Imagine gently gliding past charming riverside towns, ancient castles, and lush vineyards - all while unpacking just once and letting someone else worry about the details. That’s what a river cruise offers: a relaxed, connective way to explore. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or seasoned to ocean voyages, river cruising brings a unique pace of travel, where the journey is as much part of the experience as the destination.

Why choose a river cruise?

Here are 5 compelling reasons to consider a river cruise:

All-inclusive simplicity - Many river cruises bundle meals, guided excursions and sometimes drinks into the fare, so you have far fewer extra costs.

Guided shore excursions included - You step off the ship and join a local guide to explore the history, culture and highlights of each stop, meaning you don’t have to arrange transport or tours yourself.

Peace of mind & ease - You stay on the same “floating hotel” while each day you awaken in a new town or city. The accommodation moves with you.

No hidden costs / fewer surprises - With meals and many excursions included, budgeting is simpler and you won’t feel like you’re paying extra for every little thing.

A more relaxed pace - Compared with ocean cruises with many ports and big ships, river cruises tend to be more intimate, slower-paced and focused on experiences rather than just entertainment.

TravelMarvel

TravelMarvel specialises in European river cruises that feel premium but accessible. Their fleet of custom-designed river ships, such as the Polaris, Capella and Vega, are built for Europe’s waterways, offering spacious cabins and stylish amenities. Their itineraries cover rivers like the Rhine, Main and Danube, allowing you to unpack once and wake up somewhere new each day. One of their strong selling points is inclusive shore excursions: you’ll join guided walking tours (often entry to major sites included) as part of your cruise.

They also operate further afield, for example the “Treasures of Egypt & the Nile” cruise aboard the new ship TravelMarvel Sirius, which visits Cairo, Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Aswan and Kom Ombo, combining ancient-Egypt site visits and a relaxing Nile voyage.

In Asia, TravelMarvel offers tours and river-cruises in Vietnam & Cambodia (including a seven-night cruise along the Mekong on board the RV Lotus) where you’ll enjoy riverside villages, floating markets, historic temples and premium accommodation on land and water.

If you’re looking for a smart-value river cruise with comfortable ships, curated experiences and a sense of elegance without excess fuss, TravelMarvel is a strong choice.

Riviera Travel

Riviera Travel has established itself as a leader in river cruising, with a strong reputation for value, quality and service. Their river cruises take you along Europe’s most iconic rivers - from the Danube and Rhine to the Rhône and Douro - and they even offer more adventurous voyages further afield. Riviera excels in providing all-inclusive style holidays where excursions, full boarding and transfers are bundled. For example, on their solo-traveller departures they even remove single-supplement charges.

If you want a reliable, well-reviewed river cruise company that covers most of Europe’s major waterways and offers smart deals, Riviera Travel is a very good pick.

Celebrity Cruises (launching river cruises in 2027)

Celebrity Cruises is best known for their ocean-going “Edge” ships, and now they are entering the river-cruise market with a bold new venture. They’ve announced that starting in 2027 they will sail Europe’s most iconic rivers with their new premium fleet of river ships.

These ships will bring the design, luxury and high standards of Celebrity’s existing brand to river cruising, with 360-degree views, king-sized beds, and an elevated onboard experience. Their debut itineraries will focus on the Rhine and Danube.

If you’re someone who loves luxury, brand consistency and being among the first to try something new, Celebrity’s river cruises are worth keeping an eye on.

Going on a river cruise is a relaxed yet enriching way to explore Europe (and beyond). With the ease of unpacking once, the comfort of a ship that becomes your base, and the thrill of discovering new towns each day, it’s no wonder they’re becoming more popular. Whether you lean towards TravelMarvel’s elegance, Riviera’s value-packed reliability, or are excited to see what Celebrity brings in 2027, there’s a river cruise waiting to match your style. Why not dip your toes into river cruising and see which river calls your name next?