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River Cruises

Choose from 993 river cruises around the world and enjoy exclusive savings on every departure. Journey from Amsterdam to Budapest or through the wine regions of Bordeaux and Portugal’s Douro Valley. Uncover the spirit of the Ganges in India and the charm of the Irrawaddy in Myanmar or take to the waterways of Europe on a river cruise of a lifetime.

Quick Search Search 18,303 River Cruises

World's Leading River Cruise Lines View All

Top Selling River Cruises View all

15 Days Amsterdam to Budapest

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 5,761
Save 2,000

8 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 2,630
Save 1,500

16 Days Budapest to Amsterdam

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 7,549
Save 500

8 Days Basel to Amsterdam

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 2,630
Save 1,500

Latest River Cruise Deals View all

President's Day Sale
President's Day Sale

Save up to $1,750 per suite, plus 2 For 1 fares and Air included (or extra savings without air) and complimentary Flexible Booking Plan. Offer ends 28 Feb.

President's Day Sale
President's Day Sale

Save up to $1,250 per suite, plus 2 For 1 Fares and Air included (or extra savings without air) and complimentary Flexible Booking Plan. Offer ends 28 Feb.

BONJOUR BORDEAUX - FREE 2-NIGHT PARIS STAY
BONJOUR BORDEAUX - FREE 2-NIGHT PARIS STAY

Book now & start your cruise with two FREE nights in Paris with guided sightseeing and high-speed TGV train from Paris to Bordeaux!

All River Cruises View all

Europe River Cruises River Cruises)
Europe River Cruises
Nile River Cruises River Cruises)
Nile River Cruises
Asia River Cruises River Cruises)
Asia River Cruises

Featured River Cruise CompaniesFeatured Operators View all

Emerald Cruises
From culture-rich cities to world-famous wine regions, Emerald Cruises represents a new chapter in the world of river cruising. Our deluxe fleet of revolutionary...more Star-Ships promise contemporary comfort and unique on-board innovations, while our generous offering combines affordability with great dining, exceptional service and immersive itineraries across Europe and Asia. With return flights, transfers, all on-board meals, complimentary drinks, tips and much more included in the price of an Emerald Cruises river cruise, we’ve taken care of everything. Our attentive team of crew, sommeliers and personal butlers are available day and night to ensure every minute on-board the Emerald Cruises fleet is as enriching, enjoyable and relaxing as possible.
Rivers1,420
Budget:Premium
Known For:Affordable Luxury
Fleet Size:9
APT
APT
Life-enriching, relaxing and unique – an APT river cruise is the ultimate holiday experience. Discover unforgettable destinations as you travel in total...more comfort and style. From Europe to Africa and the mighty Mekong River, APT has a diverse range of river cruises, and you’ll wake up most mornings in a new location, ready to explore fresh and exciting sights. Timeless luxury, exclusive experiences, life enriching moments and true personalisation. APT offers all-inclusive holidays so everything is taken care of. We invite you to join us; you won’t be disappointed.
Rivers2
Budget:Premium & Luxury
Known For:Aussie Specialist
Fleet Size:10
Scenic
With Scenic, it’s more than a 5-star river cruise...it’s a seamless journey from start to finish that places you, our guest, at the heart of everything...more we do. It’s taking you to extraordinary regions and immersing you in meaningful and enriching experiences. It’s exquisite cuisine, indulgent wellness, and a world-class team who will anticipate your every need. You'll find the difference is in the details with Scenic: the innovative ship design, expertly trained crew, immersive journey, and an unrivalled focus on health and safety protocols.
Rivers1,548
Budget:Premium & Luxury
Known For:Luxury Cruising
Fleet Size:14

Discover Must Do Experiences and Highlights

Floating Life on the Mekong

Floating Life on the Mekong

Get to know life on the delta, from the floating villages where the locals go about their everyday lives to the buoyant markets brimming with colourful produce.

Fairy Tale Rhine Gorge

Fairy Tale Rhine Gorge

River cruise along the 65km (40mi) dreamy stretch of Germany’s Rhine Gorge flanked by tiered vineyards and a charming collection of roughly 40 hilltop castles and fortresses.

Three Gorges of the Yangtze

Three Gorges of the Yangtze

Home to natural and manmade masterpieces, here you’ll find dramatic cliff faces decorated with garlands of foliage and the engineering marvel of the Three Gorges Dam.

Temples on the Nile

Temples on the Nile

Cruise the Nile to take in some of Egypt’s incredible monuments flanking its banks, from the Temples of Karnak and Luxor, to the Temple of Horus in Edfu and the riverside Temple of Kom Ombo.

The Pearl of the Danube

The Pearl of the Danube

Stunning from every angle, particularly from the water, Budapest has earnt its nickname. A charismatic city clings to its banks, with its illuminated Parliament a shining beacon marking the start of an incredible river cruise from Budapest.

Recent River Cruise Reviews What our clients are saying about their journeys

Xmas cruise on the river Danube     , NSW, Australia, Dec 2024
I had a wonderful magical white Xmas sailing the river Danube on ship Amadeus Cara during December Xmas time. The ship was beautifully decorated for Xmas and thoroughly enjoyed the history and culture of each town we visited. I also wandered through the Xmas markets at each town we visited, the smells and atmosphere of Christmas was abundant. I sailed ...read more through Passau, Linz, Salzburg, durnstein, Vienna and Bratislava. The food and drinks onboard the ship was plentiful and beautifully presented with 3-4 course meals for each breakfast, lunch and dinner with themed cocktails for each country.

The tour guides were wonderful and the crew on board were excellent and all spoke fluent English. The 160 guests were wonderful and met English, Canadian, American, Australians on board. The shore excursions were excellent and a wealth of so much history and knowledge dating back to 1200 centuries. It was such a fantastic time. Thank you so much Georgie for booking this trip for me and going out of your way for making it a perfect Xmas holiday. I would definitely recommend the Xmas market cruise and I will definitely be booking future trips with Georgie again.
Advent cruise on Danube   , WA, Australia, Dec 2024
Fantastic cruise along Danube - we were a group of 10 and loved the modern ship- excellent food and service - could not fault this. Off shore excursions were planned we did some but enjoyed looking around on our own. Could not fault this - will definitely cruise with this company again.
Fantastic Uniworld river cruise through Belgium.   , QLD, Australia, Dec 2024
Our river cruise with Uniworld was a Christmas markets cruise through Belgium which which was very beautiful. Although we have been on river cruises before, Uniworld was the best by far. The SS Victoria was a new ship and was tastefully and elegantly designed and furnished. Our suite was spacious, with the most comfortable bed, walk in robe and a huge ...read more floor to ceiling french balcony window. We had in room drinks, sweets, fruit etc. So much is included, so we never had to pay for anything onboard. Meals were the best you would expect from the best fine dining anywhere. Drinks were also included and not just with meals. All staff were very friendly and knew our names from the second day. We were so well looked after throughout the whole trip. Excursions were included and they even took us to a private Christmas concert in a cathedral. The whole trip from start to finish was perfect and if anyone is considering a river cruise you couldnt go past Uniworld if you want the best of the best . We always book through Global Journeys with Georgie and our next trip will be booked with them again.
Budapest to Amsterdam   , VIC, Australia, Dec 2024
This was our first river cruise and will definitely not be the last . Travel Marvel was exceptional prior to our trip keeping us informed about any changes and were very informative about any queries we had . The trip was next level in every aspect from the crew to the rooms to the dining experiences. Plenty of excursions and experiences to keep you ...read more constantly occupied. Will definitely recommend to anyone thinking of doing a river cruise. All aspects of our time on the cruise was at 5 star rating,absolutely brilliant.

Explore More Explore more Your guide to the river cruising through Europe and Asia.

Travel Advice Regarding Europe Floods

01 September, 2024

Travel Advice Regarding Europe Floods

High Water Levels Impact European River Cruises: What You Need to Know Planning a river cruise through Europe or about to embark on one? Recent flooding has affected several cruise itineraries on the Danube and Rhine rivers. Here's a summary of the situation and how it might affect your...

Celebrate France! Lyon: Gastronomic Capital of the World

09 July, 2024

Celebrate France! Lyon: Gastronomic Capital of the World

To celebrate France Month, Scenic is shining a spotlight on their collection of luxury France river cruises. Not only do these itineraries explore the rich history and culture of each region, they focus on the gastronomic excellence just waiting to be experienced by guests, onboard and ashore....

Visit Portugal: Highlights of Douro River Cruising

20 February, 2024

Visit Portugal: Highlights of Douro River Cruising

The Douro River runs through northern Portugal and into Spain, with river cruises typically sailing to and from Porto, with the option of city stays either side of the cruise. These stays often include time in either Lisbon, Madrid and even Barcelona. For guests embarking on a river cruise,...

APT's 2025 River Cruising Revolution: Introducing Solara and Ostara

24 January, 2024

APT's 2025 River Cruising Revolution: Introducing Solara and Ostara

Welcome to the future of luxury river cruising, where elegance and environmental consciousness sail hand in hand. APT, a name synonymous with unparalleled travel experiences, is set to elevate your river cruising dreams to new heights in 2025. As Australia's most outstanding global tour...

Common Questions Common questions about river cruising

How big is a river cruise ship?
River cruise ships are much smaller than their seafaring counterparts due to the need to navigate rivers, locks and canals. Travelling under bridges also keeps them at only 3 to 4 decks high which means that passenger numbers are quite small. There may only be one main dining restaurant (some ships offer an alternative...read more eatery as well) but cuisine is well known to be exceptional featuring regional produce and specialties. Most ships have a a fitness centre, observation lounge and large sun deck for taking in the river views. 
What is the best room on a river cruise ship?
Every cabin on a river cruise ship has a window, meaning that unlike ocean cruise ships there are no inside cabins. Cabins fall into three main categories with the entry level choice being a standard river view cabin or stateroom. These have fixed windows that let in natural light but may not offer a view. These...read more cabins are often good value for money as they offer the same level of comfort and amenities at a more competitive price. A balcony room would be the next step up with rooms offering either a dual balcony, full balcony or a French balcony. For the ultimate indulgence a suite could include extra room space, a private balcony, a separate sitting area as well as other perks such as butler service and regularly stocked mini-bar.
What is the difference between a balcony and French balcony?
A French balcony usually features a large glass sliding door which fully opens but there is a railing directly behind the glass meaning that you get all the feeling and fresh air of a balcony but you can't actually step outside. A balcony or veranda will enable you to step outside and usually have a small table...read more and two chairs. Rooms with French Balconies are bigger internally as floor space is not taken up with an outside balcony.
Will I get seasick on a river cruise?
It is highly unlikely that you will get motion sickness on a river cruise. River cruise ships are wide and stable and move slowly and because there is virtually no swell or ocean currents to contend with, the chances of feeling unwell are very low. In fact you'll often not even know the ship is moving! River cruise...read more ships always have great outdoor areas to make the most of the stunning scenery along the river banks, so getting plenty of fresh air is easy.