The cruise industry continues to surge, with AAA projecting that 19 million Americans will take an ocean cruise in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of record passenger numbers. Complementing this trend, Grand View Research anticipates river cruising will grow by 14.5% from 2025 to 2030.
Travelers are increasingly looking to extend their vacation experiences beyond traditional cruise itineraries, exploring destinations through rail connections that offer more comprehensive travel opportunities. This emerging trend allows passengers to transform brief port stops into more immersive journeys, discovering destinations with greater depth and flexibility, and Railbookers is looking to help make these trips even easier to arrange.
Several multi-day rail extensions are emerging as popular options for cruise passengers. Travelers can embark on a five-day journey from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland, connecting through Brussels and Paris, or explore Norway through a four-day adventure from Bergen to Oslo featuring the scenic Flam Railway. Other options include a seven-day tour exploring Vienna, Prague and Berlin starting from Budapest, a six-day Italian exploration from Rome to Venice and a six-day Swiss mountain expedition from Basel to Geneva.
European capitals and historic regions are particularly attractive for these extended trips. Passengers can enjoy a five-day tour of Paris and Barcelona or a four-day British historical journey from Southampton to London that includes a visit to the iconic Stonehenge.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Railbookers. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.