Picture gliding down calm rivers, surrounded by stunning scenery and charming cities that you can explore up close. River cruises are a delightful way to travel, and here’s why they’re so popular:
Benefits? You’ll love them!
River cruises are all about the journey and the destination! You’ll dock right in the heart of iconic cities and hidden gems, giving you more time to explore. Plus, the ships are smaller, so you’ll enjoy a more intimate, relaxed atmosphere, with fewer crowds and personalized service.
Activities? You’re in for a treat!
Onboard, you can relax on the sundeck, take in breathtaking views, or enjoy a glass of wine with new friends. Many cruises also offer cooking classes, local tastings, and themed nights to match the region you’re sailing through. Off the ship? Daily excursions let you dive into local culture, whether it’s exploring castles, biking through vineyards, or strolling through quaint towns.
Who can travel?
River cruises are perfect for travelers of all kinds! Couples love the romantic vibe, families can bond over shared adventures, and solo travelers feel right at home with the friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Plus, there’s always a range of activities to suit different interests and energy levels.
Why should you consider a river cruise voyage?
River cruises offer a unique, immersive experience. You’ll visit multiple destinations without the hassle of airports, unpacking, or long travel days. Instead, you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenic ride as you sail from one amazing place to another. It’s all about slow travel, soaking in the beauty of each location, and experiencing the culture firsthand.
Myths? Let’s clear them up!
- "It’s only for retirees." No way! River cruises are popular with travelers of all ages looking for a laid-back, culturally rich experience.
- "It’s too small, I’ll be bored." Not at all! There’s plenty to do, from excursions to onboard entertainment, and with fewer people, you get a more personalized experience.
- "It’s just for Europe." While Europe has some of the most famous river cruises, there are plenty of river adventures around the world—from the Amazon to the Nile!
Discover the Best of the Rivers
My Top 2 Picks for Unforgettable River Cruises
AmaWaterways River Cruises
Why AmaWaterways?
With over two decades of experience on the world’s rivers, the family-owned and operated company has remained focused on what they do best: providing their guests with innovative and unforgettable travel experiences. When you step aboard AmaWaterways, each day brings a genuine smile that warms the heart, every river a new culture that inspires, and each course a moment to savor and share.
With AmaWaterways, every day is a “see” day as you cruise through grand capitals and charming towns. The ships dock near city centers, meaning you can step right off the ship and explore.
AmaWaterways has curated a diverse menu of shore excursions included as part of your cruise fare. The roster of options caters to a range of interest and activity levels, including tours for gentle and active walkers as well as late risers. Enjoy city tours, guided hikes, exhilarating bike rides, and tastings of local specialties—all on one itinerary!
With membership in the internationally recognized La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, and Tables et Auberges de France, AmaWaterways takes pride in preparing exquisite, regionally inspired cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. You can also enjoy complimentary hand-selected wines and local beers during every lunch and dinner on board.
Spacious and uncrowded, AmaWaterways award-winning fleet offers elegantly appointed staterooms and suites and welcomes fewer guests than many traditional river cruise ships. The innovative AmaMagna offers enhanced personal space with more than 50% luxury suite accommodations as well as four unique dining venues, a chic onboard cinema and an expansive Zen Wellness Studio.
Join the dedicated Wellness Hosts for complimentary small-group fitness classes on board your ship. For a gentler approach to wellness, we invite you to take a dip in the sun-deck pool or indulge in a spa treatment. Healthy cuisine prepared with seasonal ingredients is always available, as are vegetarian, gluten-free and low-sodium choices.
The extraordinary Cruise Managers and crew continuously go above and beyond to enhance the onboard experience, surprising and delighting the guests with thoughtful details, getting to know you personally and anticipating your needs before you ever have to ask. Our people are the main reason more guests return to cruise with us than with any other river cruise line - a testament to their passion and unrivaled service.
Continuously innovating the river cruise experience, AmaWaterways were the first to offer twin-balcony staterooms, complimentary bikes, a full-sized pickleball court, and a complimentary multi-course specialty restaurant, The Chef's Table. As industry leaders, they work to minimize our impact on the world’s rivers, reducing single-use plastics across our fleet and installing solar panels on AmaMagna.
You can stay in touch with high-quality complimentary Wi-Fi, available on board throughout the fleet. In addition, the easy-to-use myAmaCruise app allows you view and share an interactive map that follows your river cruise itinerary, share photos with friends and family, learn about each port of call, find available excursions and even access your electronic travel documents.
Viking Cruises
Why Viking?
Before travel, Viking provides a variety of materials to help guests plan and anticipate their journey, from filmographies that inspire wanderlust to recommended reading that informs and enlightens.
Onboard activities are designed for enrichment and renewal. Viking offer lectures on history and art, cooking demonstrations of regional favorites, menus offering regional cuisine and more.
On shore, guests might accompany the ship's chef to a local market; go behind the scenes at a famous theater company; tour a private chocolate or car factory; or view a museum's private collection.
All the amenities of an elegant boutique hotel, including an unparalleled choice of all-outside staterooms, expansive views from floor-to-ceiling windows and al fresco dining. The most elegant vessels that use the available space in the most effective way—which explains why Viking is known as the small ship experts. From the space-saving square bow to the patented asymmetrical corridor design, the revolutionary and award-winning Viking Longships have been designed to enhance your journey.
Revolutionary in concept and design, the Aquavit Terrace offers the most al fresco dining on Europe’s rivers. Get to know new friends over breakfast and lunch as you watch Europe’s picturesque riverscapes unfold before you in this relaxing, inviting space.
On top of the ship, take in 360-degree views as you relax on the Sun Deck. Exercise en plein air on the walking track. And enjoy the fragrances of the onboard herb garden, harvested daily by the culinary staff and infused in the authentic regional dishes.
Rigorous training and inspiring leadership make Viking the employer of choice, allowing them to select the very best people to care for you. Viking is dedicated to providing warm hospitality to their guests and ensuring everyone feels at home on board.
Local artisans demonstrate time-honored craft traditions of your destinations, such as glassblowing, lace making and wooden shoemaking. The culinary demonstrations present recipes of regional treats and drinks—Austrian apple strudel, Rüdesheim Coffee and more.
The onboard Library was curated by Heywood Hill, an independent London bookseller and Royal Warrant holder, who dedicated hundreds of hours to understanding the unique, inquisitive nature of Viking guests. From art to history to destination-focused reading, each book was hand-selected to enhance your experience, both on board and at your destination.
Viking provides fascinating insights into Local Life during excursions that reveal the rhythms of daily living in your destination, have arranged exclusive entry to cultural treasures all around the world. Visit seldom-seen collections with before - and after-hours access to world-class museums; be a special guest at private homes and palaces not open to just anyone; or attend cultural performances of folklore, ballet and opera to get an insider’s view during these private tours.
What Viking is:
- No children under 18
- No casinos
- No nickel and diming
- No charge for Wi-Fi
- No charge for beer & wine with lunch & dinner
- No umbrella drinks
- No photography sales
- No art auctions
- No inside staterooms
- No smoking
- No waiting in lines
- No formal nights, butlers or white gloves