Family-friendly cruises on Europe's waterways: From Italy to Scotland

Cruising with the family needn't mean a voyage round the Med on a mega-ship in the company of thousands of other passengers

Float your boat: the 'Scottish Highlander' can be chartered

There are plenty of child-friendly, small-vessel river cruises designed to float everyone's boat – from exploring fairy-tale castles on the Rhine to Venetian ghost walks and meeting French “cowboys”. So pack your bags – after all, you'll only have to unpack once.

Ghosts and gladiators

Learn how to be a Roman fighter at Gladiator School, a great way to get hands-on with ancient history. Boutique cruise line Uniworld has adapted its 15-day Splendours of Italy cruise, from Milan to Rome, to include activities such as a ghost walk in Venice, gondola rowing and workshops in glass-blowing and Venetian mask-making. Families can also try their hand at pasta-making in Bologna. Departing 24 July, it costs from £5,004pp all-inclusive, half-price for four to 18-year-olds, excluding flights (0808 168 9110; uniworld.com).

Bon voyage

A treasure hunt in the Louvre, searching for clues under the watchful eye of the Mona Lisa, kicks off Tauck Bridges' French journey, which combines a two-night stay in Paris with a seven-night Rhône cruise. Explore France's “wild west” on a visit to a ranch where gardians, or cowboys, riding beautiful Camargue horses herd the black bulls that roam the vast, marshy delta. Cruise-only fares start from £2,995pp, with all food and drink (0800 810 8020; tauck.co.uk).

Pools and popcorn

Though not suitable for younger children, teenagers will love Emerald Waterways' cutting-edge “star ships”, which come with modern décor and artwork. The standout feature is the glass- sided indoor pool with a retractable roof that morphs into a cinema by night, complete with headphones to watch the movies with a bowl of popcorn. A seven-night Rhine-Main Discovery itinerary from Amsterdam to Nuremberg starts from £1,395pp, cruise-only (0808 163 8601; emeraldwaterways.co.uk).


 Family fun with Tauck

Flexible fun

The German-owned company A-Rosa's fleet of ships sailing the castle-rich Rhine, Moselle, Main, Danube, Rhône and Saône feature interconnecting and family cabins. Youngsters under 15 travel free, with one accompanying adult per child, and the “international” vessels – Flora, Viva, Stella, Donna and Silva – have English-speaking hosts. With buffet-style meals and optional excursions, cruises are relaxed and good value. A seven-night round-trip Danube sailing from Vienna on A-Rosa Donna costs from €1,479pp (£1,121), excluding flights (00 49 381 202 6020; arosa-cruises.com).

Highland fling

Keeping a lookout for Nessie and a steam train ride across the spectacular Glenfinnan Viaduct, featured in the Harry Potter films, are highlights of a six-night cruise on the passenger barge Scottish Highlander. With a crew of four plus an onboard chef, it sails from Muirtown, outside Inverness, to Banavie, near Fort William, across waterways including the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness. Rates for all-inclusive, cruise-only family charters are from £19,700 for up to eight people, including all meals, wines, an open bar (stocked with many fine single malt whiskies) and excursions, through European Waterways (01753 598555; gobarging.com).