This week, the River Cruise Collective partners are offering Cruise Passenger readers an exciting range of river cruise deals and exclusive perks. With the end of the financial year upon us, there’s never been a better time to take advantage of these limited-time offers.
APT’s 2025 Worldwide Sale is upon us, with savings of $2600 per person on their Best of Vietnam and Cambodia tour. You’ll sail through the stunning Ha Long Bay, before spending a week on the state-of-the-art Mekong Serenity, exploring some of the most breathtaking waterways in the world. As part of a special introductory offer, Abercrombie & Kent is taking 20% off all cruises and charters aboard Pure Amazon, which takes you through the heart of Peru and the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, aboard the intimate, design-led riverboat.
Tauck stands by its sought-after all-inclusive approach with excellent savings on the booking prices, spotlighting the stunning Savouring France: Paris, Lyon & Provence cruise and the Autumn Along the Rhine: Munich’s Oktoberfest, an itinerary ideal for lovers of European architecture, cuisine, culture and, of course, beer.
Avalon Waterways is offering savings of $5000 per couple on their Danube Dreams (Westbound) cruise, an eight-day sailing from Budapest to Vilshofen aboard the Avalon Impression. Sail along the serene Danube River as it winds through four captivating countries, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany, offering you the very best of Eastern Europe’s culture, history and charm. Or, save up to $4200 per couple on their Balkan Discovery cruise, which takes you down centuries of culture and history along the legendary Lower Danube.
1. APT: Best of Vietnam and Cambodia
- Spend three days sailing on Ha Long Bay, and seven nights on the Mekong River aboard Mekong Serenity.
- Enjoy a variety of shore excursions over 21 days on this thoughtfully curated river cruise.
- Save $2600 per person on this cruise.
- This offer is valid on select trips and departure dates until sold out.
APT is currently running its ‘2025 Worldwide Sale’, offering thousands in savings across a number of itineraries. We’ve decided to spotlight the Best of Vietnam and Cambodia cruise due to its incredible value (with savings of $2600 per person) and stunning 21-day itinerary, which sails through some of the most serene and breathtaking waterways in the world.
The highlights:
The Best of Vietnam and Cambodia cruise offers a round-trip journey from bustling Ho Chi Minh, sailing through iconic destinations including Hanoi, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. APT’s Signature Experiences are guaranteed to elevate your journey, offering all-inclusive, once-in-a-lifetime moments that offer insights into culture, local life and surrounding nature.
In Hoi An, APT arranges for guests to join an exclusive cooking class with the Red Bridge Cooking School. You’ll head to a colourful market in Hoi An and pick out fresh, local ingredients, which you’ll then make use of as you learn how to make some of Vietnam’s most popular and flavourful dishes. On a stunning cruise of Ha Long Bay, take a Tai Chi lesson on board and experience the pinnacle of body and mind rejuvenation, before getting up close to your surroundings on a traditional rowing boat.
After you board the Mekong Spirit, you’ll discover the remote island of Koh Pen, characterised by its wooden stilt houses and local farming culture. Join an authentic tuk-tuk tour around the riverside region, and learn about village life through the locals as you speed past carefully lined crops and beautifully built wooden houses. Continue to Phnom Penh, where you’ll take part in a traditional Buddhist blessing ceremony for good luck, health and a safe journey, with resident monks at a monastery in Oudong.
What’s included:
- Experiences in 17 destinations.
- Freedom of Choice inclusions in four locations.
- Locally inspired dining— a total of 49 meals and a wide range of onboard beverages.
- Seven-night cruise aboard APT’s boutique luxury river ship, the Mekong Serenity.
- Witness the sun rising above Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
- Dine on a specially selected multi-course fusion meal at the highly awarded Vietnam House in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Discover the beauty of Ha Long Bay during a three-day luxury cruise.
Price:
Was: $14,695, Now: $12,095.
2. Abercrombie & Kent: A fresh perspective on Peru aboard Pure Amazon
- Explore Peru over 5 days aboard Pure Amazon, an intimate, design-led riverboat.
- Journey from Lima to Iquitos, stopping at four unique destinations.
- Take 20% off all cruises and charters aboard Pure Amazon with A&K’s introductory offer.
Abercrombie and Kent are offering an incredible 20% off all cruises and charters aboard the newly built, state-of-the-art riverboat, Pure Amazon. This cruise takes you through the sleepy backwaters, lush islands and deep jungle that make up the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Peru’s largest protected area at 8000 square miles. You’ll see some of the most stunning flora and fauna, from sloths to pink river dolphins, and learn about local culture, customs and traditions.
The highlights:
You’ll land in Peru’s culinary capital, Lima, where you’ll spend one night in the Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport, a contemporary luxury hotel, before embarking on Iquitos, where you’ll board the Pure Amazon. Once settled, you’ll meet the expert naturalists who will be accompanying your sailing, before dining on Peruvian cuisine in the evening.
Day three will take you through the stunning Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, known for its abundant wildlife and over 400 species of birds, from scarlet macaws to swallow-tailed hummingbirds. You’ll have the option to attend lectures before you board a skiff for a guided night safari, where you’ll see the glowing eyes of caimans and learn about other nocturnal river dwellers.
On day four, a visit to a local village community lifts the lid on life in the Amazon Basin: you will meet ribereños, or river people, and learn about their culture. You’ll even have the opportunity to go piranha hunting and learn about the famed omnivores, before letting them back into the river. Your final day will feature a visit to the Museum of Indigenous Amazonian Cultures, after you’ve disembarked from the riverboat at Nauta.
What’s included:
- Wildlife encounters on day trips and night safaris in the densely biodiverse Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.
- Cruise the Amazon River in Pure Amazon, an A&K Sanctuary, an intimate, design-led boat.
- Expert naturalists onboard help point out wildlife from piranhas and parrots to monkeys and caiman.
- Experience local culture and Indigenous history through meetings and museums along the way.
Price:
From $9455.
3. Tauck: All-inclusive savings
- All-inclusive covers all shore and onboard experiences.
- Pay one upfront price, with no additional options.
- No single supplement charges ever for all Category 1 staterooms.
Tauck stands out as the river cruise line that consistently delivers exceptional value through its all-inclusive pricing, offering extensive savings every time, not just during limited-time deals. As such, they proudly promote the benefits of an all-inclusive itinerary to a greater degree than almost any other cruise line, making luxury and comfort a standard, not an upgrade.
If it means a better travel experience, Tauck includes it – aboard and ashore. Exclusive cultural experiences ashore are found nowhere else. All shore excursions. Superb accommodations. All gratuities. Entertainment, admissions, tastings, on-tour transportation, and transfers upon arrival and departure are all covered in one upfront price. And no options are sold, ever.
In addition to the all-inclusive savings, Tauck insists no single supplement is charged ever for all Category 1 staterooms on every itinerary offered… it’s a strong message for single travellers.
Savoring France: Paris, Lyon & Provence
Tauck’s Savouring France: Paris, Lyon & Provence cruise is not one to miss. Guests will depart on a 10-day Rhône River cruise through vineyard-lined landscapes and historic towns, where wine is just one part of a region rich in culture, cuisine, timeless Provençal charm, and everyday moments that linger long after your cruise ends.
Exclusive excursions on this itinerary include:
- An evening at the 12th-century Duché d’Uzès.
- Pastry class for Tauck guests at Le Cordon Bleu Paris.
- Food walking tour in Paris featuring local specialties.
- Provençal lunch at a private ranch in La Camargue.
- Reception and dinner at Fouquet’s, followed by a city lights tour of Paris at night.
- Private wine tastings in Beaujolais and Châteaneuf-du-Pape.
- A walking tour of historic Vieux Lyon and a tasting at Les Halles de Lyon.
Tauck’s all-inclusive cruises take care of every detail:
- All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director.
- Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $4963.
- Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks.
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted.
- 23 meals; service charges, taxes, porterage, and applicable fuel surcharges.
Price:
- From $10,590 per person.
Autumn Along the Rhine: Munich’s Oktoberfest
This 10-day cruise sails aboard the MS Inspire or the MS Grace through the vibrant cities of Amsterdam, Rüdesheim, Strasbourg, Munich, Basel and Lucerne. This itinerary is ideal for lovers of European architecture, cuisine, culture and, of course, beer.
Exclusive excursions on this itinerary include:
- Reserved seating for lunch in one of the traditional brewery tents at Munich’s Oktoberfest.
- Beer-paired German lunch in historic Heidelberg with the brew master of an award-winning brewery.
- “Beers & Bites” Old Town walking tour in Amsterdam.
- Transport to the base of Mt. Pilatus, where you can then catch a gondola ride to the summit.
- Drive to the lakeside city of Lucerne for an orientation tour, where you’ll see Renaissance paintings inside the Bridge Chapel and the Lion Monument.
- Walking tour of Düsseldorf’s Old Town highlighting craft beers.
Tauck’s all-inclusive cruises take care of every detail:
- All private Tauck shore excursions, which have a value of $5,355.
- Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director.
- A private Amsterdam canal boat cruise.
- Tour of Heidelberg Castle with a guide.
Price:
- From $12,890 per person.
4. Avalon Waterways: Balkan Discovery
- Cruise on board one of Avalon’s award-winning Suite ShipsSM.
- Enjoy an eight-day cruise from Budapest to Oltenita.
- Save up to $4200 per couple.
From quaint towns and ancient ruins to serene scenery and delicious cuisine, immerse yourself in centuries of culture on this river cruise along the legendary Lower Danube. You’ll tick off five fascinating countries along the way, including Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.
The highlights:
A range of exciting shore excursions will elevate your Balkan cruise and give you an insight into the local history, culture and cuisine of each destination. In Ilok, Croatia, guests can join a guided sightseeing tour of the medieval town and enjoy a wine tasting at a local cellar. In Serbia, you’ll embark on a guided hike in Novi Sad, where you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking scenic views, before sailing through the narrow Iron Gates Gorge, which marks the border between Serbia and Romania.
Join a guided sightseeing tour of the hauntingly beautiful Baba Vida Fortress, a striking medieval stronghold, followed by a visit to Belogradchik, one of Bulgaria’s most breathtaking and scenic destinations. Marvel at the remarkable rock formations on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of natural elements. Next, you’ll be taken to the former Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo, with its ancient stone houses clinging to the cliffs above the Yantra River.
What’s included:
- Magnificently modern, luxurious Suite Ships featuring renowned Panorama SuitesSM with the grandest views in river cruising.
- Fewer guests means more space on board and bigger suites and staterooms.
- Flexible dining with world-class menus and dining styles to suit every taste.
- Receive regional beer and wine with your meals, and a complimentary happy hour each night.
- Enjoy a wide range of daily onshore excursions, from immersive Active and Discovery options to Classic sightseeing with expert guides.
Price:
- Was: $7484, Now: $5384 (save up to $4200 per person).
5. APT: Golden Triangle, Kolkata, Varanasi and Lower Ganges Cruise
- 19-day river cruise aboard the Ganges Voyager.
- Travel from the spiritual Kolkata to charming Varanasi through Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and more.
- Save $2000 per person.
Combine the wonders of the iconic Golden Triangle and a spectacular Lower Ganges cruise on this in-depth Indian adventure with APT. Traverse the diverse highlights of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur including the majestic Taj Mahal, then board the Ganges Voyager for an unforgettable cruise from Kolkata before travelling on to Varanasi.
The highlights:
You’ll explore the rarely travelled lower Ganger River, aboard the intimate, boutique Ganger Voyager, which features an elegant East India Dining Room, a Spa and Fitness Centre, and an outdoor panoramic Observation Deck. With just 56 guests aboard, the ship is built for comfort, style and considered hospitality.
You’ll visit the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, a spectacular white marble mausoleum built by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1631 for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taking over 22 years to complete, its shimmering domes change colour with the sun, creating a breathtaking sight at any hour. You’ll also explore one of India’s largest and most iconic mosques, the visually striking Jama Masjid, also commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan. Take in the vibrant red sandstone and listen to the history of the Mughal empire as you take in its intricate marble carvings.
You’ll cruise through vibrant villages dotted along the shores of the Ganges, with opportunities to visit radiant flower markets, distinct terracotta temples and awe-inspiring palaces. Guests will then delight in a delectable High Tea in the grounds of the four-storeyed Kathgola Palace, one of APT’s exclusive Signature Experiences.
What’s included:
- 18 nights’ luxury accommodation including seven nights aboard the GangesVoyager.
- Locally inspired dining— a total of 44 meals.
- Experiences in 15 destinations.
- Freedom of Choice inclusions in four locations.
- Services of an APT Tour Director.
- Return airport transfers, porterage and gratuities.
- Domestic flights from Jaipur to Kolkata, Kolkata to Varanasi.
- Private air-conditioned coach.
Price:
Was: $19,295, Now: $17,295
6. Abercrombie & Kent: Cruising the Blue Danube: Budapest, Vienna & Prague
- Cruise the Danube for seven nights over 11 days, with a two-night stay in the beautiful Prague.
- Sail aboard the Amadeus Riva, which carries a maximum of 158 passengers.
- Save 50% on the single supplement on select departures.
The highlights:
Cruise the Danube for seven nights in style, sampling the history and culture of five countries as you visit a centuries-old castle, attend a classical music concert in Vienna and finish amid the cobblestoned charms of Prague. You’ll experience 11 days of exclusive sightseeing, including a two-night stay in historic Prague.
Guests will be able to take in the elegant Sound of Vienna concert from premier seats in the famous Kursalon. In Bratislava, A&K will take you to visit the 18th-century Primate’s Palace and view St. Martin’s Cathedral. After a day of spectacular cultural tours, you’ll arrive back on board, where you’ll enjoy a private cocktail party and an exclusive Chef’s Highlights dinner. You’ll also visit the historic Salzburg, where nature meets architectural beauty. Expert guides will take you for a full day of exploration around the city’s beautiful lakes region.
What’s included:
- A range of stunning shore excursions.
- The vessel features a fitness facility, massage room, lounge, panoramic bar, sun deck and café.
- Travelling Bell Boy Luggage Handling.
- English-Speaking Resident Tour Director and Local Guides.
- Airport Meet and Greet with Private Transfers.
- Traveller’s Valet Laundry Service.
- Internet Access.
- Entrance Fees, Taxes and All Gratuities Except Resident Tour Director.
- 24/7 A&K On-Call Support.
Price:
- From $15,300 per person.
7. Avalon Waterways: Danube Dreams (Westbound)
- An eight-day cruise from Budapest to Vilshofen aboard Avalon Impression.
- Travel through Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany from March 26 to April 2, 2026.
- Save $5,000 per couple.
The highlights:
Cruise along the tranquil Danube River through four different countries: Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany with Avalon Waterways. You’ll discover some of Central Europe’s most splendid capitals and quaint towns along the way. Begin in Budapest, where guided sightseeing familiarises you with the vibrant capital of Hungary. Set sail on the Danube, take pictures of the impressive Parliament Building as you leave Budapest, and head for Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Here, enjoy a guided walk through the delightful Old Town and visit the Gothic-style St. Martin’s Cathedral. Vienna, Austria, the “City of Music,” makes an immediate impression with its lavish Habsburg Imperial Palace and neo-renaissance Vienna Opera House.
Journey on and enjoy views of the picturesque wine region of the Wachau Valley, with stops for a guided walk in Dürnstein and a visit to the impressive Benedictine Abbey of Melk. In Linz, walk around the Hauptplatz, Austria’s largest medieval square, which forms the centre of the city. Passau, Germany, the “City of Three Rivers,” is uniquely located where the Inn, Ilz, and Danube rivers converge. See its maze of narrow cobblestone streets lined with beautiful Patrician houses, and marvel at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture.
What’s included:
- Aboard AvalonImpression, you’ll receive breakfast, lunch and dinner (except embarkation and disembarkation days.)
- Complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi.
- Panoramic windows throughout the ship.
- Elegant, contemporary design & decor.
- Friendly, English-speaking crew & Cruise Director.
- Sky Deck with whirlpool, shade awnings, game area and premium lounges.
- Covered Observation Lounge.
- Club Lounge with 24-hour self-serve beverage station with complimentary cappuccinos, lattes, tea, hot chocolate & premium coffees, as well as treats throughout the day.
Price:
Was: $6204, Now: $3704.
