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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

Top Selling River Cruises View all

15 Days Amsterdam to Budapest

Operator: Travelmarvel

From 4,465
Save 3,045

15 Days Budapest to Amsterdam

Operator: Travelmarvel

From 4,465
Save 3,545

15 Days Amsterdam to Budapest

Operator: APT

From 7,930
Save 1,785

15 Days Budapest to Amsterdam

Operator: APT

From 7,930
Save 1,785

Latest River Cruise Deals View all

APT Europe 2025 Out Now
APT Europe 2025 Out Now

Discover an unrivalled level of luxury aboard APT’s two new-generation river ships, APT Solara & APT Ostara, with flights included and incredible savings on Europe 2025 itineraries*

Discover More Sale - Viking River Cruise
Discover More Sale - Viking River Cruise

Journey along the rivers of the world & Discover More on a Viking River Cruise Journey from 2024-2026. Save up to $4,600 per couple and experience the extraordinary with Viking.

Uniworld 2025 Double the Savings
Uniworld 2025 Double the Savings

Book a boutique river cruise with Uniworld for 2025 and save $500pp on 8-day itineraries or $1,000pp on longer itineraries. PLUS save a further 10% if you book and pay in full.

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.
Rivers1,134
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.
Rivers1,318
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.
Rivers565
Budget:Premium & Luxury
Known For:Aussie Specialist
Fleet Size:10

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   , WA, Australia, May 2024
We had an amazing trip on Travelmarvel Vega from Amsterdam to Budapest. Such a relaxing holiday with first class service at all times from all the incredible staff on board and tour guides on land. Thank you all so much.
Danube river cruise with Avalon     , New Zealand, May 2024
We did have an unfortunate start to our holiday. When we arrived at Auckland Airport & attempted to check in at Qatar airlines we were told our Travel Agent had cancelled our booking, after a two hour wait trying to sort this out & not being able to get hold of Global Journeys because it was a Sunday we eventually had to purchase two more tickets to ...read more Prague. We have been fully reimbursed by Global Journeys & thank them & Maisie for their quick response. We are still awaiting a full explanation as to why this happened.

The Avalon cruise from Prague to Budapest was fantastic & lived up to our expectations as we had previously cruised on the Rhine with Avalon & were well aware of their very high standards. The excursions available were varied & appeared to suit all passengers. The meals were as expected excellent & the activities & onboard entertainment were very well received by all. Our cruise director Daniela did an amazing job of organising the daily activities & keeping all passengers up to date with up & coming events. We meet some lovely people on board & shared many meal times & a few beers & wines with them.
Emerald European River Cruise   , NSW, Australia, May 2024
Have just returned from an European river cruise Amsterdam to Budapest with Emerald booked with Hannah. Communication was fast and efficient. Flights, transfers, hotel accommodation and cruise all ran smoothly. The cruise itself was amazing! We will definitely book our next holiday will Global Journeys…..thank you.
Amsterdam to Budapest 5th May 2024   , NSW, Australia, May 2024
It was the most wonderful, well organised trip. The luxury on the Avalon Passion was beyond our expectations.. the staff were all welcoming and helpful.. and the food always reflected the region you were passing through. The excursions gave you many options or you could just choose to relax with a coffee, hot chocolate, on board.

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.