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River Cruises

Choose from 895 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.

World's Leading River Cruise Lines View All

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Featured

15 Days Amsterdam to Budapest

Operator: Tauck

From 11,140

15 Days Amsterdam to Budapest

Operator: Travelmarvel

From 4,465
Save 2,852

15 Days Amsterdam to Budapest

Operator: APT

From 8,128
Save 597

15 Days Budapest to Amsterdam

Operator: APT

From 7,435
Save 2,063

All River Cruises View all

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

Featured River Cruise Companies 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.
Rivers1,446
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.
Rivers391
Budget:Premium & Luxury
Known For:Aussie Specialist
Fleet Size:10
Travelmarvel
Make the most of Europe’s waterways on Travelmarvel’s three new European river ships: Polaris, Capella and Vega. Combining state-of-the-art design with...more more dining options and social spaces, the contemporary-class ships will offer a relaxed new standard of cruise. Or perhaps a river cruise on the life-giving Ganges or Mekong to get to the heart of these colourful and spiritual nations. Experience life in their small villages, whose communities have much to teach us about their local culture and customs.
Rivers471
Budget:Premium
Known For:Contemporary Cruises
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

8 DAY CHATEAUX, RIVERS & WINE     , VIC, Australia, Nov 2023
Our Viking river cruise far exceeded our expectations. The crew provided exceptional service, the food was sensational the tour guides were professional, fun & informative, and the comfortable cabins were spacious and cleaned regularly. We will only book with Viking for future cruises and definitely recommend them to our friends. We also wanted to ...read more thank Georgie from Global Journeys for her great communication and help with our Viking holiday including organising our flights to ensure we have a seamless experience.😊
Luxurious all-inclusive river cruise.   , Auckland, New Zealand, Nov 2023
From the moment we embarked on our scenic river adventure, it was evident that Scenic was committed to providing a level of luxury and enrichment that surpassed our expectations. The highlight of our trip was the private concert at Richitenstein Palace - the intimate performance In the opulent Palace setting was a prestigious event and was the epitome ...read more of the Scenic experience.

What stood out to us was the genuine commitment of the Scenic team to go above and beyond for their guests. Cathy, our cruise director was the most cheerful person I’ve ever met. She was full of positive energy which made us feel energized too. The bar staff, all of them were working hard. Ali and Luka were constantly offering drinks to guests. The restaurant staff, the housekeeping staff, the hotel manager, all of them were committed and made a very good team between themselves.

One of the standout features of the Scenic River Cruise was the comprehensive all-inclusive package, from meal to excursion, all day drink onboard to gratuity, everything was included and this made our vacation worry-free experience. In conclusion, we really enjoyed our river cruise. We are grateful for the memories created and can't wait to embark on another adventure with Scenic in the future. We booked our cruise through Georgie of Global Journeys. The booking process went on seamlessly and Georgie is a wonderful agent to deal with.
Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & The Mekong   , QLD, Australia, Nov 2023
Firstly I would like to thank Tracey, my travel consultant at Global Journeys, for all the help she gave to me in booking and processing this tour. This Emerald Cruises tour was the best trip I have been on for a long time. From day 1 arriving in Ho Chi Minh City to the end in Siem Reap the Tour Directors and their support staff along with the staff ...read more and crew on the Emerald Harmony were absolute professionals and the service provided by all was excellent.

The Emerald Harmony was a beautiful and comfortable ship and the food provided was beyond amazing, a great chef and his staff provided some of the most enjoyable meals I have experienced. The tours were short but interesting, taking into account the humidity still rather high in November. I had an amazing look into Vietnamese and Cambodian life and culture. The hotels in Ho chi Ming City and Siem Reap were excellent and very comfortable. I applaud Emerald for the support they give to various organisations, the dancing troupe, Satcha Cambodian handicrafts etc. I am highly recommending Emerald cruises and this tour and hopefully will be able to return to Vietnam and Cambodia in the future.
Enjoyable Bordeaux Cruise   , SA, Australia, Oct 2023
We didn't get off to a good start as the included transfer to the ship was 40 minutes late to meet us at Bordeaux airport but things improved from there. Overall the cruise was very good and well organized. The ship is in good condition and the cabin was well appointed, comfortable and very well serviced. The cabin size however is on the small side ...read more compared to other river cruise companies we have cruised with but we knew that when we booked and we know that you don't spend a lot of time in the cabin other than sleeping. The bathroom however was tight.

The food and service was very good and drinks were free flowing. The included excursions were all very good and the guides for the excursions were excellent. The passenger mix was about 50% Americans with the balance comprising Australians, British and Malaysians. We did enjoy the cruise but for a cruise longer than 8 days we would choose a river cruise company with larger cabins.

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

Burgundy & Provence by River

13 November, 2023

Burgundy & Provence by River

Journey through Burgundy and Provence on a scenic river cruise along the Saône and Rhône rivers. This extraordinary journey is filled with remarkable food, world-class wines, and a deep dive into history. Discover the highlights of this remarkable region and explore your next river cruise...

Bordeaux's Waterways & Wine

07 November, 2023

Bordeaux's Waterways & Wine

Nestled in the southwest of France, lies Bordeaux - a region renowned for its gastronomic prowess and world-class wines. Be treated to breathtaking views of lush vineyards, historic châteaux, and charming villages that dot the landscape. With a unique blend of natural beauty and culinary...

Sailing Along the Seine

07 November, 2023

Sailing Along the Seine

Embarking on a river cruise along the Seine is the perfect way to explore the heart of Paris and the northwest region of France. Offering travellers a unique and unforgettable journey, you’ll cruise through the Parisian cityscape to a backdrop of iconic landmarks. Further up river you'll...

Explore Europe's Historic Rivers with Viking

21 February, 2020

Explore Europe's Historic Rivers with Viking

Viking is a highly awarded river cruise line — and with good reason. Boasting an impressive fleet of state-of-the-art river vessels, they offer an incredible range of scenic voyages along the waterways of Central Europe, Portugal and Russia, with bespoke itineraries designed to immerse you in...

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.