River cruise ship on the Danube below a hilltop abbey at sunset

River Voyages

Calm water, small ships and a new town nearly every day — is a river voyage right for you?

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River or Ocean: Which Voyage Is for You?

A river voyage is not just a smaller cruise. It is a different way to travel: calm water, a town or city almost every day, and a ship that docks right in the center so you can walk ashore.

	River voyage	Ocean voyage
Ship size	Small, sized to fit locks and low bridges	From small yachts to resort ships with thousands of guests
Scenery	Riverbanks, vineyards, villages and castles close at hand	Open sea, coastlines and island harbors
Days in port	Most days, often docking in town	Mix of port days and sea days
On board	Dining, lounge, sun deck; little nightlife	Varies from quiet to theme-park busy
Included	Often shore tours and wine with meals	Varies widely by line
Motion	Very little	Depends on sea conditions

Where River Voyages Go

Castle above a quiet river — Central Europe’s rivers pass castles, vineyards and medieval towns.

Europe: the Rhine, Danube, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, Elbe and Portugal’s Douro are the best-known routes.
United States: the Mississippi, the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Pacific Northwest, and other American waterways.
Asia: the Mekong through Vietnam and Cambodia.
Egypt: the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.
South America and Africa: the Amazon and the Chobe offer expedition-style river trips.

Lines that specialize in river voyages include Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, Uniworld, Scenic, Emerald, Tauck, Riviera and CroisiEurope in Europe, and American Cruise Lines in the United States.

Is a River Voyage Right for You?

Choose a river if…

You want to see many towns and cities without changing hotels, you enjoy guided walking tours, you prefer a quiet ship and you would rather not have long sea days.

Choose an ocean voyage if…

You love sea days, pools and evening entertainment, you are traveling with children, or you want beaches and islands.

Consider the season

European river season runs from spring into December, when Christmas market sailings are popular. Water levels can occasionally affect itineraries in very dry or very wet periods.

Mind the walking

Many river tours are on foot over cobblestones. Ask about gentle-pace tour options if mobility is a concern.

Budapest on the Danube — Budapest is a highlight of many Danube voyages.

Combining River and Ocean

You do not have to choose only one. Many travelers pair a European river voyage with a few hotel nights in a gateway city such as Amsterdam, Budapest or Paris, and some go on to join an ocean cruise from a nearby port. River lines also sell land extensions before and after the voyage. If you are building a longer European trip, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise can line up the dates so the pieces fit together.

For river lines, ships and itineraries, visit our Official River Cruise Directory, the river side of the Smart Traveler network.

Thinking About a River Voyage?

Tell us which river and month interest you. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare river lines and send free quotes.

Get River Voyage Quotes