- River lines are venturing into expedition cruising, visiting intrepid destinations in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia.
- AmaWaterways for instance, has just launched a new ship in Colombia.
- Others have increased their presence in places like Egypt with more vessels.
There’s expedition cruising – then there is expedition river cruising. Known for its small ship cruising in remote areas of the world like the Peruvian Amazon, Lindblad Expeditions has recently announced it will be expanding its river expeditions … to Europe.
But the all-important question is: how can an adventure brand turn a European river cruise into a foray into expedition?
Lindblad Expeditions is partnering with Transcend Cruises, a B2B charter company with a fleet of newbuild luxury ships designed to facilitate immersive and active travel. This collaboration will introduce a series of customised itineraries, which Lindblad claims will “venture beyond the well-trodden tourist paths, offering a more profound and engaging experience”.
While the company also claims it will be targeting more active river cruisers with its expedition guides and National Geographic historians and naturalists, it does make us wonder – how adventurous can a European river cruise really be?
Meanwhile, other cruise lines are venturing into expedition river cruising with lines announcing new ships for South America and refurbishments of vessels already in operation. Abercrombie & Kent, andBeyond and CroisiEurope are launching new vessels in the rainforests of Peru. AmaWaterways has recently launched a vessel in Colombia.
In other regions, cruise lines, including Viking, are expanding their presence in Southeast Asia, particularly on the Mekong, and in Egypt.
Colombia
AmaWaterways has successfully launched its first river cruise ship, AmaMagdalena, on Colombia’s Magdalena River. It is the first-ever luxury river cruise ship to navigate these waters, and the launch marks a historic moment for the region which is expected to benefit from the introduction of river cruise tourism. In addition, AmaWaterways is celebrating the expansion of the company’s portfolio outside its current regions of operation, Asia, Europe and Africa.
AmaWaterways Managing Director in Australia and New Zealand Steve Richards says, “Everyone was incredibly excited to see the first departure of our long-awaited river cruising on Colombia’s Magdalena River.”
He says there had been strong bookings for Colombia from the “well-travelled” cruiser looking for something new.
AmaMagdelana is designed for just 60 guests, but what is notable about AmaWaterways’ launch in Colombia is the consultation and involvement with the local community. The ship was built in collaboration with local craftspeople and woodwork specialists, and excursions allow guests to interact with local communities.
The launch was not without obstacles. The ship was originally forecast to launch earlier this year, but due to operational setbacks from being built in Colombia, AmaWaterways delayed the first sailing this month as the landings and piers were also being constructed from scratch.
AmaWaterways says it had anticipated there would be obstacles with the launch due to the remote pioneering efforts involved with such a venture. “Until now, exploring the Magdalena River region with comfort and ease was complicated, if not impossible,” says Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice-president of AmaWaterways.
“Colombia is not known for having the infrastructure available for this new project, and as such, AmaWaterways flew European engineers and welders to help develop a local skill set. The government of Colombia is also helping.”
Local communities have been working with AmaWaterways to develop nine custom-designed excursion boats that will provide access for guests to secluded areas of the river, boasting rich biodiversity and still largely unexplored by holidaymakers.
Peru
The depths of the Amazon River are still largely undiscovered, with only brands such as Aqua Expeditions and Delfin Amazon Cruises ruling the region.
But the launch of A&K’s first purpose-built ship heralds in a new era of expedition cruising, coupled with high-end luxury amenities when you’re back onboard. The ship will have 10 suites and two single cabins on board, where expert guides lead daily excursions that showcase the Peruvian rainforest. Part of the A&K offering includes guided nature walks to spot sloths, monkeys and brilliantly hued birds; trips through lagoons in search of pink river dolphins; visits to local villages; or even fishing for piranhas.
The luxury safari and travel company andBeyond is expanding its South American portfolio, introducing a new river expedition yacht that will be based in the Peruvian Amazon. The ship is currently under construction at the SIMA shipyard in Iquitos.
The 15-suite &Beyond Amazon Explorer is due to set sail in September 2026. There are a selection of three- and four-night itineraries, or a full seven-night itinerary.
Luxury, family-run Delfin Amazon Cruises is on a major drive to entice Australians to discover the secrets of the Peruvian Amazon aboard its recently refurbished, flagship Delfin I, and its latest vessel, Delfin III.
“Many Australians are under the wrong impression that it takes too long to fly to South America. In fact, it takes four hours less to fly from Sydney to Lima than Sydney to Rome,” says CEO and owner Aldo Macchiavello.
Egypt
Viking’s expansion in Egypt is going at a rapid pace, with the line launching a 10th ship on the Nile this year. The demand for Egypt has grown – in the immediate years post-pandemic, the region received unprecedented interest in its river cruises due to travellers wanting to tick off bucket-list experiences and take advantage of fewer crowds. Its popularity also received a boost with the release of the film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile.
While turmoil in the Middle East might have since slowed bookings, it hasn’t halted Viking’s expansion plans. Viking Thoth was floated out earlier this year and is set for delivery in October.
“Egypt is a country of profound historical and cultural significance, which makes it a destination of great interest to our guests. With two new ships, the Viking Thoth and the Viking Amun, debuting in 2025, we are very proud to continue expanding our elegant fleet,” says Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking.
Southeast Asia
AmaWaterways is adding a second river ship to its Mekong River trips, a popular cruise with Australians. AmaMaya will join the line’s AmaDara and will sail on its first seven-night itinerary through Cambodia and Vietnam on August 3, 2026.
Some of the shore excursions include visits to local workshops and monasteries, a Buddhist blessing ceremony and learning about the region’s history.
AmaMaya will operate 22 sailings in 2026 and upwards of 38 in 2027. Land extensions are available in several cities, including Siem Reap, home of the splendid Angkor Wat temple complex.
