- River cruising is shrugging off its reputation as a holiday for the elderly.
- Families are now taking to inland waterways as part of the intergenerational trend.
- Lines are now tailoring cruisers especially so we can all travel together.
There’s no doubt that ocean cruising makes for a great family holiday. In fact, according to CLIA, more than 30% of families are cruising with two generations on board and 28% are cruising with three to five generations. But what about river cruising?
With their smaller ships, fewer on board facilities and distinct lack of waterslides, river cruises have traditionally been tailored for older couples or solo travellers. Itineraries tended to focus more on gallery visits and wine tasting rather than fun in the sun. But multigenerational river cruises are on the rise.
River cruising offers many of the same benefits that make ocean cruising so easy for families. A fully planned itinerary, all meals included, interesting excursions – and the ability to visit many different cities without having to constantly unpack and repack multiple suitcases.
It’s not necessarily a new trend – Tauck launched its Bridges program in 2003, crafting family-oriented journeys across land tours, small-ship cruises and river cruises. These trips are designed for every age and generation, allowing them to experience the world together in a way that suits all travellers.
In recent years, other lines have noticed an uptick in family bookings. We asked them what’s driving the trend.
The most common theme was that people are prioritising spending time with their families and want to share experiences across the generations. Time and choice have become the ultimate luxury. The pandemic has also had an impact on the way we choose to travel. After being separated from family and friends for so long, bringing the generations together to create special memories is what many are searching for.
As people live longer and are in better health as they age, they are eager to share their wealth in new ways. Instead of material gifts, they choose the gift of sharing experiences with their family and exploring the world with the people they love the most. At AmaWaterways, the ‘skip gen’ cruise is becoming popular. Grandparents are holidaying with their grandchildren as a way to spend time with them that they otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to.
It’s worth noting that river cruising is still not suitable for small children. Most lines have a minimum age of around four, but don’t really recommend it for anyone under eight. Viking, the largest river cruise line in Europe, doesn’t carry any passengers under the age of 18, and Scenic and Emerald Cruises both have a minimum age of 12.
Multigenerational also doesn’t have to mean travelling with children. Avalon Waterways is seeing everyone from siblings to cousins, in laws and parents, and mother-daughter duos booking a cruise. And they don’t expect the trend to slow down anytime soon.
Why does river cruising work for multiple generations?
With different ages, fitness levels and interests, it can be hard to find a holiday that suits everyone in a family group. According to the team at Abercrombie & Kent, this is where river cruising becomes the ideal choice. Guests can choose to be as active or relaxed as they wish, so that the whole group is happy and doesn’t feel as though they are leaving anyone behind. It makes for a harmonious journey, with everyone getting what they need.
With multiple shore excursions on offer at each port, the family can go together or split up as needed. That could mean the teens are off on a guided bike ride through the city, mum and dad are relaxing over a wine tasting, and the grandparents are touring a museum. At the end of the day, everyone comes back together to share a meal and swap stories. Avalon Waterways finds it’s this balance of personal choice and shared experience that makes river cruising the ideal setting for multigenerational travel.
Travelling with a large group also brings added complications, from booking rooms to organising transfers and finding restaurants that can accommodate everyone. A river cruise takes the hassle out of planning. Pick your cruise, unpack once and relax. As Avalon Waterways told us – “we’ll take care of the hard work, so our guests can focus on enjoying their cruise and, most importantly, each other’s company.”
The ships themselves are just as important. Guests have told Tauck that the compact size of their ships and fewer passengers makes them feel safe. Parents and grandparents are happy for children to explore or relax on their own, even though there’s no kids club. AmaWaterways offers triple and quad share configurations, as well as interconnecting staterooms to make travelling as a group easier. We also recommend looking for ships that have a swimming pool, especially if you’re cruising in summer.
Festive river cruises are an increasingly popular way to bring the family together for the holidays. Snowy villages, enormous Christmas trees, charming markets, carol singers and the magic of Santa Claus will create lifelong memories.
The best river cruises for families
Tauck
European river cruises are the most popular for Tauck’s Bridges itineraries, with families choosing the Danube, Rhine and Seine. They offer a crowd-pleasing combination of history, castles and culture. The fairytale appeal of Europe is also a big hit with kids, who love medieval fortresses, picture-perfect towns and, of course, chocolate tastings. Special activities are designed to bring the generations together, from hands-on cultural experiences to guided excursions that spark curiosity in kids and adults alike.
Tauck’s best family itineraries:
Bon Voyage! France Family River Cruise – 8 days, Paris to Lyon
Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure – 8 days, Budapest to Dürnstein
Douro Discovery: A Family River Cruise in Portugal plus Madrid – 10 days, Madrid to Salamanca
AmaWaterways
For AmaWaterways, river cruises that offer greater variety are very popular. Mixing history with local delicacies, breathtaking hikes, stunning bike rides and fascinating architecture, their Rhine and Danube cruises are especially popular for multigenerational families. These groups choose their triple and quad rooms or connecting cabins.
AmaWaterways’ best family itineraries:
Best of Holland & Belgium – 8 days, Amsterdam to Amsterdam
Rhine & Moselle Fairytales – 12 days, Amsterdam to Basel
Gems of Southeast Europe – 8 days, Budapest to Giurgiu
Avalon Waterways
Avalon’s Active & Discovery itineraries offer the most choice when it comes to excursions, with everything from cooking classes, to bike tours and even archery. The emphasis is on personalised options and the freedom to choose, which appeals to multigenerational groups. For milestone occasions or when travellers are looking to celebrate as a group, festive cruises are popular. As a result of this heightened demand, Avalon Waterways expanded their festive cruise offering for 2025 and 2026.
Avalon Waterways’ best family itineraries:
Active & Discovery on the Rhône – 8 days, Lyon to Arles
Active & Discovery on the Danube – 8 days, Budapest to Vilshofen
Christmastime on the Romantic Rhine – 8 days, Amsterdam to Basel
Abercrombie & Kent
Multigenerational cruisers want to be able to travel together and often they prefer a private group. Abercrombie & Kent can create the perfect luxury journey for them. This type of travel is particularly popular on their Nile and Amazon river cruises. Private groups have their own tour directors and itinerary arranged to their specifications.
Abercrombie & Kent’s best family itineraries
The Wonders of Ancient Egypt – 8 days, Cairo to Luxor
Egypt & The Nile, a Private Journey – 10 days, Cairo to Cairo
A Fresh Perspective on Peru aboard Pure Amazon – 6 days, Lima to Lima
