River cruise lines’ year-ender offerings have been a hit among cruise enthusiasts and travellers seeking intimate voyages that offer a unique blend of luxury, culture, and celebration.
From the romantic waterways of Europe to the exotic Mekong of Southeast Asia, discerning travellers are increasingly turning to river cruises as the ideal choice for a memorable year-end getaway.
Europe, with its vibrant history and awe-inspiring landscapes, remains a top destination for river cruises. The continent’s iconic rivers offer a picturesque backdrop for holiday celebrations that combine festive cheer with cultural immersion, allowing Aussie travellers to experience the holiday traditions of multiple countries in a single journey.
On the other hand, for those seeking a more adventurous end to the year, the mighty Mekong River in Southeast Asia presents an exciting alternative. Cruising through Vietnam and Cambodia, passengers are treated to a fascinating blend of ancient temples, bustling markets, and stunning landscapes. Moreover, the warm climate of the region provides a welcome escape from the Australian summer, while the unique cultural experiences offer fresher perspectives.
Here’s Cruise Passenger’s top 10 year-ender river cruises for 2024, highlighting the best options for Australian travellers looking to close out their year in style on the world’s most beautiful waterways.
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15-day Splendours of Europe with Emerald Cruises
Emerald Cruises lines up a range of European itineraries for 2024. Its 15-day Splendours of Europe year-ender sailing also serves as the line’s best-value offering at AU$ 5,325 per person from a full fare of AU$7,825. This gives guests a total of AU$2,500 savings per person. This Amsterdam to Budapest river cruise is scheduled on November 3 and is set to visit the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
Itineraries
| DAY | DESTINATION | DAY | DESTINATION |
| Day 1 | Amsterdam | Day 9 | Regensburg |
| Day 2 | Amsterdam | Day 10 | Passau |
| Day 3 | Cologne | Day 11 | Melk – Dürnstein |
| Day 4 | Rüdesheim | Day 12 | Vienna |
| Day 5 | Miltenberg – Wertheim | Day 13 | Bratislava |
| Day 6 | Würzburg | Day 14 | Budapest |
| Day 7 | Bamberg | Day 15 | Budapest |
| Day 8 | Nuremberg |
8-day Holiday Magic: Danube Family River Cruise with Tauck
Tauck is offering one for the books year-ender cruise via an 8-day Holiday Magic: Danube Family River Cruise. This exciting pre-Christmas river cruise journey on the storied Danube is offered at AUD 6770 (4490 USD) and is scheduled on December 20 via MS Savor.
Itineraries
| DAY | DESTINATION | DAY | DESTINATION |
| Day 1 | Vienna | Day 5 | The Wachau Valley – Dürnstein & Melk or Krems |
| Day 2 | Budapest | Day 6 | Oberndorf and Salzburg |
| Day 3 | Bratislava | Day 7 | Passau |
| Day 4 | Vienna | Day 8 | Passau |
8-day Secrets of the Douro with Emerald Cruises
For travellers wanting to cruise through Portugal’s stunning and sun-drenched vineyards, charming villages, and awe-inspiring landscapes, an 8-day Secrets of the Douro year-end cruise by Emerald Cruises is truly one for the books. Scheduled on November 23, this Porto-embarked roundtrip voyage is offered at AU$4,945 per guest from AU$5,745 per person. Each guest gets to have a savings of AU$800.
Itineraries
| DAY | DESTINATION | DAY | DESTINATION |
| Day 1 | Porto | Day 5 | Pocinho – Regua |
| Day 2 | Porto – Pinhao | Day 6 | Regua |
| Day 3 | Pinhao – Vega de Terron | Day 7 | Porto |
| Day 4 | Vega de Terron – Salamanca | Day 8 | Porto |
13-day Wonders of Cambodia, Vietnam & the Mekong with Emerald Cruises
For cruise enthusiasts seeking to explore the mighty and enchanting Mekong River, Emerald Cruises has lined up a 13-day Wonders of Cambodia, Vietnam & the Mekong year-ender cruise scheduled on December 4. In addition, this pre-Christmas sailing is offered at AU$5,995 per person via its Suoer Earlybird promo from a full fare rate of AU$7,495. This allows guests to enjoy AU$1,500 savings per person.
Itineraries
| DAY | DESTINATION | DAY | DESTINATION |
| Day 1 | Siem Reap | Day 8 | Gieng Island – My An Hung |
| Day 2 | Siem Reap | Day 9 | Sa Dec – Cai Be |
| Day 3 | Siem Reap | Day 10 | My Tho – Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 4 | Siem Reap – Koh Khsach Krao | Day 11 | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 5 | Oudong – Phnom Penh | Day 12 | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 6 | Phnom Penh | Day 13 | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 7 | Border crossing – Tan Chau – An Long |
12-day Cities of Light with Viking
Viking highlights a well-crafted river cruise itinerary that explores the stunning landscapes, quaint villages and the castle-accentuated Europe’s storied rivers: The Main, Rhine, and Moselle. This cruise is Viking’s 12-day Cities of Light scheduled on November 20. Additionally, this European river adventure is offered at AU$5,395 from AU$6,395 which gives every guest a total savings of AU$1000. Moreover, this Paris to Prague cruise via Viking Alsvin features 10 guided tours in three countries.
Itineraries
| DAY | DESTINATION | DAY | DESTINATION |
| Day 1 | Paris, France | Day 7 | Heidelberg, Germany |
| Day 2 | Paris, France | Day 8 | Würzburg, Germany |
| Day 3 | Reims, France | Day 9 | Scenic Sailing: Main River, Spessart |
| Day 4 | Trier, Germany | Day 10 | Nuremberg, Germany |
| Day 5 | Cochem, Germany | Day 11 | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Day 6 | Koblenz, Germany | Day 12 | Prague, Czech Republic |
8-day Danube Dreams with Avalon Waterways
For river cruise enthusiasts wanting to explore the storied Danube through Central Europe’s stunning capitals, Avalon Waterways highlights an 8-day Danube Dreams scheduled on November 4. This year-ender sailing is offered at a best-value fare rate of AU$3,864 from AU$5,614 per person which gives guests a total of AU$1,750 savings per guest. Moreover, this Budapest to Vilshofen river cruise is set to visit four countries namely: Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany.
Itineraries
| DAY | DESTINATION | DAY | DESTINATION |
| Day 1 | Budapest | Day 5 | Durnstein-Wachau Valley |
| Day 2 | Budapest | Day 6 | Linz |
| Day 3 | Bratislava | Day 7 | Schlogen-Oxbow-Passau |
| Day 4 | Vienna | Day 8 | Vilshofen |
8-day European Holiday Markets with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
A year-ender cruise is perfect for river cruisers who wish to experience some of the most famous and charming holiday markets in Central Europe. Consequently, Uniworld offers a pre-Christmas voyage via an 8-day European Holiday Markets scheduled on December 16. This Nuremberg to Vienna sailing is offered at a best-value rate of AU$5698 (US$3,799) via S.S. Beatrice.
Itineraries
| DAY | DESTINATION | DAY | DESTINATION |
| Day 1 | Nuremberg | Day 5 | Cruising Danube, Linz |
| Day 2 | Nuremberg | Day 6 | Wachau Valley, Dürnstein |
| Day 3 | Regensburg | Day 7 | Vienna |
| Day 4 | Deggendorf, Passau | Day 8 | Vienna |
18-day The Heart of Cambodia & Vietnam with Avalon Waterways
Avalon Waterways offers several river cruises for Aussie travellers and river cruise enthusiasts wanting to explore the mysterious Mekong River. One of its best-value deals is the 18-day The Heart of Cambodia & Vietnam cruise scheduled on November 18. This sailing is offered at AU$13,137 per person.
Itineraries
| DAY | DESTINATION | DAY | DESTINATION |
| Day 1 | Siem Reap | Day 10 | Vinh Long |
| Day 2 | Siem Reap | Day 11 | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 3 | Siem Reap | Day 12 | Ho Chi Minh City. Excursion To Cu Chi Tunnels |
| Day 4 | Phnom Penh | Day 13 | Ho Chi Minh City-Hanoi |
| Day 5 | Wat Hanchey-Angkor Ban | Day 14 | Hanoi |
| Day 6 | Kampong Tralach-Konpong Louang-Phnom Penh | Day 15 | Hanoi-Ha Long Bay |
| Day 7 | Phnom Penh | Day 16 | Ha Long Bay |
| Day 8 | Border Crossing-Chau Doc, Vietnam | Day 17 | Ha Long Bay-Hanoi |
| Day 9 | Long Khanh A-Cu Lao Gieng | Day 18 | Hanoi |
15-day Magnificent Mekong with Viking
Viking River Cruises features a 15-day Magnificent Mekong sailing on different dates throughout the year. But the line’s best-value year-ender offering is scheduled on December 20 and has a starting rate of AU$9,295 from AU$9,795. This gives each guest a savings of AU$500 and a total stateroom savings of AU$1800. Moreover, this Hanoi-embarked river cruise visits two countries and has 16 guided tours. Furthermore, cruise passengers will explore the grandeur and mystery of the Mekong via The Viking Saigon.
Itineraries
| DAY | DESTINATION | DAY | DESTINATION |
| Day 1 | Hanoi | Day 9 | Phnom Penh |
| Day 2 | Hanoi | Day 10 | Scenic Sailing: Mekong River |
| Day 3 | Hanoi | Day 11 | Tân Châu |
| Day 4 | Siem Reap | Day 12 | Sa Ðéc |
| Day 5 | Siem Reap | Day 13 | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 6 | Kampong Cham | Day 14 | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 7 | Kampong Cham | Day 15 | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 8 | Phnom Penh |
11-day Luxury Mekong and Temple Discovery Cruise with Scenic
Scenic boasts its line-up of Asian itineraries this 2024 including the best-value year-ender cruise 11-day Luxury Mekong and Temple Discovery Cruise scheduled on December 19. This Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap sailing is offered with a super earlybird promo of AU$8,5200 from AU$11,920. This gives travellers a AU$3,400 savings per person or a total of AU$6,800 savings per stateroom.
Itineraries
| DAY | DESTINATION | DAY | DESTINATION |
| Day 1 | Ho Chi Minh City | Day 7 | Phnom Penh, Oudong |
| Day 2 | Cai Be | Day 8 | Silk Island, Angkor Ban |
| Day 3 | Sa Dec | Day 9 | Wat Hanchey – Kampong Cham |
| Day 4 | Tan Chau | Day 10 | Siem Reap |
| Day 5 | Border Crossing – Phnom Penh | Day 11 | Siem Reap |
| Day 6 | Phnom Penh |
