The mesmerising prettiness of the Rhine.
Rivers point the way to some of the world’s greatest sights. These historical trade arteries connect cities and castles, palaces and pagodas and they provide easy transport routes through gorges and across deserts.
From the deck of a river cruise ship, great scenery and thousands of years of history unfurl along riverbanks. Decks are a grandstand onto passing panoramas that – unlike at sea – never disappear over the horizon. When you dock, town centres and attractions are often an easy stroll away.
River cruising is booming. Companies from APT to Viking are launching new ships. In big news, Celebrity Cruises has announced its move onto rivers. It has commissioned 10 river ships, which are due in 2027.
Meanwhile, ocean company Ponant has acquired Aqua Expeditions, which sails on the Amazon and Mekong. Nile cruises have had particularly rapid growth.
New destinations have emerged: AmaWaterways is now sailing on the Magdalena River in Colombia and boutique cruise line Pandaw is touring on the Kerala backwaters in India.
The season in Europe is getting longer and ships from companies such as Viking are now sailing as early as February.
Solo travel is in demand, according to two European companies A-Rosa and Riviera Travel. And passengers are getting younger. Those in the 36 to 45 bracket are the leading demographic since 2024, and they are likely to drive more change.
So what’s the attraction? Well, you can see the world with ease and without worry on a cruise ship, and you don’t need to waste time on travel logistics as you glide effortlessly onwards towards your next destination. Your only problem? What river to choose.
BEST FOR ANCIENT HISTORY
Nile River, Egypt
Viking Osiris on the Nile River near Luxor, Egypt.
Why Journey along the mighty Nile between Aswan and Luxor and you drift through striking desert and agricultural landscapes. But the highlight is ancient Egypt’s staggering civilisation, showcased by an abundance of hieroglyphic-covered temples and tombs, outsized pharaonic statues, mummies and museum treasures.
What’s new Nile cruises are in hot demand, so plan well in advance. Viking will have 10 Nile ships by 2026 and it is bolstering departures. APT and Scenic make a return this year and Travelmarvel returns in 2026. The recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum is a major new drawcard.
The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Luxor.Credit: iStock
Top spot The concentration of archaeological wonders at Luxor is unparalleled. Luxor and Karnak temple complexes are staggering and the three-kilometre processional Avenue of Sphinxes between them has been restored. The waterfront Mummification Museum is gruesomely fascinating. Across the river are the desert mortuary temples and tombs of pharaohs.
Sail away Viking’s 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids cruise sails between Luxor and Aswan with a land component in Cairo. From $13,395 a person, multiple departures May-December 2025. See vikingrivercruises.com.au
BEST FOR SCENERY
Rhine River, Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland
Why You’ll spend all day on deck on this river, mesmerised even by the domestic prettiness of the Netherlands’ flat landscapes. The gorges on the Middle Rhine are draped in vineyards and crowned by castles. Many cruises also include a short detour onto the Moselle River, whose combination of steep vineyards and gingerbread villages is stunning.
Stahleck Castle, Germany, around a river bend.
What’s new Uniworld’s SS Victoria launched in 2024 and has springtime tulip season cruises. This year, Viking has a new Rhine & Main Explorer and Christmas markets itineraries. Avalon has several new, longer itineraries. APT Solara and APT Ostara are new ships. Travelmarvel Rigal and Emerald Astra sail out in 2026.
Fairytale scenery on the Rhine.
Top spot Wine village Rudesheim sits at one end of the Rhine gorges amid vineyards and forest. Take the little chairlift up the hillside behind town to the huge monument that commemorates the 1870s unification of Germany, and you’re rewarded with terrific views. The walk back down through the vines is easy and scenic.
Emerald Sky at Cochem on the Moselle River.
Sail away Emerald Cruises’ 11-day Rhine Castles and Moselle Vineyards cruise sails between Amsterdam and Basel, concluding overland in Zurich. From $5395 a person, departs May 31, June 10, August 15 and September 22, 2026. See emeraldcruises.com.au
BEST FOR AUSTRALIANA
Murray River, Australia
The mighty Murray.
Why The mighty Murray flows sluggishly through rolling hills and wetlands alive with ibis and pelicans. Cruises concentrate either on Victorian-NSW or South Australian sections, and you can’t get more Aussie: Indigenous artworks and sacred sites, old homesteads and woolsheds, cellar doors and superb gum trees.
What’s new The Murray gets its first luxury river ship this year with the launch of the $6.75 million PS Australia Star from Murray River Paddlesteamers in partnership with APT. It carries 38 guests and features a lounge, a fine-dining restaurant, outdoor decks and a wood-fired steam engine.
Top spot Echuca was vital to opening inland Australia to European settlers, and it retains the world’s largest paddle-steamer fleet, though most are used for day tours. It has an 1860s wooden wharf and many notable colonial-era buildings such as the Star Hotel and The Mill, which houses a chic restaurant.
Sail away APT’s eight-day Retreat to the Murray cruise launches in late 2025 and will sail between Torrumbarry and Echuca with transfers from Melbourne. From $7995 a person, multiple departures year-round in 2026. See aptouring.com
BEST FOR LOCAL LIFE
Mekong River, Vietnam/Cambodia
Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia.Credit: Getty Images
Why Mekong cruises generally run between My Tho near Ho Chi Minh City and Kampong Glam, from which guests transfer overland to Siem Reap to see temple complex Angkor Wat. Vietnamese port towns are full of markets, backstreet businesses, silk factories and handicraft stores and there are opportunities to meet silk weavers, Buddhist monks and artisans.
What’s new Viking’s 80-guest Viking Tonle launches in October 2025. Victoria Mekong II launches in 2026. Pandaw Cruises has revived after nearly succumbing to the pandemic downturn. It operates unusual cruises on the Upper Mekong.
Top spot Nowhere is livelier than Phnom Penh, where locals practise tai chi on the riverfront, pack onto ferries, cram markets and relax in chic bars and restaurants. You’ll get a more sombre look at humanity at the notorious S-21 prison and Killing Fields associated with the Khmer Rouge.
Deluxe Suite on APT’s Mekong Serenity.
Sail away APT’s 13-day Vietnam and Cambodia Highlights tour between Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City includes a seven-night cruise. From $7795 a person, multiple departures between July 2025 and April 2026. See aptouring.com
BEST FOR WINE LOVERS
Douro River, Portugal
Credit: iStock
Why This river is short but very sweet as you sail upriver and down again from Porto, always hemmed in by steep hills contoured with vines. Bordeaux might be the traditional cruise destination for wine lovers, but this is the world’s oldest demarcated wine region. It has a much-improved wine scene and it produces interesting varietals such as Malvasia Fina, Gouveio and Rabitago.
What’s new APT and Travelmarvel’s MS Estrela launched in 2024. This year comes the debut of Viking Gyda, Viking’s fifth Douro ship. Avalon Waterways is operating in Portugal for the first time with the new ship Avalon Alegria.
Avalon Alegria on the Douro.
Top spot Across the river from spectacular, hill-clinging Porto is Vila Nova de Gaia, home to venerable port lodges such as Taylor’s, Croft and Ferreira, where you can sample the fare and learn about port production. The more contemporary Espaco Porto Cruz has a multimedia display and hosts gastronomical events.
Sail away Avalon Waterways’ eight-day Vida Portugal cruise sails round trip from Porto. From $6379 a person, multiple departures until November 2025 resuming in March 2026. See avalonwaterways.com.au
BEST FOR ADVENTURERS
Amazon and Ucayali Rivers, Peru
The Amazon is one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.Credit: iStock
Why A river cruise is the only comfortable way to experience the Amazon rainforest, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, where you can marvel at monkeys, sloths, macaws, toucans, piranhas and pink dolphins on nature walks and paddles. Note that some small ocean ships sail the Lower Amazon in Brazil.
What’s new Luxury tour company Abercrombie & Kent launches Pure Amazon in mid-2025, which has 10 suites and two single cabins. The Peruvian Amazon hit headlines in 2022 when 27 new species were discovered. It was protected further by a huge new indigenous reserve in 2024.
Top spot The town of Nauta, characterised by thatched huts on stilts, provides insight into how various communities live in the Amazon, including indigenous people whose subsistence lifestyle depends on river and forest, and on selling handicrafts and market goods.
Aqua Expeditions on the Amazon.
Sail away Aqua Expeditions’ seven-night Amazon cruise sails round trip from Nauta with transfers overland to Iquitos airport. From $US7980 a person ($12,470), multiple departures year-round. See aquaexpeditions.com
BEST FOR VARIETY
Seine River, France
Viking has four ships that cruise the Seine.
Why The Seine is short but it runs through the French heartland and packs in everything from big-city Paris to small-town Honfleur. It’s associated with Impressionist painters, Joan of Arc, ruined castles and gastronomy. Excursions take you to sights as varied as World War II battlegrounds and Versailles. And unusually for river cruises, you get a glimpse of the sea, too.
What’s new Viking Nerthus launches this year, joining four other Viking ships, and Tauck’s New Seine and VIVA Cruise’s VIVA Beyond in 2026. Tauck and Uniworld have new Christmas markets itineraries.
Top spot Art, culture, architecture, history and modern French life are all packed into Normandy’s capital Rouen, one of France’s most pleasing provincial cities. It has a splendid cathedral, a medieval core, great street markets and connections with Monet, but it retains its daily life away from more tourist-tramped towns.
Sail away Tauck’s eight-day Impressions from the Seine cruise sails round trip from Paris. From $8230 a person, departures available May 17, July 27, and September 6 and 22, 2026. See tauck.com.au
BEST FOR CULTURE
Mississippi River, US
Memphis on the Mississippi.
Why Cruises usually run between New Orleans and St Louis, or St Louis and St Paul further north. While Europe and Asia are more readily associated with culture, there’s plenty here: American Civil War sites, Mark Twain territory, the civil rights movement, and the jazz, blues, rock and country music of Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans.
What’s new Only two cruise lines operate. Viking launches three new Mississippi itineraries in 2025 and another two in 2026. American Cruise Lines has several new itineraries, including an extravagant 61-day Great United States itinerary that sails the entire river.
Top spot Spanish, French, African and Caribbean influences combine in the history, architecture and cuisine of characterful New Orleans – and in its beliefs, such as voodoo. As a bonus, this is one of America’s most pedestrian-friendly cities.
Streetcars in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.Credit: Shutterstock
Sail away Viking’s 15-day Big Easy to the Gateway City cruise sails between New Orleans and St Louis. From $18,795 a person, departs June 14, July 29, and September 20, 2025, and June 13 and July 18, 2026. See vikingrivercruises.com.au
BEST FOR GASTRONOMY
Rhone River, France
Shopping with a Scenic chef at a French market.
Why Cruises sail this southern French river between Avignon, Arles or Tarascon and Lyon. You’ll find history and art aplenty but terrific food, too, in a region that connects Mediterranean and northern French gastronomic heritage. Tain l’Hermitage in the Cotes du Rhone wine region is famous for its cellar doors and it is the home of Valrhona chocolate. You’ll also visit second wine region Burgundy, known for poultry, beef and escargots.
What’s new Travelmarvel returns to the Rhone for the first time in eight years. Tauck’s 130-guest New Rhone launches in 2026. Adventures by Disney has new itineraries on the Rhone from June 2026 with activities on and off the ship aimed at children.
Top spot Lyon is France’s gastronomic capital and it is full of bouchons (neighbourhood eateries) in which to indulge in roast pork, sausages or dumplings. The city’s most famous dish is coq au vin, chicken simmered in red wine with onion, mushrooms and herbs.
Scenic Sapphire on the Rhone.
Sail away Scenic’s eight-day Idyllic Rhone cruise sails between Lyon and Tarascon, with transfers to Nice airport. From $5795 a person, departs July 29 and October 15, 2025. See scenic.com.au
BEST FOR SPECTACLE
Ganges River, India
A seller at Kolkata’s famed flower market.Credit: iStock
Why Most cruises sail return to Kolkata as far upriver as Murshidabad or Baranagar, but some operate on the Upper Ganges, too. Jaded travellers who think they’ve “done” river cruising will be enlivened by a passing parade of colourful palaces, temples, spice and mango plantations and all the heaving humanity of the Ganges waterfront.
What’s new CroisiEurope is the latest company to sail the Ganges from this year. Antara Cruises operated the world’s longest river cruise (51 days) on the Ganges in 2024. Kolkata’s airport and subway system is being expanded, and the city has a new Independence Museum and Naval Aircraft Museum.
Top spot The 125-year-old Malik Ghat Flower Market in Kolkata is an assault on all the senses: hot, perfumed, multicoloured and raucous. Most of the flowers are used to make the garlands and offerings left daily in Hindu temples.
Sail away Pandaw Cruises’ 14-night All Ganges cruise sails between Kolkata and Patna with a land transfer to Varanasi. From $US7560 a person ($11,800), multiple departures October-December 2025. See pandaw.com
BEST FOR AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW
Lower Danube River, eastern Europe
Travelmarvel’s 11-day Balkan Adventure cruise sails between Budapest (pictured) and Giurgiu with a land extension in Romania finishing in Bucharest.
Why If you’re one of many Australians familiar with western Europe, don’t think you know the Continent. A cruise through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania gives you a more brooding look at European history, and refreshingly alternative architecture, languages, landscapes and cuisines, plus the Christian Orthodox religion.
What’s new Viking launches four new river ships this year and it has a new winter itinerary. Avalon has new 10- and 15-day itineraries. APT Solara and APT Ostara are other new ships. Emerald Astra, Uniworld’s SS Emilie and Travelmarvel Rigal arrive in 2026.
Top spot Belogradchik in Bulgaria, 50 kilometres into the hills on a shore excursion, ought to be much better known. This Roman, Bulgarian and Ottoman fortress ruins sit in a splendid landscape of camel-hump rock outcrops backed by views to snowy mountains.
Sail away Travelmarvel’s 11-day Balkan Adventure cruise sails between Budapest and Giurgiu with a land extension in Romania finishing in Bucharest. From $6290 a person, departs July 22, 2025 and April 21, June 2 and July 14, 2026. See travelmarvel.com
BEST FOR ARCHITECTURE
Venetian Lagoon, Italy
St Mark’s Basilica is one of Europe’s most stunning churches.Credit: Uniworld
Why OK, it’s not a river, but Venice’s famed waterway is serviced by a number of river cruise operators. This floating city is a showcase of a thousand years of architecture, from baroque churches to ornate palazzi and bell towers. The island of Torcello has a basilica with 11th century mosaics, and Burano has modest but multicoloured houses. Excursions are made by coach to history-dense Padua and Vincenza.
What’s new Only CroisiEurope, European Waterways and Uniworld operate river ships on the Venetian Lagoon. Ocean ships are banned from the historic centre, making this the only way to sail into Venice. The much-publicised tourist tax introduced in 2024 applies only to certain days and costs just €5 ($8).
Top spot St Mark’s Basilica is one of Europe’s most stunning churches, thanks to its ornate exterior turrets and the glittering gold mosaic work and the fabulous Gothic altarpiece of its interior. It also has an unusually exotic look, thanks to Byzantine architectural and decorative influences.
Sail away Uniworld’s eight-day Venice and Jewels of the Veneto cruise sails round trip from Venice. From $3919 a person, multiple departures until November 2025, resuming in April 2026. See uniworld.com
Five tips for getting the most from a river cruise
Plan ahead River cruising is booming and the most popular itineraries can be booked out over a year ahead, or even two. Discounts or extra inclusions such as flights are now mostly for advance bookings, not last-minute ones.
Save Cruise lines’ newsletters and email updates will alert you to early bird discounts and spot sales. Off-seasons will be cheaper. So will lower-deck cabins without balconies, so ask yourself how much time you’ll spend in your cabin.
Specialise Themed river cruises provide new looks at familiar rivers, and add focus to your holiday. Cruise companies offer themes as diverse as gastronomy, wine or beer, gardens, war, golf and music, plus the tulip and Christmas market seasons.
DIY Guided tours are usually included in the fare but they don’t last all day. Ships often dock a short walk into town centres, so take the opportunity for individual exploration, especially in the evenings if you aren’t sailing.
Linger longer Most river cruises begin and end in key cities, but embarkation and disembarkation days don’t give you much time to explore. Book a couple of hotel nights or you’ll miss out; cruise companies offer city-stay options.