Wine, flowers and song

Next year, the Swiss city of Basel will play host to Eurovision with the grand final to be held on May 17. Want to see it live? Why not combine a river cruise with this celebrated song contest. You can sail into Basel during May on Europe’s newest river cruise line Riverside Luxury Cruises. Their 15-day ‘Gems of the Rhine with Blooming Tulips of Holland’ itinerary aboard the new Riverside Debussy departs from Amsterdam and happens to coincide with tulip season. What could be better than flowers and song, and some wineries along the way. Eurovision is separate to the cruise, you can find out about ticket release on their website. As for the cruise, you can get more information here, or book here. 

A new river route

Keen for a new river to cross? Come March 15, 2025 AmaWaterways will become the first major river cruise line to navigate the Magdalena River in Colombia. Onboard the 60-guest vessel AmaMagdalena, a Colombian chef will guide guests on a curated journey through the country’s flavours. Think artisanal chocolate and rum samplings, as well as Colombian coffee tastings. There will be nine custom-designed boats on hand for excursions. Each itinerary is guided by experienced locals to ensure an enhanced cultural experience. A second vessel, AmaMelodia will join the fleet later in 2025.

A new Aussie star

You don’t need to head overseas to experience the newest in river vessels come 2025. Murray River Paddlesteamers will be launching the luxurious PS Australian Star, a wood-fired, five-star vessel set to journey along the tranquil Murray River. APT is working in partnership offering a range of itineraries.  Their 8-day Retreat to the Murray departing Melbourne return explores destinations from Torrumbarry Weir to Echuca with an APT Tour Director. There’s a riverside BBQ under the stars, a winery tour and guided lantern tours. Afterwards, retreat to the the sleek Randell Dining Room or the stylish Hopwood Lounge, both offering incredible views.

Join Paddington in Peru

Dreams of a Peruvian adventure may be on the mind of movie fans once the film Paddington in Peru hits Australian cinemas on January 1, 2025. And while you might not see any bears like Paddington on an Amazon Rainforest cruise there’s an abundance of wildlife to spot. You can spy pink dolphins, spider monkeys and sloths, as well as fish for piranha and kayak along the Amazon’s narrow black water tributaries with Aqua Expeditions. Aqua Expeditions operates two vessels in the Peruvian Amazon including the 20-suite Aqua Nera and the 16-suite Aria Amazon. Onboard, expect cuisine crafted by acclaimed chefs, and ashore, expert-guided adventure activities.  

Women’s only sailing

Grab your mum, your daughter, your aunty or your best girlfriends; for the very first time in 2025, boutique river cruise brand Uniworld is offering a cruise for the ladies. Their ‘Women’s only cruise’ aims to bring together women across generations to enjoy curated onboard activities and excursions. The voyage will set sail August 24, 2025 on the ‘Burgundy and Provence’ itinerary following in the footsteps of Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Gauguin through the Rhône and Saône rivers in southern France. Highlights include onboard workshops led by local artisans, burlesque sessions and a chocolate and wine pairing experience. There are more details yet to be revealed including festive parties and special guests. 

A new way to meander the Mekong

Viking is launching a new vessel on the Mekong, debuting in October 2025. The Viking Tonle will join twin sister ship, Viking Saigon to sail between Kampong Cham, Cambodia and Mỹ Tho, Vietnam on the 15-day Magnificent Mekong itinerary. The journey features 16 guided tours including a visit to Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 80-guest vessel will feature Scandi-modern staterooms with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and a Veranda or French Balcony. 2025 will be a big year on the rivers for Viking, they will debut 10 new river ships including Viking Tonle, as well as two in the Nile and seven signature Longships in Europe.

More dining choice 

Those that have sailed on European river cruises will know that due to space sometimes the array of restaurants onboard can be a little limited. Enter APT’s two new revolutionary river vessels being launched next year which feature seven dining options. Seven! On APT Solara and APT Ostara, each hosting 154 guests, a highlight will be The Grüner Bar & Dining, truly a restaurant with a view. A hydraulic system will raise this venue from Deck 3 to the upper Sun Deck offering a panoramic vista. The ships will be sailing the Rhine, Main and Danube on various itineraries such as their 15-day Magnificent Europe sailings.

Viva la France

The Paris Olympics had us all pining for a slice of the French lifestyle. The wines! The picture-perfect countryside! The pastries! Tauck has taken note and in 2025 will be offering twice the amount of cruises on the Seine. Their eight-day ‘Impressions from the Seine: Paris to Normandy’ sailing includes sightseeing in Paris with visits to the Opéra Garnier or a walking tour of the Latin Quarter. Art and design aficionados will love the tour of Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny and a visit to King Louis XIV Chateau de Versailles. Plus, there’s an exclusive dinner at the 16th-century Château du Taillis in Duclair. The cruises run from April to October 2025. 

Picture: Tauck

Join a storyteller

What could be more incredible than sailing along the Danube taking in the sights? How about sailing along the Danube with a renowned author! Expect to hear entertaining tales on Avalon Waterways new Storyteller cruise with Christopher Moore next October. He will join 150 guests onboard for the 10-day ‘Illuminations on the Danube’ cruise from Vilshofen to Budapest. Cruisers will spend two days in Vienna which happens to be the setting for Moore’s newest novel, Anima Rising which also comes out next year. The author will introduce cruisers to the sights, scenes and stories of the city. There will also  be special gatherings with Moore onboard Avalon’s Suite Ship.

A boom in popularity

We’re eager to explore the world’s riverways. According to the 2024 River Cruise Market report by Future Market Insights, river cruising is estimated to be worth US$2.5 billion now but is anticipated to surpass US$7.3 billion by 2034. Cruise lines know that demand is high so are launching sales for river cruises in 2026 now. Scenic has just realised their 2026 Early Access brochure for its ultra-luxury Europe river cruises and land journeys. They have also extended the season introducing new departures in February and March, and additional sailings in November and December. This Australian-owned brand is also expanding its itineraries, combining river cruises with city extensions such as a 3-day London extension available after the 15-day Jewels of Europe river cruise.