French rivers and exotic locations are definitely on trend, as our river cruise roundup shows. With new itineraries, new ships, and new destinations, here’s what’s happening on the inland waterways of the world.
Tauck
The highly awarded US family-owned tour company celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and its river cruising division is gaining many new fans among savvy Aussie travellers. Tauck is renowned for its outstanding behind-the-scenes access to people and places on tours, its expert Tauck Directors who accompany every cruise and excursion, and its extremely well-appointed, if not showy, ships.
Francophiles will be happy to know that the 98-guest MS Esprit is now sailing on the Seine, alongside MS Sapphire. With 41 crew members, MS Esprit has a high 1:2 crew to guest ratio, a range of spacious staterooms and suites, two dining venues, plus Arthur’s Bar and the Panorama Lounge and Bar. Also new for 2025 is Tauck’s 14-day ‘Romantic Capitals: Paris to Prague’ itinerary, combining stays in the two cities with a nine-day cruise from Regensburg to Trier along the upper Danube, Main-Danube Canal, Main, Rhine and Moselle rivers.
Abercrombie & Kent
The renowned tour operator and owner of ultra-luxe ocean ships Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony is launching its first ship on the Peruvian Amazon in mid-2025. The beautifully appointed, 22-guest Pure Amazon was built in collaboration with A&K’s Galapagos partner EcoVentura. She has 10 suites and two solo cabins, all river facing and incorporating local materials, arts and handicrafts; a dining room where menus will feature regional ingredients and flavours; indoor and outdoor lounges; and a gym, massage room and pool.
A&K has nearly 25 years’ experience operating land tours in Peru, so guests can expect extremely knowledgeable hosts along with a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio. Pure Amazon will sail three-, four- and seven-night itineraries in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, an area of wild rainforest that’s home to indigenous communities and wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, exotic birds and (unfortunately for arachnophobes) some of the biggest spiders in the world. Fishing, kayaking and skiff trips reveal abundant sightings of pink dolphins, caimans and piranhas.
Avalon Waterways
Avalon Waterways this year has launched new French itineraries after a huge demand from their clients.
The line has new one, two and three-week sailings through Bordeaux with cruises on the Garonne and Dordogne, and combinations that also include the Seine, Saône, Rhône and Rhine.
Pam Hoffee, president of Avalon Waterways, said: “Wine-lovers aren’t the only cruisers raising a glass to Avalon’s new Bordeaux itineraries.
“Along the shores of the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, we’re elevating immersive experiences for guests, offering them deeper discoveries of the richest traditions in Southwest France.”
The new eight-day Bonjour Bordeaux: Chateaux, Wineries & Charming Villages itinerary starts and ends in Bordeaux with visits to Cadillac-sur-Garonne, Cussac Fort Medoc, Blaye, Bourg and Libourne.
The itinerary can be combined with sailings such as the 15-day French Masterpiece: Paris, Normandy & Bordeaux cruise from Paris to Bordeaux.
Travelmarvel
Another ship heading to France this year is MS Van Gogh, chartered by APT’s sister brand Travelmarvel. It’s the first time since 2016 that the line has sailed on the Rhône and new itineraries include the seven-day ‘Romantic Rhône’, departing 29 September 2025, which features an exclusive gourmet dinner at Paul Bocuse’s L’Abbaye de Collonges.
Other options are an 11-day cruise that combines the Rhône River cruise with four nights in Paris, and the 21-day European Gems & Romantic Rhône and 21-Day Douro Discovery & Romantic Rhône, both departing 15 September 2025. Travelmarvel also offers voyages on the new MS Estrela in Portugal, and next year Rigel will join Polaris, Capella and Vega in Europe.
Amadeus River Cruises
The major European line will debut the Amara. The 164-passenger ship will have 70 cabins and 12 suites and an indoor pool.
The Amara will sail the Danube Rhapsody itinerary along the Rhine and Danube, taking passengers on an eight-day journey across Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. The Magic of Advent on the Danube itinerary, which will sail from Nuremberg, Germany, to Vienna during the holiday season.
AmaWaterways
The world’s second largest river cruise line, fresh from conquering Columbia with the AmaMagdalena – AmaMelodia is due in September – the brand will also debut the AmaSintra on the Douro River in Portugal.
The 102-guest AmaSintra, set off on her maiden cruise last month. She joins AmaDouro and AmaVida, offering seven-night Porto round-trip cruises with an optional three-night stay in Lisbon pre-cruise.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
The super-elegant SS Elisabeth has just embarked on her maiden season of eight-day Rhine cruises between Amsterdam and Basel. She is Uniworld’s 10th Super Ship and a sister ship to SS Victoria, which joined the fleet in 2024.
Both lavishly outfitted, 110-guest vessels boast the biggest suites on Europe’s rivers, two Royal Suites apiece that come in at an incredible 47sqm each. Top suites include butler service and beds in all suites and staterooms are river-facing.
SS Elisabeth is supremely spacious throughout. Venues include three restaurants (one is an intimate room for private events and wine-pairing dinners), two bars, a sundeck bar and grill, a gym, massage room and a glass-enclosed indoor pool.
Viking
It’s no great surprise to see that Viking is launching more river ships (10) in 2025 than any other cruise line. Did you buy shares in the company when it went public in 2024? Wish I had! Anyway, this year four 190-guest Longships will set sail on the Rhine, Main and Danube (Viking Annar, Viking Dagur, Viking Honir and Viking Eldir) and a 168-guest Longship, Viking Nerthus, will cruise the Seine alongside four identical France-based Longships.
Viking Gyda is due to join four sister ships on Portugal’s in-demand Douro in September, to sail the 10-day River of Gold itinerary. In Egypt, Viking will add two 82-guest ships (Viking Amun and Viking Thoth) to its Nile fleet with another matching pair coming in 2026. All sail the popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
Viking’s Southeast Asia fleet continues to grow, with Viking Tonle due to set sail on the Mekong in October 2025. The 80-guest ship, an identical sister to 2022’s Viking Saigon, will operate cruises between Cambodia and Vietnam as part of Viking’s 15-day Magnificent Mekong itinerary.
Scenic Group: Emerald & Scenic
Last year Scenic Group announced it was investing in a “significant design update” of 18 Emerald and Scenic river ships in Europe, to bring them up to the exacting standards of its ultra-luxury seagoing Discovery Yachts Scenic Eclipse I and II and Emerald Cruises’ Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Sakara and Emerald Kaia.
Emerald’s eight European Star Ships now boast bright new looks and more luxe soft furnishings in the Horizon Bar and lounges, revamped pool and cinema spaces, new layouts and furniture in Reflections Restaurant and The Terrace, and in-suite iPads.
Scenic’s 12 European Space Ships have had an interior overhaul with new layouts, furnishings and “day-to-night” transformations in the lounge and specialty dining areas.
“As we continue to expand our fleet and enhance the guest experience, our commitment remains steadfast: to provide unrivalled luxury and value in river cruising,” said Glen Moroney, founder and Chairman of Scenic Group.
