buda Castle astounds with its Baroque façade and offers a far-reaching panorama of the city—views which make all that effort truly worthwhile. Due to some reasonably steep climbs and the uneven nature of the cobblestone streets, this excursion is recommended for those with a good level of fitness—just make sure you remember to pack a pair of comfortable walking shoes.

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