Best rivers to cruise in 2025

River Douro

If you’re looking for scenic landscapes and mesmerising views, then the river Douro is for you. The Douro is the second largest river on the Iberian Peninsula. It starts in Northern Spain in the Picos de Urbion mountain range, and runs for 528m until it reaches its mouth near the bustling city of Porto.

Porto is the main hub along the river, and it is an incredibly popular tourist destination. There are plenty of excursions you can take part in whilst you’re visiting. Why not try a traditional food tour where you can learn about key ingredients or produce in Portuguese cuisine? Or you could go on a walking tour of the cultural city and experience the local charm and lively atmosphere before grabbing a pastel de nata!

Luxury river cruise lines which sail the Douro include: APT Travelmarvel, Scenic, Emerald, AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways.

Panache Cruises Ambassadors, VisitWithUs, travelled the Douro and loved their experience. They embarked on an “adventure full of valleys, dams, huge river locks, incredibly low bridges, the creepiest cathedrals and of course many glasses of delicious Portuguese wine”.

River Rhône

The Rhône, a famous dual-nationality Swiss and French river, rises in the Swiss Alps and passes through Lake Geneva, creating some breathtaking views.

The river passes through the culturally rich city of Arles in the South of France, meaning you can take a trip to the historic Arles Arena or visit the beautiful gardens dedicated to Van Gough. This beautiful city is where the river splits into the Great Rhône and the Little Rhone before flowing through Lyon, France’s culinary capital, and joining onto the River Saône.

Whilst you’re in Lyon, why not climb the city wall and soak up the incredible views, visit the busting Sunday markets or discover the hidden mosaics throughout the city?

Luxury river cruise lines which sail the Rhône include: Scenic, Emerald, Riviera, AmaWaterways, Avalon, Uniworld and Riverside.

Mekong River

The famous Mekong River flows through Southeast and East Asia and is the 12th longest river in the world. The Mekong flows through cities imbued with culture and incredible heritage. The main countries you can river cruise through are Vietnam and Cambodia and the best time to visit is November to January; the weather is not too cold, but equally not too humid, hot or rainy.

The river also acts as a border between Thailand and Cambodia, and it flows through some incredible must-see cities such as Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, The river also flows through the bustling Ho Chi Minh City, previously known as Saigon. During your time in Ho Chi Minh City we recommend you take a trip to the Cu Chi tunnels where you can enjoy an adventure packed day whilst gaining an insight on the vietnam war. 

Panache Cruises Founder and CEO James Cole recently enjoyed “the best holiday of his life” on the Mekong with AmaWaterways: “Our first experience was to explore one of the Mekong’s tributaries by tender boat. We headed to Dong Hoa Hiep, where we saw locals making rice paper and snake whisky”.

Luxury river cruise lines which sail the Mekong include: Emerald Cruises, Scenic, Uniworld and Avalon Waterways. 

Chobe River

The Chobe River starts in the highlands of Angola in Africa, where it is known as the Kwando River. It then forms the border between Angola and Zambia and continues to flow through Botswana, The Peaceful Nation, where river cruisers can enjoy an incredible safari experience. Take the time to explore the magnificent Chobe National Park, which is home to the world's largest elephant herd. They also have an incredible 440 bird species for you to learn all about! 

The best time to cruise the River Chobe is between May and October, as this time period will increase the wildlife prospects and the weather is pleasant and dry.

Our luxury cruise partner, AmaWaterways, offers several cruises along the Chobe River. 

River Danube

The River Danube is one of the most celebrated waterways in Europe, as it allows cruisers to explore ancient towns embedded with culture and history whilst providing breathtaking views. The river rises in the Black Forest Mountains in Western Germany, and flows all the way to its mouth in the Black Sea. On its way it passes through: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and finally Ukraine. The best time to cruise the Danube is April to June, as you will enjoy a warmer temperature.

Why not explore the beautiful capital cities of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest on an Upper Danube river cruise? Vienna is home to the State Opera House where the renowned Strauss and Beethoven graced us with their musical talent. Explore Budapest and experience the uniquely elegant and romantic atmosphere the city holds.

Alternatively, the Lower Danube takes you through Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Serbia. On the way you’ll find the spectacular Iron Gates and have the chance to discover over 300 bird species in the thriving Danube Delta.

Luxury river cruise lines which sail the Danube include: Riviera, Scenic, Riverside, Avalon and Uniworld.

One of our Panache Cruises connoisseurs had the chance to experience the beautiful River Danube. Here is what they enjoyed: “A few of my favourite excursions would have to be Melk Abbey. The grounds were beautiful, the towns of Durnstein made me feel like I was in a fairy tale with all the cobbled streets”.

Why take a luxury river cruise?

River cruising is the best way to discover and explore hidden cities full of culture and unique heritage from a whole new perspective. Another bonus of river cruising is that after a long day exploring, you have the chance to relax and soak up incredible views on board and enjoy sunsets, architecture and scenic landscapes from the comfort of your own luxurious cabin.

Even better, you don’t get seasick!

Fancy a river cruise in 2025? We’ve got the best river cruise deals you can find.

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