With 20 new ships being launched this year and increasing passenger growth, more and more people are discovering the joys of river cruising. Only having to unpack once and visiting up to four countries in a week are among the many attractions of a leisurely holiday on the waterways of Europe and beyond. While river cruises are never cheap, rising hotel, restaurant and transport costs make them an increasingly affordable alternative to a land-based tour. Plus, it’s easy to budget when you don’t have to factor in the cost of meals, drinks, snacks, excursions, attractions and entertainment, which are all covered in the fare. Ships have comfortable river-facing cabins – often with balconies – as well as different dining options, spacious sun decks and many now have a pool, spa and gym. I’ve been on more than 100 river cruises – these are seven of my favourites. (Photo: Bojan Milinkov/Shutterstock)

Best for families

A-Rosa River Cruises is a gamechanger with the first-ever dedicated family river cruise ship. The 280-passenger A-Rosa Sena has cabins which sleep up to five and a Treasure Island kids’ club. There’s also a separate pool for youngsters and it’s the only line to offer swimming lessons, while adults can chill-out in the large spa. Extended mealtimes make for a hassle-free experience and children even have their own buffet. An eight-night Rhine Experience Amsterdam & Rotterdam round-trip from Cologne costs from £4,399 for a family of three (approximately just under $6,000), departing 23 August including flights, one night in a Cologne hotel and transfers, booked through Destination2 Cruise. (Photo: A-Rosa)

Best for dining

All river ships have one main dining room and, usually, a smaller alternative venue. Viva Cruises excels with vessels that have three distinctly different places to eat. In addition to the large Riverside Restaurant the newest ship, Viva Enjoy, has a casual bistro, open for lunch and dinner in a prime spot overlooking the back of the ship, and the intimate Moments which rivals any restaurant on dry land with its Italian-themed menu and wine pairings. A seven-night Cities in the Netherlands & Belgium round-trip from Amsterdam costs from £1,450pp (approximately just under $2,000), departing 6 August, excluding travel to Amsterdam, from the Viva Cruises website. (Photo: Giovanni Magdalinos/Getty/iStockphoto/Aperturaproject)

Best for adults

Holiday giant Tui launched its first three river ships in Europe four years ago and in 2024 added Al Horeya on the Nile. A second ship is coming this winter. These Egypt cruises offer the chance to experience ancient wonders on a value-for-money adult-only sailing including drinks and two excursions. You’ll explore vast centuries-old temples, such as Edfu, dedicated to the god Horus, with options to visit the Valley of the Kings, where grand tombs mark the resting place of the pharaohs; most notably Tutankhamun. A seven-night Legends of the Nile round-trip from Luxor costs from £1,620pp (approximately just over $2,000), departing 18 November, including flights, from the Tui website. (Photo: Tui)

Best for off-the-beaten track

Good-value CroisiEurope, on which fares include an open bar, pushes the boundaries when it comes to cruising destinations. It’s the only line on the Loire in France, Spain’s Guadalquivir and the Czech Republic’s Vltava river (pictured). Its most beguiling and exclusive itinerary, from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, combines a wildlife-rich waterborne safari on Namibia’s Zambezi River followed by an incredible voyage on 139-mile Lake Kariba, the world’s largest man-made reservoir, aboard a 16-passenger ship. An eight-night South Africa: Travel to the Ends of the Earth itinerary costs from £4,673pp (approximately just over $6,000), departing 31 August, excluding flights, from the CrosiEurope website. (Photo: Janoka82/Getty/iStockphoto)

Best for solos

A friendly river cruise, on small ships with 170 passengers or fewer, is a great choice for singles. Riviera Travel excels, with cabins set aside for solo travellers on every cruise at no extra cost. Additionally, dedicated singles-only sailings carry no supplements on any cabin, including suites. These include on Portugal’s delightful Douro, flanked by terraced vineyards growing the region’s famous port and red wine and with a day trip to the “golden” Spanish city Salamanca. A seven-night Douro Porto and Salamanca round-trip from Porto for solo travellers costs from £2,649pp (approximately $3,500), departing 19 March 2026, including flights, from the Riviera Travel website. (Photo: Sean Pavone/Getty/iStockphoto)

Best for activities

Recognising sporty passengers want to keep up their step count, Avalon Waterways pioneered heart-pumping cruises with hiking, biking and kayaking tours. There are Active & Discovery sailings on the Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Rhone and Seine, and to keep up the good work the Avalon Fresh menu features high-protein vegetarian dishes. The Seine sailing includes a bike tour through medieval Rouen (Rouen Cathedral pictured) and a walk to the lofty ruins of Richard the Lionheart’s castle in Les Andelys. An eight-night Active & Discovery on the Seine round-trip from Paris costs from £2,991pp (approximately just under $4,000), departing 28 July, excluding travel to Paris, from the Avalon Waterways website. (Photo: Tesson/Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty)

Best for lesser-known Europe

While the upper Danube, with the headline cities of Vienna and Budapest, is an obvious draw, one of Europe’s most popular waterways is a river of two halves. Amadeus River Cruises has spearheaded sailings through Serbia and Romania to showcase the lesser-known Danube Delta where the river meets the Black Sea. Ships navigate the dramatic Iron Gate Gorge to Europe’s largest wetland, home to pelicans and other birdlife. A 15-night Beautiful Blue Danube and Danube Delta round-trip Passau cruise costs from £3,825pp (approximately $5,000), departing 13 September, excluding flights, from the Fred. Holidays website. (Photo: Getty)