If you’ve previously embarked on a European river cruise, have one in the calendar already or are thinking of getting one booked, the words ‘low water levels’ may strike fear in your heart. But worry not!

Recently I have just gotten back from sailing with Riviera Travel onboard the MS Geoffrey Chaucer around the Dutch Waterways. This was my first river cruising experience and it did not disappoint.

Having just celebrated 40 years of luxury and innovation, Scenic and Emerald seem set to extend their winning streak, turning their eyes to the rivers with three new ships announced for 2027/28 launches. 

The bad news is that time travel cruises haven’t actually been invented yet. The good news is that a cruise through Egypt with Uniworld comes pretty close.

Without further ado, let us share our picks for the 7 best rivers for luxury cruising. 

In March, my colleagues Jill, Isabella and I were lucky enough to attend the CLIA RiverView Conference in Budapest. I already knew I loved river cruising before my trip but I was truly reminded why it is such a beautiful way to cruise and experience various cities and countries in one go.