TOP REASONS TO GO ON A RIVER CRUISE
Embarking on a
river cruise experience opens up a world of possibilities as you navigate through rivers spanning Europe, Asia, America, and Africa aboard floating hotels.
- This unique mode of travel allows you to leisurely glide along picturesque waterways, meandering through charming villages and delving right into the vibrant heart of bustling cities – all while enjoying the convenience of unpacking just once for the entire journey.
- Dive into the rich culture and history of each destination, immersing yourself in a truly immersive experience that goes beyond traditional travel norms.
- Discover the top river cruise lines that offer unparalleled service and amenities, ensuring a memorable and luxurious voyage that will leave you with unforgettable memories. Explore our top reasons why embarking on a river cruise may just be the perfect travel experience for you.
As a relaxed, elegant, and sophisticated way to explore the inland waterways, canals, and rivers of beautiful countries at a leisurely pace, river cruising has captured the hearts of travellers seeking a peaceful and luxurious experience. From the picturesque scenery unfolding outside your window to the chic accommodation, high-quality amenities, and exquisite cuisine onboard, the appeal of river cruises continues to grow steadily year after year.
With each voyage offering a unique blend of relaxation, adventure, and cultural immersion, it's no wonder that more and more people are choosing this enchanting mode of travel to create unforgettable memories and see the world in style. Read our
first timers guide to river cruising.
Top Reasons to Choose a River Cruise
Unpack Once
Experience the ultimate in hassle‑free travel by choosing a river cruise where you can unpack once
and travel in comfort. Say farewell to the repetitive cycle of packing and unpacking that plagues traditional land tours. Instead, your floating hotel moves seamlessly with you.
All‑Inclusive Pricing
With an all‑inclusive river cruise, most expenses are covered upfront—meals, drinks, Wi‑Fi included, plus shore excursions included
at every port. Enjoy complete peace of mind, knowing there are no surprise charges, and benefit from exceptional value.
Intimate & Personalised Service
Sailing aboard smaller ships
ensures an intimate atmosphere
with first‑class service. With fewer guests onboard and a high staff‑to‑guest ratio, you’ll enjoy truly personal service, with crew learning your preferences and greeting you by name.
Shore Excursions & Cultural Immersion
River ships often dock in the heart of town, granting direct access to cultural treasures and authentic experiences. With shore excursions included, you’ll dive into guided tours, local cuisine, and local life—whether it’s wandering medieval streets or sampling regional specialities.
Smooth Sailing
Worried about seasickness? Rivers offer smooth sailing
on calm, sheltered water. The gentle voyage ensures a relaxed experience without rough seas—perfect for those seeking a serene cruise.
Exceptional Cuisine
Enjoy outstanding food
focused on locally sourced ingredients
and regional specialities prepared by top-tier chefs. From Austrian schnitzel to French coq au vin, each dish offers a taste of the destination, all served in refined onboard settings.
No Lines or Crowds
River cruising eliminates queues and congestion. With no lines or crowds, embarkation and disembarkation are swift and hassle‑free, and you'll enjoy priority access to many top attractions.
Scenic Cruising
Delight in scenic cruising
throughout your journey. From stateroom windows or panoramic lounges, witness ever‑changing landscapes—terraced vineyards, iconic landmarks, charming villages—unfolding like a living postcard.
Variety of Itineraries
Whether you're looking for a short getaway or an extended voyage, there’s a variety of itineraries
available. With flexible itineraries
spanning rivers like the Danube, Douro, Mekong, and Mississippi, there's something to fit every passion and schedule.
An introduction to River Cruise video
Who goes on a river cruise?
With the intimate settings offered on river boats and the top river cruise lines, river cruises are perfect for couples, individuals, multi-generational families, and groups of friends – and ideal for solo travellers too.
River cruising forges a bridge between ocean cruising and touring or city breakers, incorporating the comforts, style and service that have been the hallmarks of an ocean cruise, with the immersive land experiences enjoyed on touring holidays, whilst city breakers have the opportunity to ‘hop’ between cities from the comfort and convenience of a floating hotel.
It has been said that ocean cruising takes you to countries, while river cruising takes you
through countries, right into the heart of communities, and under the skin of destinations, a top reason to go on a river cruise on one of the top river cruise lines.
Discover something new on the rivers
There has never been a better time to take your first river cruise than now, with some truly fantastic and diverse offerings available from more and more river cruise lines.
Even if you’re an experienced river cruiser, you can still discover something new on the rivers, with increasingly intriguing and exciting itineraries, new onboard programmes or themes – from wellness programmes, or more nuanced excursions to highlight historic or cultural interests.
Maybe you might even like to try a more exotic river, once you’ve fallen in love with river cruising!
Highlights of a Douro River cruise
More River Cruise Advantages
- On European rivers, you’ll probably find an average of 150 guests onboard, while river cruising further afield may very well have much smaller numbers, making for an intimate experience, creating excellent opportunities to get to know like-minded fellow travellers.
- Solo travellers find river cruising particularly ideal with the sociable ambience, and some river cruises waive solo supplements on select sailings.
- Everything on a river cruise seems seamlessly compact; it’s a quick hop ashore into the heart of a riverside city or village, and the public spaces onboard are also conveniently close to your comfortable stateroom or suite.
- Enjoy a more informal atmosphere onboard, particularly with dining. Breakfast and lunch are typically served buffet-style, and while dinner may be a four/five-course a la carte affair, meals are open dining, and smart casual is the order of the day. River cruises also tend to feature regional specialties and local beverages from the destinations visited, and many are able to offer at least a couple of dining venues.
- Guided sightseeing is offered as a matter of course, and a river cruise which doesn’t offer included excursions is the exception, rather than the rule. For those discerning travellers who enjoy getting to the heart of a destination and learning or experiencing more, river cruises are ideal for this reason. If you have any particular special interests, chances are there’s a river cruise to cater to you, with a range of themed cruises available, including wine or beer tasting, focusing on regional arts, history and culture, special cycling or wellness programmes, and guest speakers onboard.
What Are the Cabins Like on a River Cruise?
One of the most common questions people ask is: what are the cabins like on a river cruise?
While river ships are smaller than ocean liners, they still offer a surprising amount of comfort, style, and thoughtful design. Most cabins are elegantly appointed and packed with smart features to make the most of the space, delivering a boutique hotel experience on the water.
Whether you're booking your first river cruise or you're a seasoned traveller comparing cruise lines, understanding what to expect from your accommodation can help you choose the right cruise for you.
Key Features of River Cruise Cabins
- Riverview guaranteed:
All cabins are outward-facing with large picture windows or French balconies, offering stunning river views.
- Compact luxury:
Expect stylish, space-efficient design with high-end finishes, ambient lighting, and clever storage solutions.
- Modern amenities:
Cabins typically include flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, luxury toiletries, and individual climate control.
- Quiet comfort:
River cruise ships dock overnight and sail during the day, so you can enjoy a restful night without engine noise or rocking seas.
- Suite options:
Many ships offer upgraded cabins or suites with larger balconies, separate seating areas, or added perks like butler service.
River cruise accommodation offers an ideal blend of comfort, convenience, and incredible views. Whether you're sailing the Danube, Rhine, Mekong or Nile, your stateroom is a serene retreat after a day of sightseeing. It's just one more reason why river cruising is such a popular choice for discerning travellers.
Emerald Sun River Cruise Accommodation Tour
Why choose Select Travel Holidays for your river cruise?
At Select Travel Holidays, cruise will always be an integral part of our identity and heritage, along with our leading principles of providing customer service that is second to none. Our knowledgeable team know exactly how to find both the right river and the right river cruise line for you.
We’ve cruised on a variety of different rivers, from the popular Rhine, Danube and Dutch Waterways, to the more exotic Brahmaputra, Mekong, Nile and Irrawaddy, and have cruised on, or visited, an even wider variety of river ships from different river cruise lines, so you can make the most of our first-hand knowledge.
Top River Cruise Destinations
Many people will select their first river cruise by the river they want to sail on. Typically, first-timers will choose the Rhine or the Danube for their first river cruise, and there are plenty of
river cruise destinations to choose from.
Below is a list of rivers where we can offer river cruises. Please click on each one for more information, or simply
contact us, and we can talk you through it and help you make the best decision based on what you are looking for.
Top River Cruise Lines
Just like ocean cruise lines, there are many river cruise lines all offering something different, whether that's fully all-inclusive with tips, drinks, and tours, to river lines where you buy your tours and drink as you go.
It's up to you, and we are here to find the best river cruise line to fit you, your budget, and what your expectations are. Browse all our partner
river cruise lines, view the links below or
contact us to help guide you!
Emerald Radiance River Ship Tour
Related River Cruise Articles
Top 10 River Cruise FAQ
1. What Is a River Cruise?
A river cruise is a type of holiday where you travel along inland waterways such as the Danube, Rhine, or Mekong aboard a smaller, more intimate ship. These cruises are known for their scenic routes, cultural shore excursions, and all-inclusive value.
2. What’s Included in a River Cruise?
Most river cruises are all-inclusive or semi-inclusive. Typically, your fare includes:
- Accommodation in a riverview stateroom
- All meals onboard, often with local cuisine
- Daily shore excursions with expert guides
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Tea, coffee, and soft drinks (some lines include beer and wine)
3. Do River Cruise Ships Have Balconies?
Yes, many river cruise ships feature French balconies or full step-out balconies, especially in higher-grade cabins or suites. Even standard cabins often have panoramic windows with excellent views.
4. What Is the Best Time of Year for a River Cruise?
The best time depends on your destination. For Europe, late spring to early autumn (April–October) is most popular. Christmas market cruises are best from late November to mid-December. For Asia or Africa, travel is often best in the dry seasons.
5. Will I Get Seasick on a River Cruise?
Unlikely. River cruises sail on calm inland waterways with little to no motion, so seasickness is extremely rare.
6. What Are the Cabins Like on a River Cruise?
River cruise cabins are compact yet luxurious, typically featuring outward-facing windows or balconies, en-suite bathrooms, and premium amenities. See the section above for more detail.
7. Are River Cruises Suitable for Solo Travellers?
Yes! Some cruise lines offer single cabins or reduced solo supplements. With small groups, open-seating dining, and included excursions, river cruises offer a sociable and secure environment for solo travellers.
8. Can I Bring Children on a River Cruise?
River cruising is generally geared toward adults, but some cruise lines (like A-ROSA and Tauck Bridges) do welcome families and offer child-friendly sailings. Most lines, however, are better suited for adults or older teens.
9. What Should I Wear on a River Cruise?
Daywear is casual and comfortable for excursions. Evenings tend to be smart-casual — think dresses, chinos, or nice tops. No formalwear required unless you're on a particularly luxurious sailing.
10. Which River Cruise Line Is Right for Me?
It depends on your travel style and budget. For luxury, consider Uniworld or Scenic. For active travellers, Avalon and AmaWaterways offer hiking and biking excursions. Emerald and Riviera offer excellent value. Speak to our experts to find your perfect match.
Speak to Our River Cruise Experts
Ready to find your perfect river cruise? Whether you’re looking for luxury, value, adventure or relaxation, our award-winning team is here to help.
Let us take the stress out of planning – so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy smooth sailing from the very start.
