Take me to the river

Small is big  

Imagine staying in a boutique hotel with fewer than 200 guests. Now visualise relaxing in a beautifully appointed stateroom as incredible scenery glides by, and waking up each morning in a new town or even country. Welcome to river cruising. From grand lobbies and art galleries to pickleball courts and swim-up bars, travellers are lapping up the creativity of modern-day river ships.  

Smooth sailing all the way  

Great waterways like the Rhine, Rhône, Danube and their tributaries criss-cross Europe, creating natural passages between iconic physical landmarks, architectural masterpieces and historic sites. The river is a time capsule and you have a front-row seat to places best viewed at water level such as Melk Abbey perched high on the Danube, grapevines clinging to stone-walled terraces along the Rhône or traversing the Rhine Gorge, a dramatic 65km stretch of water lined with castles and fortresses.

Culinary delights  

There’s nothing more interwoven with culture than food, and river cruise dining is like being in a series of local neighbourhoods. With access to seasonal ingredients along the way, there’s a true regional connection. In addition to a main dining room and usually a smaller al fresco restaurant, some cleverly designed ships have started to include pop-up spaces and niche eateries, giving an even greater sense of place.