As a company that builds and operates its own river cruise ships, Gate 1 Travel is uniquely placed to deliver luxury experiences at super-competitive prices.
While it specialises in cruising the iconic rivers of Europe including the Danube, Rhine and Main, Gate 1 Travel also navigates the waterways of Russia, China (Yangtze River), South East Asia (The Mekong) and Myanmar (Irrawaddy).
In fact when you add its hundreds of land tours to the mix, Gate 1 Travel’s itineraries worldwide cater to more than 200,000 vacationers annually.
That kind of economy of scale means the company can pass on significant savings to travellers who often can’t believe what they’re seeing.
For example, a spectacular 9-day tulip cruise aboard Monarch Baroness, Monarch Queen or Monarch Princess (available March-May 2025) could be yours from $2199.
Also included are 20 meals, a glass-top boat cruise on Amsterdam’s canals, a visit to the famous Keukenhof Gardens to see its magnificent flower displays and shore time at the historic Flanders port of Ghent, considered a showpiece of Flemish wealth.
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The company’s European fleet boasts the magnificent MS Monarch Empress.
Owned and operated by Gate 1 Travel and one of the stars of the fabled Danube route, she was was launched in 2016 and epitomises intimate, luxury river cruising.
The five-star Monarch Empress’ maximum onboard capacity is just 144 passengers.
All of the cabins have climate control and private bathrooms and 58 of the 72 outside cabins have French balcony doors to take in the magnificent vistas that drift by.
If you can be dragged away from the sumptuous scenery outside to watch through panoramic windows inside, Monarch Empress has a bar-lounge, aft lounge, restaurant, fitness centre, putting green, email and coffee/tea stations and elevator access between the Empress and Countess decks.
There’s also an onboard musician to provide an ambient backdrop to the unfolding land and cityscapes.
To cruise the Danube on board the stunning Monarch Empress, Gate 1 Travel offers a wide range of itineraries and that super sharp pricing is still there at the top of the range. Consider an 11-day Danube River Cruise that combines two nights in Budapest with a 7 day-cruise during the May to November season in 2025 from just $2699.
The price includes many extras such as a tour of Vienna and the historic Benedictine Abbey in Melk plus the stunning churches and bridges of magnificent Regensburg.
