River cruising was in the spotlight during CLIA’s popular inaugural River Cruise Showcase at Cruise360, reflecting the huge interest in what used to be considered a ‘niche’ sector of cruising. We look at the new river ships coming in 2025 and the trends that will help get your clients onboard.
Although it’s hard to find exact figures about the river cruise industry, one that’s frequently quoted (from the River Cruise Market report published in March by Future Market Insights) says that the market is estimated to be worth US$2.5 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to surpass US$7.3 billion by 2034.
Whatever those vast sums really mean – I’m not a statistician – it’s clear that river cruising is riding a very big wave right now.
Speakers at CLIA Australasia’s River Cruise Showcase in August talked about the current success and enormous potential of the river cruise market and the international CLIA River View Conference in Budapest in March 2025 is sure to sell out quickly.
Key river cruising trends
Major cruise operators are already seeing more bookings from younger travellers plus increased demand for active shore excursions and longer European itineraries.
According to Australia’s recently formed River Cruise Collective:
- 87 per cent of Australians aged 18+ are open to river cruising
- 31 per cent “would love to river cruise” – so are strongly in favour of trying it
- 22 per cent of those intending to take a river cruise are new river cruisers.
Other trends in river cruise mirror those seen in most areas of travel: wellness (healthy eating options, onboard fitness classes as well as active shore excursions); culinary experiences (most river cruises already offer itineraries that take in the world’s most famous food and wine destinations but there’s greater interest in cooking classes, market visits and dining experiences ashore); and a thirst for immersive, educational tours.
Multi-generational and dedicated family itineraries are also proving increasingly popular – standouts include Tauck’s Family Bridges program, Adventures by Disney (in partnership with AmaWaterways) and Uniworld’s Generations Collection.
Cruise Month’s River Week for advisors
Spreading the river cruising concept among new and existing clients is the name of the game.
“CLIA’s annual Cruise Month forms a big part of our cruise marketing, planning and strategy for the year,” says Byron Horne, Assistant Manager at Bicton Travel.
“River cruising makes up about 30 per cent of our total cruise business, so the river cruise week is of equal importance to us as ocean, expedition and luxury cruise sectors.
“Up-and-coming river cruising destinations such as the Amazon, Peruvian rivers and the Magdalena River in Colombia keep adding fresh interest into the market,” he continues.
“With the constant addition of newbuilds on the rivers, particularly in Europe, this creates a buzz of excitement for new and past river cruise guests.”
New ships on the horizon
There’s an exciting selection of new river ships setting sail on the world’s waterways next year – 19 ships from seven cruise lines, including nine from Viking.
APT Starting close to home, APT (in an exclusive chartering partnership with Murray River Paddlesteamers) is launching the 38-guest luxury vessel PS Australian Star on the Murray River in June 2025. Itineraries range from the eight-day Retreat to the Murray to the four-day Murray River Gateway and five-day Murray River Escape.
APT’s first newbuilds, the sleek, luxurious 154-guest ships APT Solara and APT Ostara are both scheduled launch in Europe next year. They will cruise the Rhine, Main and Danube and were designed in Melbourne. Among the standout features are six dining venues and wellness facilities such as an onboard gym and spa, plus e-bikes for exploring ashore.
Amadeus River Cruises’ eighth river ship, Amadeus Amara, is scheduled to launch in July. The family-owned company has operated river cruises in Europe since 1997, and the latest vessel features an indoor pool that turns into a cinema in the evenings.
AmaWaterways is launching two ships to cruise on the Magdalena River in Colombia, South America, the first major cruise line to sail in the region.
The 60-guest AmaMagdalena and 64-guest Ama Melodia will sail two seven-night itineraries, from Barranquilla to Cartagena, and vice versa. In April, the 102-guest AmaSintra will join sister-ship AmaDouro on Portugal’s Douro River.
Uniworld will introduce S.S. Elisabeth in March on the Rhine. She is not strictly a new ship – she sailed as Crystal Mahler for Crystal River Cruises and is a sister to the equally elegant S.S. Victoria.
Both ships accommodate a maximum of 110 guests and highlights include a gym, massage room, indoor pool and a bar on the sun deck.
Riviera Cruises is introducing two new river ships in 2025: the 178-guest Riviera Radiance which will cruise the Danube and the 114-guest Riviera Rose which will cruise the Douro.
Riviera Radiance is a new class of vessel for the UK-based cruise line, featuring larger suites, a third dining venue, spa and wellness area and a pool on the sun deck.
Viking continues to dominate the river cruise scene, adding 17 new 190-guest Longships to its river fleet in the coming years to cruise on the Rhine, Main, Danube and Seine rivers. Five of the new vessels will be delivered in 2025, with another five to be delivered in 2026.
The 168-guest Viking Nerthus, due for completion in 2025, will sail the Seine, joining the current fleet of four Viking Longships that dock in the heart of Paris.
Two 82-guest ships purpose-built for Egypt (Viking Amum and Viking Thoth) and the 80-guest Viking Tonle – a sister-ship to 2022’s Viking Saigon, which will sail on the Mekong – are also due to set sail in 2025.
For more information visit cruising.org.au