River cruising’s new frontier is (excitingly) nowhere near Europe

You might not realise it, but river cruises operate on some 50 of the world’s rivers. Want somewhere more exciting than Europe? An increasing number of new ships and new itineraries on alternate rivers will entice anyone with a sense of adventure or need for variety.

Europe is the heartland of river cruising, but interest is blossoming in rivers on other continents. A 2023 survey by Avalon Waterways showed that the Nile, Mekong and Amazon are the top rivers of interest beyond Europe.

Uniworld has reported an almost 50 per cent surge in passengers on the Nile and Mekong, and a significant increase of interest in cruises on the Amazon and Ganges. Wendy Wu Tours too has reported soaring demand for Mekong cruises, with 70 per cent more inquiries this year than last.

Nile a new favourite for cruisers … The Pyramids at sunset with Avalon Waterways.Credit: Getty Images

The Peruvian Amazon might be next. It has long been overlooked, with only niche companies such as Aqua Expeditions and Delfin operating there, although their ships are often chartered to more recognised international companies. Some ocean-going vessels also sail the Brazilian Amazon.

Now Abercrombie & Kent has announced the launch of its first ship Pure Amazon in mid-2025. It will have 10 suites and two solo cabins and sail three- and four-night itineraries, which can be combined for a week-long journey. Activities will include wildlife spotting, kayaking, visits to local communities, and cultural experiences.

Another river on the rise is the Nile, where some 250 river ships are licensed to operate, although not all do. More are coming this year. AmaWaterways debuts AmaLila on 11-night itineraries, TUI River Cruises has refurbished Al Horeya, and Viking floats out Viking Sobek, which is the sixth Nile River ship for the company.

AmaWaterways says bookings on the Chobe River in Botswana have also been strong on recently refurbished Zambezi Queen, as have those on the “new” Magdalena River in Colombia.

AmaWaterways became the first mainstream cruise company to sail in Colombia this year when it launched AmaMagdalena. Owing to strong demand, it already plans to add another vessel, AmaMelodia, in June 2025.

AmaMagdalena sails between Cartagena and Barranquilla (or the reverse), with optional pre-cruise land packages taking in Cartagena and Medellin, and post-cruise packages Panama City.

These aren’t the only alternative river choices. You can also sail the Zambezi River and Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, Red River in Vietnam, Brahmaputra in India, Mississippi in the US and Murray River here in Australia, among many others.

American Cruise Lines launches two new ships this year, American Liberty and American Legend, on east-coast itineraries through the linked rivers, canals and bays of the Intracoastal Waterway, which runs all the way between Rhode Island and Florida.

Even Europe can provide surprises, with CroisiEurope and smaller cruise companies offering itineraries on the Loire in France, Tisza in Hungary, and Oder in Germany and Poland, among others. You might not have “done” river cruising yet.