- River cruise lines are introducing more themed cruises.
- While food and wine voyages still dominate, there are other themed cruises like wellness and golf itineraries.
- Wellness is on the rise, particularly with health-conscious Australians.
River cruise lines are creating more niche itineraries, designed to tempt cruisers who have special interests and hobbies.
Cruise lines like Tauck, Avalon Waterways, AmaWaterways, and Abercrombie & Kent have seen a rise in these voyages, which might focus on food and wine, golfing, wellnesss and even art voyages.
There has been a growing interest among regular river cruisers who might have already cruised the main rivers of Europe, but may be looking to see towns and cities in a different way.
Some cruise lines have reported a 600 per cent increase since launching niche itineraries eight years ago, and the trend seems to be growing steadily.
Food, glorious food
Some lines have recently announced more food and wine-focused itineraries. As one of the best ways to learn about a country’s culture, lines will organise lectures and workshops led by expert chefs and sommeliers, visits to vineyards and breweries, and even cooking demonstrations onboard the ship.
David Clark, the Managing Director of Tauck in Australia, said his river and touring company has seen Australians looking for themed cruises and specialised groups.
“Our new itinerary, Bordeaux, Paris, and the Sein,e has an amazing array of food and wine experiences, both on and off the ship,” he said.
“The desire for our guests who love river cruising but are looking for different experiences, we have guests who literally sail annually with Tauck so continuing to experience our brand but with different elements is key.”
Steve Richards, the Managing Director of AmaWaterways in Australia and New Zealand, said the line has created even more food and beverage cruises to meet the demand.
“We have recently released two Beer Cruises. Our Wine Cruises are extremely popular, but our beer-loving guests felt a little left out, so we crafted two itineraries that would cater best to these guests,” he said.
Let’s get physical
At Avalon Waterways, Chris Fundell, the Head of Marketing Asia Pacific at the Globus family of brands, said the line has seen an increase of 600 per cent of cruisers looking for themed river cruises.
“Overall, our themed cruises are a firm favourite among Australians – whether it’s Wine, Festive, our Storyteller Series, Active & Discovery or History, our wide variety caters to every type of traveller.
“Active & Discovery are the most popular and it’s no wonder why – they’re packed with what we call Avalon Choice excursions, and everyday guests can choose from a selection of included ‘Active,’ ‘Discovery’ and ‘Classic’ excursions, whether that be a hike up to a castle one day, a painting class the next or a guided tour of the beautiful towns we visit.”
He also said that today’s travellers don’t want a one-size-fits-all itinerary and they are looking to find personalised experiences to match their interests.
“Currently, we offer Active & Discovery cruises along the major European waterways, including the Danube, Rhone, Rhine, Seine and in Holland & Belgium,” he said.
“Our Storyteller Series adventures range across our European waterways, with the next trip (that’s already sold out) taking place with Christopher Moore in October 2025, along the Danube River, and trips with Sister Hazel & Graham McTavish taking place in 2026.”
Wellness on the water
For sports lovers, AmaWaterways has a huge focus on wellness and activity-based voyages, which are led by specialised hosts on their itineraries.
Steve Richards, the Managing Director of AmaWaterways in Australia and New Zealand said the line has seen an increased demand for wellness-themed voyages in 2025 and 2026.
“Australian travellers are increasingly interested in maintaining their best self while exploring the world. We’ve seen great interest in our dedicated wellness river cruises sailing in 2025 and 2026, as well as wonderful engagement by our guests onboard with our Wellness Program, incorporating a Wellness Host and multiple activities that contribute to a more mindful, healthy approach to travel,” he said.
“And Golf river cruises are another drawcard for active travellers. Our Magna on the Danube Golf Concierge program takes in the stunning Danube River and grants guests access to some of Europe’s prestigious golf courses.”
He also said based on guest feedback and specific itineraries, they sail their wellness cruises Paris to Normandy and from Budapest to Vilshofen which allows guest to experience the destination in a different and deeper way.
“For example, we have a Vienna Woods Hike. When you journey to the town of Cobenzl, you can stretch your legs on a guided hike through the famed Vienna woods. The woods inspired a waltz composed by Johann Strauss II – and later in the evening, you can learn to waltz on the ship,” he said.
Go Wild
While it might not be considered a themed cruise, Abercrombie & Kent’s new voyages on the Amazon River are focused on the nature and wildlife of this rarely visited destination.
The line has released six new itineraries on the new Pure Amazon, which is due to set sail in June.
Birders and wildlife enthusiasts will leap at the chance to venture into the habitat of some of the rarest and most iconic species on Earth, while visits to local communities of ribereños, or river people, provide insight into local culture and village life.
Wildlife is a key focus with the chance to see sloths, monkeys, caimans, pink river dolphins, turtles, manatees, and amazing birdlife.
