Whether you’re considering a river cruise for the first time or you’ve been navigating the world’s rivers for years, we’ve got 28 fabulous reasons to book a river cruise – from a leisurely float down the marvellous Mekong, to a cruise along the Hudson River.

Finding alone time is increasingly easy on river cruise ships, many of which are going all out to cater to solo travellers. Take Riviera Travel River Cruises – every year the line operates a number of sailings designed specifically for solos. On these cruises, all cabins are single-occupancy only and there are no single supplement charges. In 2023, Riviera’s solo-friendly cruises include sailings along the Danube, Douro, Rhine, Rhône and Seine.

Does disembarkation day always come too soon? Consider opting for one of the growing number of longer cruises. Ganga Vilas currently offers the world’s longest river cruise – a 51-day sailing along 27 rivers in India and Bangladesh onboard the luxurious 18-suite Ganga Vilas riverboat. The downside? These cruises don’t come cheap – prices start at around £26,000 ($32,000) per person.

Paddlewheel ships aren’t just found on US rivers. CroisiEurope is the only cruise line to run paddlewheel cruises on two European rivers – the Elbe and the Loire. Other boats are few and far between – these rivers are notoriously shallow but the latest paddlewheel technology means CroisiEurope’s boats can sail these stretches of water year-round.

River cruises are often seen as the preserve of couples, but change is afoot. In 2022, A-ROSA River Cruises launched A-ROSA SENA, the only river cruise ship in Europe to have a dedicated kids’ club room. AmaWaterways’ AmaMagna has a theatre area where children (and big kids) can watch movies and play games consoles, and Uniworld’s Generation Collection cruises offer kid-friendly activities and excursions.

If you’re a fan of cruising, what could be better than pairing a river cruise with an ocean one? For example, combine a sail along the Douro, which cuts across Spain and Portugal and finishes at the Atlantic coast, with an ocean-going cruise sailing out of Porto. Doing so is easy, especially if you sail with a line like Viking Cruises, which has a fleet including both ocean and river boats.

Most ocean-going cruise lines launch one or two ships a year. River cruise ships, however, take to the water much more regularly. Viking River Cruises doesn’t just lay claim to the biggest fleet (80 river cruising ships), but also the Guinness World Record for inaugurating the most new ships in a single day (14, if you were wondering).

Europe’s rivers are lined with ancient cities and landmarks, but several cruise lines are delving deeper in Europe’s history by tackling a more diverse range of subjects. AmaWaterways is a great example – in 2023 its Colour of Provence cruise will include a three-night visit to Paris which will focus on the city’s Black heritage, while another AmaWaterways cruise along the Rhône river will include a Black heritage tour of Marseille.

 

Because river cruising ships are smaller, the chances of having to join tour groups the size of a Glastonbury crowd are slim, and excursions are more intimate. A case in point is European Waterways, known for their passion for slow travel. Excursions include a tour of the Château de la Motte led by the resident Baroness and visits to the Dalwhinnie whisky distillery, which you’ll travel to in an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz minibus.

More river cruise lines are heading to remote rivers. One example is Seabourn. In 2023 the line will launch a 14-day Wild Guianas To The Amazon Basin cruise, which sails along Brazil’s Guajará River, a tributary of the Amazon. Excursions include a trip to meet local indigenous groups – a reminder that Amazon river cruises are great options for getting off the beaten path.

River cruise ships make excellent use of space, and we’re increasingly seeing this applied to windows. If you don’t manage to bag a balcony suite, don’t panic – it’s highly likely that you’ll have floor to ceiling windows. If you’re a stickler for a fantastic view, consider sailing with Avalon Waterways – their windows are some of the largest on a river cruise ship, and their Panorama Suites have the widest opening, wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in river cruising.

American river cruises have become incredibly popular in recent years, and in 2023 the American Queen Voyages launches the longest itineraries offered by this historic cruise line. The 23-day itineraries (the first one departs in July) will sail along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and take in lesser-known destinations such as Maysville in Kentucky, Madison in Indiana, Point Pleasant in West Virginia and Marietta in Ohio.

River cruising companies are going all out to provide deeper insights into the places their ships sail through. One example is National Geographic Expeditions, which recently announced that it will join forces with AmaWaterways and launch several National Geographic Expeditions-chartered departures in 2024. Onboard experts – all of whom will be familiar with itinerary destinations – will include photographers, authors and explorers. 

 

Fancy sailing past the Empire State Building? Now you can – kind of. American Cruise Lines is the only cruise line that offers sailings along the mighty Hudson, along with several other lesser-known rivers, including the Napa and San Joaquin Rivers in California.

North America's best river cruises and steamboat journeys

In 2022 Uniworld launched cruises combining Danube River sailings with trips on Golden Eagle Luxury Trains. These rail and river cruise packages offer guests the chance to take a five-day train journey through central Europe before boarding the ship. Expect more cruise lines to combine these modes of transport in the coming years.

Uniworld’s decision to combine sailing with luxury railway trips onboard Golden Eagle’s trains is a sign of the times – we’ll see more collaborations designed to enhance guests’ experience. In 2023 Ponant will collaborate with Smithsonian Journeys to offer sailings with onboard experts, such as world-renowned climate specialist Steve Paton, who will provide further insight into areas such as the San Blas archipelago.

 

River cruising might sound like a crowded market, but the launch of Riverside Luxury Cruises in April 2023 proves that there’s always room for more. This new line will launch with one ship – Riverside Mozart – and will offer cruises starting in Vienna, Budapest and Passau. The ship’s rooftop bar looks pretty special, although we’re equally excited about the cuisine, inspired by regions the ship sails through.

 

Keen to sail along Europe’s most famous rivers but not so keen on crowds? Choose a river cruise that goes well beyond the cities on the itinerary, and you’ll be richly rewarded. For example, opt for one of the cruises that travels past Budapest to the Black Sea’s spectacular marshy delta, or along the more remote stretches of Germany’s often-overlooked Main River.

Unlike on ocean-going cruises, you won’t need binoculars to appreciate the scenery. Sign up for an American river cruise and you can sail through vast bayous, past skyscraper-filled cities and along ocean-wide stretches of the Mississippi during a single sailing, while in Europe, Germany’s UNESCO-listed castles can be easily combined with Prague’s bohemian masterpieces.

CroisiEurope is the only river cruise line operating on Lake Kariba in Southern Africa. There are two cruise ships to choose from – African Dream and Zimbabwean Dream. Both ships accommodate 16 passengers in eight cabins, and there’s a rooftop bar and restaurant from which guests can soak up the views.

We’ve all come across cruise lines which claim to be all-inclusive but are actually anything but. These days, more cruise lines are going all out to offer passengers better value for money by including everything from premium drinks to excursions. Scenic River Cruises is a great example – cruise prices include flights from the UK, transfers, premium drinks, all meals (including fine dining ones) and excursions.

To start with, there are no ocean waves and currents to rock the boat. Additionally, fewer decks means less chance of feeling any movement – you’ll be closer to the hull of the ship (the part which moves least) and river cruising ships’ low-slung design means there’s minimal sway anyway. In summary? You can spend your time planning your excursions and activities rather than poring over ship plans in order to bag a cabin in the most stable spot.

River cruises can take you to some of the world’s most remote places, as well as waterways which simply aren’t explored very often. CroisiEurope, for example, is the only operator to offer cruises on Spain’s Guadalquivir River (pictured at Seville), while the Heritage Line’s new Upper Mekong cruise, which sets sail in August 2023, will focus on remote areas of Laos.

Amazing facts about cruise ships you might not know

The Nile is 4,132 miles (6,650km) long. To put that into perspective, if you drove from John O’Groats to Land’s End (the entire length of Britain) you’d cover just 840 miles (1,352km). We recommend Viking’s Pharaohs and Pyramids cruise, which starts and finishes in Cairo and takes in Luxor’s Karnak Temple complex, the Necropolis of Thebes and the beautiful Philae temple complex (pictured), which is surrounded by water.

There are no interior cabins on river cruise ships – all cabins face outwards and most have floor-to-ceiling windows. Cruise lines make the most of the space in innovative ways, too. On several Uniworld vessels, for example, mirrors are actually concealed televisions. The cabins at the rear of riverboats are often the cheapest – but if you’re a light sleeper, remember that this is because the engines are located here. 

One example is Amadeus River Cruises. In May 2023 the line will launch Amadeus Riva, which will have a hi-tech air filtration system with a two-stage purification system capable of removing aerosols – including any containing microscopic virus particles – from interior spaces.

We’re seeing more river cruise lines offer a complimentary night in a hotel prior to setting sail, along with further opportunities to explore the embarkation and disembarkation destinations. Expect more river cruise companies to offer add-ons such as three-day city packages of Amsterdam (pictured) prior to sailings along the Rhine, or wine-themed mini-breaks prior to Loire sailings.

We’re increasingly keen to avoid crowds, and river cruises have cottoned on to this. They’re going all out to offer cruises year-round – not just during the summer (traditionally the busiest time for river cruises), but in April and May and September and October, when there will be fewer selfie sticks and thinner crowds to contend with. Pictured is Bratislava Castle rising above the Danube River in autumn.

On ocean cruises, the excitement about seeing the local landmark/record-breaking attraction/ancient site quickly dissipates when there’s a one-hour bus journey between you and the site in question. Not so with river cruising, simply because of the increased accessibility. A great example is the iconic arch in St Louis, Missouri (pictured) –  this feat of engineering is just a 10-minute walk from the dock used by river boats.

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