The booming popularity of river cruising will see twenty new ships from the world’s best lines set to launch for a banner year in 2025.
While several lines won’t be unveiling any new hardware in 2025, including American Cruise Lines, Emerald Cruises, Riverside Luxury Cruises, Scenic and Tauck, many of the other big players have vessels poised to elevate the experience for seasoned cruisers and newcomers alike.
Avalon Waterways will not debut a new ship, but the brand will be bringing back its Avalon Artistry II to the fleet to sail the Bordeaux region for the first time, skimming the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. These are the 20 riverboats, from seven lines, set to launch.
Viking | Ten new ships
No name will loom larger in the river cruise world in 2025 than Viking. The company will assert dominance with ten new riverboats sailing across three regions. Viking is introducing two intimate, 82-guest vessels, Viking Amun and Viking Thoth, purpose-built for Egypt. These ships will navigate the storied waters of the Nile, offering guests a luxury experience on one of the world’s most historically rich rivers.
Seven new signature Longships will join the fleet for Europe, bringing the line’s renowned Scandinavian design aesthetic to even more travellers. In Southeast Asia, the 80-passenger Viking Tonle will set sail on the Mekong River, offering a blend of serenity and discovery as it winds through Cambodia and Vietnam on the line’s popular 15-day Magnificent Mekong route.
With its spa, al fresco Sky Bar, and staterooms featuring private verandas or French balconies, the Viking Tonle will provide a relaxing retreat between adventures in the vibrant cities and tranquil villages along the Mekong.
AmaWaterways | Three new riverships
Delayed from 2024, AmaWaterways will welcome its new AmaMagdalena in Colombia in January 2025, followed by its sister ship, AmaMelodia, in June 2025. Both ships will offer luxurious amenities, including a hair and nail salon, a fitness room, a massage room, and a stunning al fresco pool. With spacious suites and cabins, these ships are tailor-made for travellers looking for an intimate experience along the lush Magdalena River.
AmaWaterways will also launch the AmaSintra on Portugal’s Douro River, bringing its fleet to one of Europe’s most breathtaking regions. As with all AmaWaterways ships, expect impeccable service and a focus on immersive experiences, from vineyard visits to explorations of historic towns.
APT | Two new ships
Already creating a lot of buzz, APT will introduce two new river cruise ships, APT Solara and APT Ostara, along the Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers in 2025. Designed by award-winning architects, these sister ships will carry just 154 passengers, promising an intimate and personalised experience for each guest.
David Cox, CEO of APT Travel Group, highlighted the importance of these ships in the company’s history in a recent statement. “The APT Solara and APT Ostara will redefine luxury river cruising, thoughtfully designed with our valued guests in mind.” Travellers will be able to choose from three suite categories, each offering a unique level of opulence, from the twin Window Suites to the expansive Owner’s Suites.
From what we can see, the vessels are a blend of modern elegance and timeless comfort that will appeal to APT’s discerning clientele.
Riviera Travel | Two new ships
Riviera Travel will unveil two new ships, Riviera Radiance and Riviera Rose, in March and April of 2025, respectively. Both ships mark a significant milestone for the company, featuring Riviera’s name on their bows for the first time. With a focus on elegant dining and spacious accommodations, the ships will offer a refined experience for the 178 passengers on Riviera Radiance and 114 passengers on Riviera Rose.
Riviera Radiance will stand out for its split-level lounge and dining room, while its three dining venues, including the new Mosaic restaurant, will showcase the best of European cuisine. For those seeking an exclusive experience, the ship’s grand suites, at 32 square metres, will be the largest Riviera has ever offered.
Phil Hullah, chief executive of Riviera Travel, said in a release, ‘The introduction of these beautiful ships mark a key chapter in the Riviera story, as we proudly showcase our name on the bow of the vessels and accelerate our growth plans. Our fleet enhancement plans are particularly pertinent, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary next month.’
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | S.S. Elisabeth
In fact, Transcend’s initial riverboat — formerly the Crystal Mahler from now-defunct Crystal River Cruises — will become S.S. Elisabeth for Uniworld Boutique River Cruises in 2025, under charter from Riverside Luxury Cruises. As an identical sister ship to 2024’s S.S. Victoria, Elisabeth will carry 110 guests in 55 staterooms and suites up to 759 square feet, some of which come with walk-in closets and fireplaces.
Options extend to two-bedroom accommodations with connecting suites. Other venues will encompass a fine dining restaurant, rooftop bar and grill, snack bistro, massage room, gym and pool.
Amadeus River Cruises | Amadeus Amara
Amadeus River Cruises has scheduled its 164-guest Amadeus Amara for early July 2025, billing it as a technologically innovative new vessel. In particular, the ship’s light weight and stabilisation system-enabled shallow draft will accommodate consistent operations, even when water levels fluctuate.
A reduction in water resistance will further minimise its fuel consumption, as will an efficient hull shape, autopilot feature and solar panels. Guest-facing amenities will extend to an indoor pool at the stern, plus 12 suites with reading nooks, walk-out balconies and 70 cabins with drop-down panoramic windows.
Saga | Spirit of the Moselle
Spirit of the Moselle, launching in July 2025, is sure to impress. With capacity for 182 guests, this new vessel will sail along some of Europe’s most picturesque rivers, including the Main and the Rhine. The ship is set to resemble its sister ships, Spirit of the Rhine and Spirit of the Danube, which have garnered rave reviews from guests.
Saga’s director of river product, Sergej Tocili, expressed the line’s plan to continue the tradition of high-quality service while expanding the line’s reach into iconic European waterways. The ship’s inaugural season will include festive Christmas and New Year’s cruises.
