River cruisesup to -49%

What are river cruises, and are they right for you?

River cruises are smaller-scale, destination-focused voyages aboard purpose-built riverboats. Instead of a vast ocean liner, you board a sleek, shallow-draughted ship designed to fit through locks and dock right in the centre of historic towns — so you step ashore in minutes, not after a tender ride. Itineraries run from around 5 to 17 nights, with a week the most common length, and sailings are concentrated on Europe’s great waterways: the Danube and Rhine dominate, with a handful of sailings also exploring the rivers of Portugal and South America.

Top destinations for river cruises

The shape of river cruise availability is squarely European, with two rivers accounting for the bulk of what is on sale.

Danube River

The Danube is the most heavily sailed river in the programme. Itineraries typically thread through several countries, with Budapest, Hungary and Vienna, Austria among the key ports of call, and Regensburg, Passau and Nuremberg featuring on longer sailings. Most voyages are one-way, finishing in a different city from where they begin — so if you are flying in from Australia, we can arrange your international flight to the embarkation city and a domestic or connecting flight home from wherever the ship ends up, all in one booking.

Rhine River

The Rhine runs a close second in volume. Sailings use Basel, Switzerland and Amsterdam as their main bookend ports, with Trier appearing on some itineraries. Like the Danube, most Rhine sailings are one-way — we sort the flights, hotels and transfers at both ends so the logistics never fall to you.

Portugal and South America

A smaller selection of sailings heads to the rivers of Porto, Portugal and into South America. These suit travellers who want river cruising with a different flavour — warm Atlantic coastlines or the drama of South American river landscapes. Availability is more limited here, so speak to our cruise experts early if one of these routes appeals.

Which cruise lines offer river cruises?

Viking River Cruises is the most popular line in this programme, with the widest range of departures across both the Danube and Rhine. AmaWaterways runs a close second, known for its well-regarded culinary focus and comfortable ships. Avalon Waterways rounds out the three main river cruise specialists, with a distinctive suite-class cabin design that opens the full side of the ship to panoramic views.

The programme also includes river-adjacent voyages from Celebrity Cruises and Oceania Cruises, both of which operate at the premium end of the market. Azamara contributes a small number of sailings for those who want boutique-scale experiences with an immersive port focus.

Ships sailing on these itineraries

Several Avalon Waterways ships sail regularly on Danube and Rhine itineraries. Here is what sets each apart.

Avalon Tranquility II

Avalon Tranquility II combines elegant, modern décor with a genuinely intimate atmosphere — it rarely feels crowded. Complimentary Wi-Fi is included throughout. The ship carries 2 cabin grades worth knowing about:

• Deluxe Outside Cabin D (outside, 16 m²) — two windows flood the cabin with natural light and river views throughout the day; a comfortable and practical choice for most travellers. Browse the full Avalon Tranquility II cabin and deck plans.
• Royal Suite S (balcony, 27.9 m²) — nearly double the floor space of standard cabins, giving you real room to settle in and relax. At close to 28 m², it is a noticeably different experience.

Avalon Expression

Avalon Expression is a fresh, entirely smoke-free ship whose wall-to-wall panoramic windows bring the river into the cabin all day long. Shore excursions come with personal headsets so you hear every word from your guide, even in a crowd. Cabin options on board:

• Deluxe Outside Cabin D (outside, 16 m²) — two large windows bring in far more natural light and river views than inside cabins offer. See full details on the Avalon Expression cabins and deck plans page.
• Royal Suite S (balcony, 27.9 m²) — the largest suite aboard, with nearly 28 m² of space, an oversized living area, sofa, coffee table and dedicated sitting room for four.

Avalon Imagery II

Imagery II opens sailings with a captain’s reception — sparkling wine and canapés on embarkation evening — and the Panorama Bistro serves both light lunches and dinners with the river always in view through wall-to-wall windows. Check Avalon Imagery II cabin and deck plans for grade details.

Avalon Impression

Avalon Impression is an ultra-modern addition to the Avalon fleet, designed with an open-air feel through floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows and staffed to deliver highly personal service. See Avalon Impression cabins and deck plans for the full layout.

AmaWaterways ships

AmaSofia sails for AmaWaterways on European river routes. Cabin grades available:

• Outside Cabin D (outside, 14.9 m²) — a fixed outside-view window brings natural daylight and river views all day, a meaningful step up from inside options. Full details on the AmaSofia cabins and deck plans page.
• Balcony Cabin AA (balcony, 21.8 m²) — at 21.8 m², among the most spacious standard balcony cabins aboard, noticeably larger than mid-ship alternatives.
• Suite SS (suite, 32.5 m²) — the largest cabin aboard at 32.5 m², considerably roomier than standard French balcony options, with genuine space to move and relax.

AmaFiora is another AmaWaterways ship sailing on these routes. Browse the AmaFiora cabins and deck plans for grade and layout details.

What do river cruise fares include?

Inclusions vary by cruise line and fare tier, so it pays to compare carefully. Celebrity Cruises, which operates a small number of sailings in this programme, offers fare types such as cruise-only rates (you add extras later at your own pace), a mid-tier that bundles a drinks package and basic Wi-Fi, and a premium tier — The Retreat — that covers suite accommodation, premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, an exclusive lounge and dedicated personal service. Asking our cruise experts to walk you through the tiers before you book can save a meaningful amount.

How do I get to a river cruise from Australia?

Every river cruise departure in this programme leaves from Europe — the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary or Switzerland — so an international flight is part of every trip. That is not a complication; it is an opportunity to turn the cruise into a fuller European holiday. CruiseAway can arrange your return flights, a hotel the night before you board, transfers between airport and ship, and any pre- or post-cruise touring, all on a single booking through our DreamAway Packages. If you are flying into one embarkation city and the ship ends in another — which is common on one-way Danube and Rhine itineraries — we handle both ends, so you are never left to organise a return leg on your own.

Are there river cruise deals available?

River cruise deals appear throughout the year across all the major lines — Viking, AmaWaterways and Avalon each run promotional fare types such as early-booking savings and last-minute offers on selected sailings. The most reliable way to find a deal that suits your dates, cabin preference and budget is to search by route and let our cruise experts filter by current promotions. Prices start from A$2,395 pp* for sailings in this programme. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same cabin at a lower price, we will match it.

Europe river cruise deals: what to look for

European river cruises make up the overwhelming majority of what is on sale here, and the deal landscape shifts constantly. Danube itineraries between Budapest and Passau or Regensburg are among the most competitive routes, partly because so many ships sail them. Rhine sailings between Basel and Amsterdam offer a similarly wide choice. On both rivers, a 7-night itinerary is the standard building block — long enough to take in multiple countries, short enough to combine with a pre- or post-cruise city stay.

If you are planning a cruise from Australia to Europe, adding a river cruise to the itinerary is a natural fit — our team can build the whole trip as one package.

Make it a full holiday

CruiseAway is a cruise specialist — every booking starts with the cruise, and we build the rest of the holiday around it. Our team can add international and domestic flights, hotels before and after the ship, guided tours ashore, all transfers and travel insurance, either as a pre-built DreamAway Package or as a fully custom itinerary. One call, one booking, one point of contact — whether you are travelling from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth. CruiseAway is a proud member of CLIA and ATAS, and our cruise experts are accredited to advise on the full range of river cruise lines and ships.

Looking for something beyond river cruising? Browse our full range of cruises, cheap cruise deals, or explore Celebrity Cruises in Australia if you want an ocean cruise alongside your river sailing research.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.