Budapest, Hungary
getty images
Rolling on the Rivers
By Jason Frye
More than ever before, river cruising is riding a wave. The cruise lines that once plied mostly the beautiful rivers of Europe are expanding onto other notable rivers of the world. The small ships navigating these waterways boast all the modern conveniences of floating boutique hotels, and now several are sailing year-round. Additionally, cruise lines have developed itineraries that are appealing to a wider range of travelers. No matter the river, cruise passengers delight in discovering picture-perfect towns, jaw-dropping architecture and iconic sites while immersed in the city centers where the ships dock.
Cruise passengers can savor exquisite cuisine expertly paired with regional wine.
amawaterways
Cruising Europe and Beyond
With more ships sailing on more rivers, the options for satisfying your sense of adventure are plentiful. Whether you’re new to river cruising or are an experienced passenger on the rivers, there’s a sailing for you.
Vineyards and landscape of the Duoro River region in Portugal
Until a few years ago, river cruising focused almost exclusively on the inland waterways of Europe. Sailings that recalled the Guilded Ages’ “Grand Tours of the Continent” carried travelers on the Danube, Rhine and Rhone rivers in style, putting Europe’s Old World cathedrals, culture, cobblestone streets and festive Christmas markets in easy reach. River cruising grew and specialty sailings emerged, deepening guests’ experiences with wine regions, local cuisine, music, history and art. Soon, ships appeared on new waters, sailing deeper into Europe to explore Portugal’s Douro River or The Netherlands’ canals, and then into regions outside Europe: Egypt, Southeast Asia and, more recently, Botswana. This expansion opened up the Nile, Mekong and Chobe rivers to leisure cruisers.
Cartagena, Colombia
Tauck
“The demand for immersive cultural experiences continues to grow, and [we] are always looking for new destinations for our guests to explore,” says Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president of AmaWaterways. “AmaWaterways is the first line to offer cruises on [Colombia’s] Magdalena River … [giving] our guests the opportunity to discover its vibrant culture, unique traditions and natural beauty.”
A monk at Angkor Wat, a popular shore excursion for Mekong River cruises
Sailing in South America isn’t new, but sailing with a major cruise line in Colombia is. AmaWaterways’ cruises on the Magdalena River build on a reliable formula that includes UNESCO sites, local culture and cuisine, and days designed to awaken your sense of discovery and introduce an unfamiliar destination to new travelers, much in the way Mekong River cruises through Cambodia and Vietnam have helped make these destinations accessible to visitors. Colombia, like Southeast Asia, surprises North American travelers with its amazing sightseeing and cultural opportunities.
Christmas market fairground in Leiden, Netherlands
Sailing Year-Round
While the bulk of river cruising on Europe’s rivers happens between May and October, and again in November and December to explore the popular and delightful holiday markets in Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Slovakia and Hungary, river cruises are now available year-round. Viking Cruises was the first river cruise line to unveil year-round sailing, debuting a Rhine River itinerary in December 2023. Similarly, AmaWaterways is extending the season with its winter river cruises in Europe, sailing deep into December on the Douro and getting on the Rhine and Danube rivers in February and March, times when the number of visitors and airline prices are usually lower.
S.S. La Venezia
uniworld
Welcoming All Travelers
Just as the season is widening, so is the demographic of travelers interested in river cruising. For example, Viking’s river ships promise adults-only cruises and emphasize sailings for couples and solo travelers, occasionally pricing cruises more affordably for the solo guest and offering mixers and singles- and couples-friendly excursions and activities. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, meanwhile, speaks to Gen Z and Millennial travelers with itineraries designed to satisfy solo travelers and sailings intended to open the world to LGBTQ+ and multigenerational travelers, and by offering cruises in destinations like India. Families look to Tauck, a lauded cruise and land tour operator, for its family-centric Tauck Bridges cruises and tours; these sailings present an all-inclusive price for families sailing rivers in Europe, with onboard and land-side activities for travelers of just about any age. If you’d rather stick close to home, American Cruise Lines, offered through Pleasant Holidays, and Viking sail one or many domestic rivers, including the Mississippi, Ohio, Snake and Columbia.
Danube River, Durnstein, Austria
Many specialty sailings put the focus on cuisine, wine regions or seasonal events, like spring’s impressive tulip bloom across The Netherlands and Belgium, Christmas/holiday markets cruises, or the once-a-decade Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany, but several lines have gone a step further. Some offer heritage cruises during which passengers can meet with genealogists and researchers to uncover their familial roots; others celebrate Europe’s classical music with talks, visits to concert halls and opera houses, and exclusive performances. AmaWaterways is even targeting niche demographics with specialty cruises developed around ethnicity.
“[AmaWaterways’] Latin Touch cruises directly address the growing demand for river cruisers among Spanish-speaking travelers,” says Karst. These sailings are led by bilingual cruise managers, use Spanish-speaking guides and offer daily onboard programs in Spanish. Likewise, the cruise line’s Soulful Experience sailings “celebrate the African and Black diaspora,” including contributions to music and fine arts, deep cultural stories uncovered on the Nile and Chobe rivers, and additional experiences that illuminate Black heritage. According to Karst, “these specialty cruises are important to us as they … enrich experiences for all guests.”
With such a breadth and depth of river cruise offerings, there’s a sailing for you. Want to explore Cambodia and Vietnam? You can. Ready to sail the Nile, visit the pyramids, the Valley of Kings and the Grand Egyptian Museum? Book it today. Hungry for a taste of South America? Sailings on the Amazon and Magdalena dish up plenty of opportunities for discovery. And if you’re ready to explore with your partner, your friends, your children or your extended family, you’ll have your pick of rivers, ships and season that meets your needs.
Plan and book your river cruise vacation with a knowledgeable AAA Travel Agent, who'll help you select the perfect destination, get limited-time combinable offers, and ensure you take advantage of exclusive AAA Member Benefits—only available when you book with AAA. Visit AAA.com/TravelExpert today.