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River Cruises

Choose from 898 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

Top Selling River Cruises View all

Featured

15 Days Amsterdam to Budapest

Operator: Emerald Cruises

From 6,282
Save 3,082

15 Days Amsterdam to Budapest

Operator: Travelmarvel

From 4,960
Save 3,045

15 Days Amsterdam to Budapest

Operator: APT

From 7,930
Save 2,785

15 Days Budapest to Amsterdam

Operator: APT

From 7,865
Save 2,785

Latest River Cruise Deals View all

Scenic Europe River Cruise 2025 - offers
Scenic Europe River Cruise 2025 - offers

Enjoy incredible offers when you book a Scenic Europe River Cruise for 2025. Free Flights PLUS save $800pp on select cruises, Business Class Flight Credit, Reduced Single Supplements & more! Strictly limited, conditions apply.

Uniworld 2025 early Booking Savings
Uniworld 2025 early Booking Savings

Plan your luxury Uniworld river cruise for 2025 and save 10% off sailings in Europe, Egypt, India, Asia & South America.

APT Launches Murray River Cruise
APT Launches Murray River Cruise

Explore the iconic waterways of Australia's Murray River aboard APT's brand new paddlesteamer, the PS Australian Star. Save up to $1,000 per couple.

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

Avalon
One of our favourite sayings that describes Avalon Waterways is ‘the possibilities are as wide open as the views’. From Europe to the Galapagos and Asia,...more you can cruise in relaxed luxury with Avalon Waterways, with choices as unique as you. Avalon offers you a range of choices from excursions, dining options, activities that help you tailor your experience. Just imagine gliding away down the world’s most spectacular rivers, all while enjoying a unique vantage point from your own private oasis. Our floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in our suites blur the line between where the world ends, and your suite begins; allowing you to experience the world less seen from the comfort of your bed. This is river cruising from a unique point of view.
Rivers1,207
Budget:Premium
Known For:Panorama Suites
Fleet Size:16
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.
Rivers1,357
Budget:Premium
Known For:Affordable Luxury
Fleet Size:9
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.
Rivers1,508
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

Slowly down the Mekong     , NSW, Australia, Feb 2024
Wonderful experience on the Emerald Harmony . Lovely crew and delicious food on board, plenty to do or as little as you want. Highlight was experiencing Siem Reap and Angkor, much changed after 20 years since last here, as was Phnom Penh and Bustling Saigon, made more colourful by being there in Chinese NY and TET.
Beautful boat, food and staff on the Mekong Rivercruise   , NSW, Australia, Jan 2024
The cabin on the lower deck was absolutely fine and on the same level as the dining room so easy access for all meals. Relaxing on the sundeck as the boat cruised along was amazing. The itinerary was quite busy and we enjoyed meeting other travellers to share travel stories. We hired a tuk tuk at the end of the tour to see more temples independently ...read more which was super easy, safe and enjoyable.
Perfect way to see Europe   , QLD, Australia, Dec 2023
Two weeks aboard Viking River Ships is the most relaxing way to explore a beautiful part of Europe. To wake up in the morning and look out the floor to ceiling window and see the stunning river and scenery go past is magical. Viking made everything so seamless (including a ship swap due to flooding rivers). The staff were incredible and the ship was ...read more so comfortable and beautifully decorated for Christmas. Each town and city offered something different and we had plenty of free time in each place. A truly perfect way to travel.
Advent on the Rhine   , VIC, Australia, Dec 2023
We would have to say that we could NOT fault the ship Amados Riva. The standard of the food in the restaurant and the buffet was of high standard and quality like a 5 star venue. The rooms were beautiful and the ship was new and made you feel special. The Staff was very friendly and extremely helpful, in all we would not hesitate to recommend this ...read more company to travel with, and we would be happy to book our next cruise again with them, and booking with Global Journeys also made it smooth. They always replied to emails promptly and they were easy to keep in contact with. A Happy Traveler!

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

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...

A Holiday Experience Like No Other

18 December, 2023

A Holiday Experience Like No Other

Surely the most scenic way to explore a country is by river cruise, journeying peacefully through picturesque countryside, admiring the beauty of the surrounding area and watching the world float by. Whether passing by pretty villages, enchanting castles and vineyards perched on nearby cliffs...

Cruising the Moselle with Avalon

18 December, 2023

Cruising the Moselle with Avalon

As intoxicating as the grapes that grow along its path, Europe’s beautiful Moselle River takes travellers deep into some of the continent’s most memorable rural landscapes. Branching out from the famous waters of the Rhine in Germany, the Moselle flows for more than 500 kilometres through the...

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.