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River cruising
Holiday guide

River cruising

On board a river cruise, travel with ease and style. Just go with the flow, disembark and stroll about, then float onwards. This is travel without trouble: here’s how it works.

River cruise in style with these 10 top itineraries

River cruise in style with these 10 top itineraries

You can cruise on some 50 rivers, from the Ohio and Mississippi in the USA to the Red River in Vietnam. Here are the 10 trips that highlight its wonderful variety.

  • by Brian Johnston
Novice’s guide to getting the most out of a river cruise

Novice’s guide to getting the most out of a river cruise

On a river-cruise ship you can explore the interior of continents in ease and style. This is travel without the hassle: here's how it works.

  • by Brian Johnston
How to choose a shore excursion (and avoid traps)

How to choose a shore excursion (and avoid traps)

Shore excursions have evolved enormously over the last decade. To avoid crowds, queues and disappointments, the key is to know what you want, and choose wisely.

  • by Brian Johnston
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The 6400km Amazon River is too jungly to have a single bridge across it.

Ten surprising rivers you can cruise down

Done the Danube and revisited the Rhine? No worries: you can sail dozens of other rivers around the world. Here are 10 top choices.

  • by Brian Johnston
Viking doesn’t take under-18s.

Be warned: This type of cruising is not for kids (with a few exceptions)

Taking kids on a river cruise is perhaps a mistake, but there are some exceptions.

  • by Brian Johnston
European river cruise essentials.

The absolute must-bring items for a European river cruise

Knowing what to pack ensures you don’t find yourself with too much luggage and contents that never see the light of day.

  • by Sheriden Rhodes
To explore the less predictable side of Europe, this is the way to do it

To explore the less predictable side of Europe, this is the way to do it

From vineyards to dramatic cliffs to Soviet-era villages with each bend of the river, this is a cruise guaranteed to open your eyes and your mind.

  • by Kerry van der Jagt
Travelmarvel Vega –  more like a boutique hotel.
★★★★

Cruise ship review: Floating boutique hotel offers exceptional value

Fresh contemporary style, interesting port stops and inclusive tours … no wonder Travelmarvel Vega is consistently booked out.

  • by Sheriden Rhodes
Serenity on the Mekong.

A serene journey down the Mekong on a new luxury ship

A voyage aboard a floating castle, of sorts, from Vietnam to Cambodia can’t help but remind Australians of the classic film The Castle.

  • by Penny Watson
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Scenic Azure sails into Porto on the Douro River in Portugal. River cruise ships can take you places ocean ships can’t go.

Think a river cruise is a pale shadow of an ocean cruise? Think again

River ships get you to places you’ll never see on seafaring mega-liners, and that’s just one of many little-known advantages.

  • by Brian Johnston
The Danube River and Budapest, from the viewpoint of Fisherman’s Bastion.

I took my teen daughter with me on a European river cruise

Bringing a teenager on a river cruise raises a few questions – will she stay in the cabin complaining about the Wi-Fi and be desperate to disembark? Only one way to find out

  • by Sheriden Rhodes
The sprawling Chateau d’Angers in the medieval old town.

Six must-visit French river-cruise ports

Beyond big-name cities such as Paris, Bordeaux and Lyon, river cruises in France offer a seductive selection of attractive small towns.

  • by Brian Johnston
RV Amalotus cruise ship. Image supplied by APT. SHD TRAVEL APRIL 1 CAMBODIA VIETNAM RIVER CRUISE. AMALotus_Mekong River_FINAL_CMYK_1639al_GU.jpg

How to make the most of travelling by river

Boutique-hotel amenities and glorious landscapes that slide by without your having to exert the slightest effort.

  • by Brian Johnston
Six of Europe’s spectacular riverside buildings

Six of Europe’s spectacular riverside buildings

A cruise between Amsterdam and Budapest along the rivers takes you past some of central Europe’s most eye-popping buildings.

  • by Brian Johnston
The Delfin II.

In the jungle, everything wants to eat something (including us)

Exploring the Amazon, plenty of things want to take a bite out of us. But back on our luxurious riverboat, we’re the ones who eat best.

  • by Jamie Lafferty
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Mark Twain was right about rolling on this river

Mark Twain was right about rolling on this river

American Queen sits grandly at New Orleans wharf, its twin smokestacks piercing the sky when I board on a blistering June afternoon.

  • by Caroline Gladstone
Houseboat holiday made me wish this was my whole life

Houseboat holiday made me wish this was my whole life

The true beauty of houseboat living is that you're always aware of the phases of the moon and the tide, so you're really in tune with nature.

  • by Nina Karnikowski
An epic, 10-country, 2857km Christmas journey

An epic, 10-country, 2857km Christmas journey

The promise of snow, Christmas markets and festive lights all add to the magic of these towns by the Danube.

  • by Steve McKenna
This is one of the best ways to travel by yourself

This is one of the best ways to travel by yourself

A cruise ship is a safe, predicable environment, and provides abundant opportunity to socialise – but it pays to plan ahead.

  • by Brian Johnston
Floating with impressionists down the River Seine

Floating with impressionists down the River Seine

It’s a brush with art we weren’t expecting. Monet and his garden come alive on this cruise back in time on this Viking cruise in France.

  • by Jane Knight

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/river-cruising-20230314-p5crxm.html