Our Essential Guide to River Cruising
River cruises offer a unique and immersive way of seeing the world and you'll easily find an itinerary that aligns with your hobbies and interests - whether that be historical sights, wine regions or authentic cultural experiences. You can even join a river cruise with our experts -explore delicious food markets with a top chef, or take in a musical performance from a renowned singer.
The beauty of river cruising in Europe means you can travel at any time of year - from seeing springtime blooms as you meander the Netherlands' waterways, to visiting popular Christmas markets in Germany. While long-haul destinations such as India, Vietnam and Cambodia may have seasonal departures, it's an effortless way to tick off bucket list destinations, as you gain easy access to destinations along the waterway and often visit smaller villages and towns unspoilt by tourism.
If you haven't considered a river cruise holiday before or don't know what to expect, read on as we give you all you need to know.
When embarking on a river cruise, you'll instantly notice that the ships are much smaller and more intimate than ocean liners. Most river ships can accommodate anywhere between 80 and 200 guests, and with a high staff to guest ratio on board, you can expect a high level of personalised service.
The cabins and suites on a river ship are all on the outside, offering an abundance of natural light and a scenic view as you sail. Many of these rooms will also have a balcony - either a Juliet balcony with a sliding door leading to a railing or panel, or a full balcony, complete with seating area. If you aren't blessed with a balcony, head to the ship's top deck - the sun deck - to catch the rays and lay on a sun lounger, while taking in the views. Some ships may even have a small swimming pool or whirlpool to relax in.
Entertainment on board will be fairly low key and will often tie in to the itinerary to offer more cultural immersion. On a Danube cruise, you could hear from classical musicians, while on a Mekong cruise, be treated to a martial arts or dance display. Generally, there will be live music in the evenings - from singers to pianists - a great opportunity to unwind with a drink in one of the bars or lounges as you sail to your next destination. During the day time, you could hear from experts during a seminar, tuck in to local delicacies during a food tasting, or learn about local wines with a sampling.
When booking a river cruise holiday, inclusions will vary between cruise lines. Some operate on a more inclusive basis, others, all inclusive. Generally as standard, all of your meals will be included in your fare - from a buffet breakfast, to a choice of dining options for lunch and dinner, with your evening meal usually consisting of a three-course a la carte menu. The menus on board tend to change daily, with a focus on locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients.
You may find that beverages are included - and this could range from drinks with meal times, to free-flowing drinks available throughout the day. Drinks will usually include all soft drinks, mineral water, tea and coffee, as well as beers, wines and spirits (often local, but sometimes premium).
With longer time spent in port, make the most of your destinations - especially if shore excursions are included in your fare. These can vary between walking and coach tours, to wine-tasting sessions and food demonstrations, to private concerts and unique local experiences. Some days, there may only be one excursion on offer, while other days, there could be a choice of activities to choose from. In addition to this, some river cruise lines will offer optional excursions (available at a supplement) to enhance your experience further. It's always recommended to book your shore excursions in advance, as popular ones may sell out.
You could find that the following are also included in your cruise fare: gratuities for on board staff, on board entertainment and enrichment, wi-fi on board the ship, return flights and transfers. It's always best to check with our reservations team what is included at the time of booking.
One of the most important things to remember when preparing for your cruise holiday is what to pack. Of course, this list will vary depending on your chosen destination and the time of year you depart. However, there isn't too much difference between ocean cruising and river cruising - so if you're new to river cruise, you don't need to worry too much.
One thing to bear in mind is how active you plan to be - and whether you've booked excursions that may involve a lot of walking or uneven terrains. In which case, a pair of walking boots or comfortable shoes will be a must. A light jacket (preferably waterproof) is always a good idea, as weather conditions can be unpredictable. Some river cruise lines will provide umbrellas and walking sticks for use during excursions and ashore.
On board a river cruise ship, there generally isn't a dress code - so you don't need to worry about your formal outfits for the evenings, as there are no strict formal nights or special events which require you to wear a tuxedo or ball gown. However, smart-casual attire is preferred for evening meals, and some shore excursions may require you to be slightly smarter.
River Cruise packing list
- Weather/destination appropriate clothing
- Smart-casual outfits and shoes (for the evenings)
- Light (waterproof) jacket
- Walking boots or comfortable shoes
- Passport and travel documents
- Toiletries and any necessary medication
- Phone chargers, portable battery packs and plug socket adapters
- Books or tablets
- Small bag (for shore excursions) and a refillable water bottle
- Sun protection (for the warmer months)
If you're a river cruise first-timer, we'd recommend a Danube river cruise. The river winds through 10 countries, and it's a great one for ticking capital cities off your bucket list - if that's your thing. Itineraries tend to operate between the middle stretch of the Danube, from Passau (Germany) to Budapest (Hungary) and in reverse. Explore picturesque countryside, remote abbeys and diverse architecture - as well as links to The Sound of Music.
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- Cruise the Danube and see Europe's artistic delights
- Cruise the River Danube in search of cultural highlights
Depart on a round-trip from Porto, when you cruise the Douro - and if you're lucky, cross the border into Spain to visit historic cities like Salamanca. As you cruise through the beautiful Douro valley, renowned for its terraced vineyards, call at picturesque towns, traditional quintas and be sure to sample the famous fortified wine from the region, as well as learn about country's winemaking traditions.
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- Magic of the Douro: Wine River Cruise
- Cruise the River Douro and spend the day in Salamanca
- Cruise the Douro River and explore the city of Porto
Discover one of France's prettiest regions when you cruise from Bordeaux along the Garonne, Gironde and Dordogne rivers. Foodies and appreciators of fine wine will enjoy visiting the Médoc region, known for its rolling vineyards and impressive chateaux. Away from this, a river cruise in southwestern France also takes you to pretty medieval towns and villages, as well as through stunning scenery.
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- Sail Bordeaux and tour the Médoc vineyards
- Taste the flavours of Bordeaux and the Médoc with Tom Kitchin
Venice is a popular city, but did you know you could cruise the Po Delta and visit the outer-lying islands of the Venetian lagoon by river ship? Larger ocean liners have been banned from docking in Venice, so feel like a VIP as you sail into the heart of its waterways and discover treasures such as Burano, characterised by its brightly-coloured buildings, Murano, famed for its glass, and Torcello. You'll also have time to explore famous Venetian landmarks such as the Doge's Palace.
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The Rhine is Europe's second-longest river (after the Danube), flowing through or on the border of six countries. Taking you to the heart of Europe, a Rhine river cruise is perfect for romanticists - offering a fairytale experience of jagged cliffsides, enchanting castles, lush forests and ancient towns replete with cobbled streets. You can cruise the whole stretch from Amsterdam to Basel, but shorter options take you on a round-trip from Cologne, with some itineraries cruising back and forth between Cologne and Basel.
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Cruising the Mekong river is a fantastic way of gaining insight into local communities, cultures and traditions. Itineraries go between Siem Reap (Cambodia) and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon, Vietnam), along the Mekong delta. Explore ancient temples, sleepy fishing villages, historical sights, bustling cities and vibrant markets - all in one cruise holiday. You can even expect excursions to iconic locations including the Cu Chu Tunnels and Angkor Wat. Your cruise itinerary is also likely to be supplemented with extended hotel stays in your start and end location, giving you more time to discover the sights.
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Similarly, if its culture and tradition you're after, a journey along the sacred Ganges should be high on your river cruise agenda. Most itineraries will focus on the lower Ganges, on a roundtrip from Kolkata, taking you to Murshidabad in Bengal - however, it is possible to combine a Ganges river cruise with a journey along the Brahmaputra River too. Either way, expect to see diverse landscapes, colonial-era architecture, temples and get a glimpse of local life along the shores. Your itinerary will be extended with pre- and post-cruise hotel stays - with escorted tours included.
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Now you've learned all you need to know about river cruising, how do you know if it's for you? It's worth noting that river cruises and ocean cruises offer very distinct and different travel experiences, so it all depends what you are looking for from your holiday.
River cruise
- Smaller, more intimate ships
- No inside cabins (all outside or balcony)
- Cruise to the heart of your destination
- Relaxed atmosphere, with a focus on cultural immersion
- Slower paced, with more time in port and cruising overnight
Ocean Cruise
- Larger ships with more to do on board
- More cabin categories to choose from
- May require a tender or transfer to reach your destination
- Livelier atmosphere, with more entertainment options and wider range of activities
- Faster paced, with more time at sea/travelling between ports
