European river cruises offer a unique and immersive way to explore the continent's rich cultural and historical heritage. Unlike sea cruises, which often focus on coastal cities, river cruises navigate the heart of Europe, allowing you to experience the continent's diverse and exciting landscapes, quaint villages, and bustling cities from a fresh perspective.
Why choose a river cruise?
River cruises offer a unique and enjoyable travel experience by combining luxury, convenience, and cultural immersion. With their smaller ships and fewer passengers, river cruises provide a relaxed and intimate atmosphere with personalised service and easy access to city centres and attractions.
You can enjoy constantly changing scenery, from picturesque landscapes to historic castles, right from your cabin. Daily shore excursions offer insights into the history and culture of each destination. The river cruise package includes travel, transfers, luxury accommodation, meals, drinks, daily excursions with local guides and a Cruise Director looking after you throughout.
River cruises allow you to unpack once and visit multiple destinations without the hassle of constant packing and unpacking. Whether you’re a solo traveller, a couple, or travelling as a family or group, river cruises offer a variety of themes and itineraries.
Why choose Riviera Travel?
With 41 years of experience in the travel industry, you can trust Riviera Travel with your next adventure. Their tours and cruises win awards. Their itineraries are crafted by expert explorers. Their guests become friends.
They’re the very best in travel and the leading river cruise operator in the UK. For 13 years, they’ve proudly held the esteemed ‘Recommended Provider’ accreditation with Which? – a claim no other UK river cruise and escorted tour operator can make. In the 2024 survey, Which? named Riviera the ‘best-value river cruise line’ too.
Riviera is rated Excellent on Trustpilot, based on over 4,700 guest reviews. And they’re rated Excellent on Feefo, based on over 54,500 guest reviews, with 96% of guests saying that they’d travel with them again.
Popular river cruise escapes
- The Blue Danube River Cruise
- Rhine Cruise to Switzerland
- Burgundy, the River Rhône and Provence River Cruise
- Douro, Porto and Salamanca River Cruise
- The Seine, Paris and Normandy River Cruise
Let's take a closer look at these cruises.
The Blue Danube River Cruise
Explore the Danube River's historic towns and cities on a memorable cruise. Guided tours will take you through Vienna, Dürnstein, Budapest, and Bratislava, each revealing its rich cultural heritage. You’ll visit iconic landmarks like the Esztergom Basilica and Melk Abbey, renowned for their architectural beauty and historical significance, and experience Hungarian culture with an onboard folklore show featuring traditional music and dance. Plus. enjoy a classical music performance against Vienna's skyline.
Rhine Cruise to Switzerland
Embark on a scenic Rhine River cruise, where you'll enjoy stunning sights at every turn. Cruise through the picturesque Rhine Gorge and the tranquil river bend near Boppard, surrounded by natural beauty. Explore historic towns like Strasbourg, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, and Speyer, each offering rich cultural experiences. Visit the charming Titisee in the Black Forest for a taste of local folklore. Experience breathtaking mountain views on a railway journey through the Bernese Oberland and relax onboard whilst enjoying a classical quartet recital.
Burgundy, the River Rhône and Provence River Cruise
Begin your journey on a scenic Rhône River cruise through Provence, where each day promises unforgettable experiences. Sample local wines in Beaune, Burgundy's wine capital, to immerse yourself in the region's viticultural heritage. Explore the Palace of the Popes in Avignon, adorned with stunning frescoes and tapestries dating back to the 14th century and discover the breathtaking Ardèche Gorges, one of France's most spectacular natural landscapes. Tour Lyon with its Renaissance architecture, historic churches, and the vast Place Bellecour, dominated by a statue of Louis XIV, and marvel at the Pont du Gard aqueduct and the ancient Roman amphitheatre in Arles, showcasing the enduring legacy of Roman civilisation along the Rhône River.
Douro, Porto and Salamanca River Cruise
Discover the beauty of a Douro River cruise from Porto to Salamanca, beginning with a guided tour of a famous port producer in Porto, where you can taste their renowned wines. Explore the medieval town of Castelo Rodrigo in the highlands near the Spanish border, following the footsteps of St. Francis amidst picturesque landscapes and visit a historic Quinta to learn about every stage of wine production, from planting vines to tasting and labelling. Enjoy regional delicacies paired with traditional Portuguese folk music. This river cruise creates many memorable moments along the Douro River.
The Seine, Paris and Normandy River Cruise
Experience a relaxing Seine River cruise through Paris and Normandy, cruising through scenic landscapes before exploring Château Gaillard's history. Visit Rouen and Honfleur, which have historic sites and picturesque harbours and discover the Bayeux Tapestry's story of the Norman invasion and explore Arromanches and its museum. You’ll tour Monet's house in Giverny, explore Vernon's charming street, and dive into Parisian culture with visits to iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Élysées, and Sacré-Coeur, making every moment along the Seine unforgettable.
Popular river cruise escapes for solo travellers
Travelling on your own? Here are our top three European river cruise getaways for the ultimate solo travel bliss.
- Burgundy, the River Rhône and Provence River Cruise for solo travellers.
- Rhine and Moselle River Cruise for solo travellers.
- Douro, Porto and Salamanca River Cruise for solo travellers.
Burgundy, the River Rhône and Provence River Cruise for solo travellers
Experience the charm of a Burgundy, Rhône, and Provence river cruise for solo travellers. Enjoy wine tasting in Beaune, Burgundy's wine capital, where you'll sample delicious local wines and explore Avignon's 14th-century Palace of the Popes, adorned with stunning frescoes and tapestries. Discover the magnificent Ardèche Gorges, renowned for its natural beauty and take a guided tour of Lyon, exploring its Renaissance buildings, historic churches, and the bustling Place Bellecour, home to a statue of Louis XIV. You will also see the ancient Pont du Gard aqueduct and the Roman amphitheatre in Arles. Immerse yourself in France's rich history and landscapes on this memorable river cruise.
Rhine and Moselle River Cruise for solo travellers
The delightful Rhine and Moselle river cruise for solo travellers, starts with Cochem's vineyard-covered hills and its iconic castle. Discover Trier's ancient Porta Nigra and stroll through Bernkastel's charming market square and the cobbled streets of Koblenz and Boppard's old towns. You’ll cruise through the picturesque Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim and conclude with a tour of Cologne, admiring its cathedral and historic district. This journey promises a memorable exploration of Germany's rich cultural and historical heritage.
Douro, Porto and Salamanca River Cruise for solo travellers
The Douro, Porto, and Salamanca river cruise blends cultural exploration with scenic delights. Enjoy a guided tour of historic Salamanca, complete with a delicious lunch and a traditional flamenco show, then explore Porto by visiting a traditional port wine cellar for tastings and the ancient Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies church. You’ll learn about wine production at a traditional Quinta in Pinhão and visit the picturesque grounds of Mateus Palace and Quinta de Pacheca. End each day with onboard entertainment, including a traditional Portuguese folk music show!
Cruising with Riviera Travel
Riviera Travel specialises in creating memorable travel experiences along Europe's renowned waterways. They focus on blending luxury, cultural immersion, and adventure, catering to both solo travellers, groups and couples. Their fleet of luxurious river ships ensures comfort and elegance, complemented by gourmet dining and guided excursions to historical landmarks. So much so, they offer a Happiness Guarantee; if you’re unhappy by day two of your holiday, they’ll bring you home with a full refund.
2026 price freeze
Ice-breaking news! Riviera has extended their price freeze on 2026 river cruises, frozen at 2025 prices! Be sure to book before 28 February 2025 to take advantage of their best prices.
Take advantage of Riviera Travel's 2026 River Cruise Price Freeze!
Free drinks package
Book a European river cruise with Riviera Travel and enjoy a free drinks package! For all European river cruises in 2025, enjoy a free Superior drinks package. Choose from a selection of drinks over lunch and from 6pm. For 2026, say hello to new and improved all-inclusive drinks on all European river cruises. Available from 10am to midnight.
Explore more at Riviera Travel.
Save up to £500pp on select longer river cruises in 2025
Explore the world for longer without breaking the bank! You can now save up to £500pp off longer river cruises on select departures in 2025 with Riviera Travel.
Longer cruises help you really make the most of your time away. With more time to soak up the sun with a good book on the top deck, more time for another massage and more time for another glass of wine. Plus, you’ll see a lot more too, from exploring the wonders of ancient Egypt along the Nile to honouring the memory of World War II heroes on Normandy’s beaches and a wine tasting in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape region.
Explore more at Riviera Travel.
One in every eight guests goes free!
Enjoy more on your group holiday with family or friends! When you book a river cruise as a group of eight or more with Riviera Travel, one in every eight guests goes free, so you can all explore the picturesque castles along the Rhine River, savour the flavours of Portugal's Douro Valley with its vineyard-covered slopes, or discover the cultural richness of Vienna and Budapest along the Danube.
You can use your savings to upgrade to a more luxurious cabin or simply have extra spending money for exploring local sights and attractions. Now that’s exceptional value for money!
Creating memories along the rivers
River cruises offer a unique and enriching travel experience with their relaxed atmosphere, scenic routes, cultural excursions, and convenience.
Whether cruising the scenic Rhine, exploring the historic Douro, or navigating the picturesque Seine, Riviera Travel promises unforgettable voyages filled with discovery and relaxation.
Image Credit: Bertrand Borie at Unsplash
As an AgeGroup reader, you can enjoy a special 5% bonus discount on top of any Ambassador Cruise Line current deals and offers using promo code Age5 when booking via this link or by calling 0808 303 1080.
Ambassador Cruise Line Offer Terms & Conditions are available here.
