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River Cruises

Choose from 1,153 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 18,300 River Cruises

World's Leading River Cruise Lines View All

Top Selling River Cruises View all

10 Days Nuremberg to Budapest

Operator: Scenic

From 5,610
Save 1,050

15 Days Amsterdam to Budapest

Operator: Travelmarvel

From 4,960
Save 3,345

15 Days Budapest to Amsterdam

Operator: Travelmarvel

From 4,960
Save 3,543

15 Days Amsterdam to Budapest

Operator: APT

From 8,425
Save 1,480

Latest River Cruise Deals View all

BLACK FRIDAY OFFERS
BLACK FRIDAY OFFERS

BONUS pre or post hotel night on select itineraries, plus receive $2,500pp air credit toward Economy Class flights.

BLACK FRIDAY WORLDWIDE SALE
BLACK FRIDAY WORLDWIDE SALE

Take a further $1,000 off per couple on any APT trip of 8 days or more departing in 2025. Offer ends 03 Dec 2024.

BLACK FRIDAY SALE
BLACK FRIDAY SALE

Take a further $600 off per couple on Travelmarvel worldwide trips 7 days or more, departing in 2025. Offer ends 03 Dec 2024.

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

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.
Rivers1,883
Budget:Premium & Luxury
Known For:Luxury Cruising
Fleet Size:14
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.
Rivers524
Budget:Premium & Luxury
Known For:Aussie Specialist
Fleet Size:10
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.
Rivers1,617
Budget:Premium
Known For:Affordable Luxury
Fleet Size:9

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

European Gems - Budapest to Amsterdam   , QLD, Australia, Oct 2024
An enjoyable river cruise with everything run well except for how the problems with the boat propella were mismanaged . This ongoing problem impacted on the mid cruise stops in particular we missed seeing Numerburg a high value tour and we sailed almost all the Rhine Valley in darkness.
Wow, so good!   , VIC, Australia, Oct 2024
As a solo traveller and first time cruiser, I had my hesitations about a 14 day cruise. But it was wonderful in every respect - my room, the ship, the extraordinary Tour Director, the friendly staff and the company of interesting and friendly travel companions. It was a joy.
All inclusive holiday   , Auckland, New Zealand, Oct 2024
From the first day the river cruise was first class. Everything was taken care of and the cost of all meals, drinks and excursions etc were included. The staff were all polite and nothing was too much trouble for them including room service if you didn’t want to go to the lounge or dining room. The meals were extensive with multiple choices and all ...read more were delicious. I couldn’t fault Scenic for the accomodation, food or service. As a solo traveller I did find the lounge/dining room difficult at times as these cruises are obviously designed for couples or groups of friends and I probably spent more time in my cabin than I had planned. It would have been more enjoyable if there was a smaller quieter lounge and dining area rather than one large one of each but I do appreciate that with the size of the ship the options are limited. The excursions were all well planned and catered to the needs of different interests and fitness levels. Overall the trip was very enjoyable.
Egyptian antiquities   , NSW, Australia, Oct 2024
This tour is a great way to see the wonders of ancient Egypt. The Valley of the Kings excursion was a highlight for us, plus the (optional but worth the $$$) trip to Abu SImbel. Cairo and its traffic are chaotic but the Marriott was an excellent respite. Internal flights were OK, but the security setup at airports can be challenging so make sure you ...read more allow lots of time before departure. Georgie and GJ were very helpful prior to our journey.

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.