River Cruises

By David Barclay | July 26, 2023

For those new to cruising, a river cruise can be a great option. River cruises are also a great option for travelers worried about motion sickness, as the ship movement on river ships is almost undetectable by guests. While river cruises do not cover the same distances as ocean cruises, they do allow travelers to immerse themselves in the regions of travel and enjoy the scenery as the ships slowly travel up or down stream.

The mention of river cruising likely invokes images of central European river valleys and quaint river towns. European river cruises are very popular and likely you know someone who has cruised on either the Rhine or Danube. Besides these two rivers, European river ships also travel on numerous other rivers, including the Douro, the Seine, the Main, the Moselle, and the Rhone, just to name a few. But river cruising has expanded well beyond Europe. Today, travelers can cruise on rivers around the world, including the Mekong (Cambodia & Vietnam), the Nile (Egypt), the Amazon (Peru), the Chobe (Africa), the Magdalena (Colombia), and the Ganges (India).

While river cruising is popular in the summer, it’s possible to cruise anytime of the year. Late November through December each year, many cruise lines offer Christmas Market cruises on the Rhine and Danube where guests visit Christmas markets to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of quintessential town squares decked out in their holiday finest, teaming with artisan made goods begging to be purchased. Rivers in the Tropics and Subtropics offer guests the opportunity to cruise any time of year in terrific weather.

River cruising has grown in popularity, as has the number of cruise lines and cruise itineraries. Viking Cruises dominates this segment of cruising and has heavily promoted the concept of river cruising, becoming a household name. But many other smaller, boutique river cruise lines offer elevated luxury experiences, combining great cuisine and service with unique activities and excursions.

Below I’ve provided just a small sample of river cruise itineraries on some of my favorite river cruise lines. If a river cruise sounds appealing for a future trip, send me a note and we can discuss which cruises and cruise lines might be a good match for you.

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Uniworld (S.S. Antoinette)

7-night CASTLES ALONG THE RHINE, Basel to Amsterdam
June 1-8, 2024

Traveling the Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam (or the reverse) is a classic European river cruise itinerary. Guests visit 4 countries (The Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland) on a typical 7-night cruise and visit many quaint towns along the river.

Uniworld is the most luxurious river cruise line cruising in Europe. Every ship is outfitted differently with décor to match the cruising location. The S.S. Antoinette has a very classic European interior including marble on the walls and floors, a 19th-century Venetian glass mirror, a stylish Bar du Leopard with full-service bar, and a 10-foot blue Strauss Baccarat chandelier in the two-story foyer. Uniworld is one of the most all-inclusive lines, including all meals and activities, unlimited beverages on board (fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water), crew gratuities, and free wi-fi.

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Amawaterways (AmaMagna)

7-night MAGNA ON THE DANUBE, Budapest To Vilshofen
May 19-26, 2024

Another very popular river to cruise is the Danube. Ships departing Budapest sail both up and down the Danube, the most popular itinerary is from Budapest to Vilshofen (about 1.5 hrs from Munich).

In 2019, Amawaterways launched a unique river ship to sail the Danube, the AmaMagna. Because she does not need to fit into European river locks, the ship designers could design a ship that was twice as wide as the average river ship. Although the size of the AmaMagna is twice that of a typical river ship, she accommodates only 25% more guests, providing significantly more onboard space per guest. Staterooms are larger and many offer as much space as staterooms on luxury ocean cruise ships. The AmaMagna also offers 4 different dining venues to guests (Al Fresco Restaurant, Jimmy’s, The Chef’s Table, and the main dining room).

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Tauck (ms Andorinha)

11-night Exploring the Douro, plus Lisbon & Madrid
July 10-21, 2024

While the rivers in central Europe have historically been the most popular to cruise, the Douro River in Portugal is quickly gaining interest among travelers. Ships sailing the Douro River are smaller and more intimate than other European river ships, most only accommodate 80-100 guests (standard river ships can accommodate 150-200 guests). Some itineraries sail out of Porto and travel halfway up the river before returning to Porto. Others, like this one from Tauck, start in Porto and end in Barca de Alva, allowing guests to add on pre/post extensions in Lisbon and Madrid.

The ms Andorinha is a newly launched ship, custom-built for Tauck to sail the Douro. She has a very beautiful Portuguese crafted interior and offers guests who like more room the option of 300 ft² suites or 225 ft² staterooms. Tauck is known for exemplary service and for offering unique experiences on each of its cruises. This particular cruise offers guests a tour and private dinner in Queluz National Palace in Lisbon. This cruise also includes the pre & post stays in Lisbon and Madrid in the cruise fare and itinerary, seamlessly combining both land and river travel.

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Amawaterways (AmaDahlia)

11-night SECRETS OF EGYPT & THE NILE, Cairo to Cairo
Feb 2-13, 2024

One of the most famous rivers in the world, the Nile is a bucket list river to cruise. Itineraries generally start with a pre-cruise stay in Cairo. Guests then take a short flight to Luxor where they board their ship. The ship will sail from Luxor to Aswan and then return to Luxor, where guests will take a return flight to Cairo. The included pre- and post-cruise stays in Cairo allow guests time to explore this historic city.

Cruises on the Nile have become very popular and Amawaterays will launch a second “sister ship” to the AmaDahlia in 2024. As with the Douro, ships cruising the Nile are custom-built for this river. The AmaDahlia accommodates only 72 guests, with suites ranging in size from 198 to 430 ft². On board, guests can enjoy regional specialties and Western favorites in the main restaurant or the Chef’s Al Fresco specialty restaurant.

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Aqua Expeditions (Aqua Nera)

7-night Amazon Expedition Cruise, Iquitos to Iquitos
Apr 5-12, 2024

For travelers looking for an expedition style cruise and to get close to nature in remote, untouched areas, nothing beats a cruise on the Amazon River. Guests on an Amazon River cruise will travel through the most biodiverse rainforest and river system on Earth. Home to more than one-third of all discovered animal species and over 40,000 plan species, endless discoveries await for those interested in this famous river.

Aqua Expeditions is the leader in luxury cruising on the Amazon. While it offers shorter 3- and 4-night cruises, travelers will regret not booking the full 7-night Amazon Expedition Cruise. Aqua Expeditions operates two ships on the Amazon, the recently launched, state-of-the-art, Aqua Nera is setting new standards for luxury cruising. With only 20 suites on board, guests will not feel the ship is at all crowded and will enjoy the Amazon’s tranquility. Each day includes small group excursions with the ship’s naturalists and authentic cuisine from one of Peru’s finest chefs.