Wine cruises are growing in popularity. These sailings offer outstanding wine-themed experiences in spectacular settings. Wine lovers have numerous options from which to choose, including fantastic wine-themed river cruises and ocean sailings.

Most wine cruises are well-suited for guests with a wide range of wine knowledge. Some cruises offer wine-themed shore excursions, including winery and vineyard tours, while others primarily focus on wine-paired dinners and exclusive onboard events.

If you have a passion for wine, check out these seven top cruise vacation options for wine lovers.

1. AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways offers a wide variety of wine river cruises along Europe’s most spectacular waterways. The award-winning river cruise line launched its “Celebration of Wine” cruises in 2010 in partnership with highly-regarded North American wine producers. AmaWaterways’ wine-themed itineraries include sailings along the Danube, Douro, Rhine, Moselle, and Rhône rivers. These “Celebration of Wine” river cruises are hosted by wine experts from Europe or North America, who lead activities including exceptional dining events, lectures, and wine tastings. These experts also accompany guests on shore excursions to visit wine cellars, enjoy special private tastings, and participate in exclusive events.

2. Avalon Waterways
Avalon Waterways offers European river cruises for wine lovers in the fall and spring. On these river cruises, guests can sample regional wine vintages, learn about food and wine pairings, and visit wine cellars along the Danube, Moselle, Rhône, Rhine, and Saône Rivers. Some favorite itineraries include Burgundy & Provence with two nights in either Paris or Nice, Danube Dreams with two nights in Prague, and The Rhine & Moselle for Wine Lovers. Each sailing is accompanied by a certified Master of Wine, who shares their outstanding experience, knowledge, and passion for wine with guests aboard the ship.

3. Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises’ nine-night Australia Wine Cruises are popular with wine lovers. These Celebrity Edge sailings depart from Sydney and visit Melbourne, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, and Hobart. Along the way, guests can visit wineries in Australia’s Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley, and McLaren Vale wine regions. In Adelaide, for example, guests can tour the Wirra Wirra Estate and the Rosemount Estate in the McLaren Vale wine region, journey through the Barossa Wine Valley, or take a private tour of the famed Penfolds Magill Estate. Guests on Celebrity’s Australian Wine Cruises can learn more about the country’s South Australian wine producers, which are responsible for over half of Australia’s wine yield.

4. European Waterways
For over 40 years, European Waterways has offered guests world-class gourmet cuisine and fine wines on Europe’s largest fleet of luxury hotel barges. These memorable cruises through the picturesque countryside feature enriching food and wine excursions and onboard meals prepared by expert master chefs. Cruises are available in many locations throughout, including Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, the Loire Valley, the Canal du Midi, Italy, and Germany. Guests can enjoy experiences such as a private winery tour and tasting of Minervois wines, tasting famed Lucques green olives on a visit to an olive press, truffle hunting, and a tour of Domaine Chanson in Burgundy’s Beaune region. European Waterways’ luxury hotel barges offer a 1:2 crew ratio and hold just 6-20 guests.

5. Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises has partnered with renowned Caymus Vineyards to offer an exclusive Caymus Vineyards Winemaker Dinner. This intimate gourmet dinner experience will be available on all Princess ships worldwide. Available in Princess Cruises’ popular Crown Grill specialty restaurant, the Winemaker Dinner utilizes the expertise of Chuck Wagner, owner and winemaker of Napa Valley’s Caymus Vineyards, to offer a memorable five-course dinner menu crafted to complement his wines. The special dinner is available for just 12 guests per seating. Wines served include Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Caymus-Suisun ‘The Walking Fool’ Red Blend, Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay, Sea Sun Pinot Noir, and Emmolo Sparkling.

6. SeaDream Yacht Club
SeaDream Yacht Club crafts its wine cruise itineraries to offer guests the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and immerse themselves in the world of wine. While cruising to some of the loveliest ports in the Mediterranean, guests can enjoy visiting world-class wineries and sampling a selection of their portfolio, a Winemakers Dinner, and two complimentary wine tastings per voyage. Bar drinks and selected wines are complimentary on these sailings as well. Other memorable land activities on SeaDream’s Wine Voyages include visiting local markets on SeaDream’s Signature Chef Walk, truffle hunting, and special city-based tasting and culinary experiences.

7. UnCruise Adventures
UnCruise Adventures’ Rivers of Adventure and Wine cruises occur along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. These seven-night cruises on the 86-passenger Wilderness Legacy sail round-trip from Portland, Oregon. On these cruises, guests can take a tour and sample local Walla Walla wines at the family-owned Dunham Cellars winery, enjoy a wine tour and tasting at Maryhill Winery in Columbia Hills, kayak through canyons, and take a Deschutes River rafting trip. Memorable onboard experiences include a “Best of Hood River Valley” wine tasting hosted by the ship’s sommelier, outstanding food & wine pairings, and more.