In what is believed to be a UK industry first, luxury cruise company Amawaterways has announced plans to launch a range of guided rail and cruise holidays in conjunction with the UK leader Great Rail Journeys.

The US based Amawaterways is the fastest growing river cruising organisation in Europe and offers excursions on all of the continent’s most famous waterways such as the Rhine, Danube and Seine. The group also features a range of Russian excursions along with a specialised Mekong adventure.

Its latest venture is aimed squarely at those travelers seeking to avoid the increasingly stressful airline industry. The partnership with Great rail Journeys looks to combine the romance and excitement of luxury travel with the relaxation that comes with leisure cruises. The coalition will see five new itineraries, all departing from the international station at St Pancras.

The new offerings include a nine day Rhine cruise through Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Holland taking in sights at the Black Forrest, Heidelberg, Cologne, Brussels and Amsterdam amongst others. A similar Heartland cruise also visits Italy.

The Danube cruise runs from Nuremberg to Budapest via Linz, Vienna and Regensberg while the Waterways of the Tsars is a 16-day journey to St Petersberg and Moscow and surrounding countryside via Poland and Belarus.

All of Amawaterways’ trips include full board with four meals daily along with complimentary wine for dinner dining. The operator also offers daily sightseeing, historical information, internet access and free bicycle use for destinations. Travel is on first class rail and hotel accommodation is at mostly five star hotels. A full time tour manager is at hand at all times.