This is a bumper year for new luxury river cruise ships – Viking alone is launching nine new vessels in Europe, Southeast Asia and Egypt. Keep your river cruise clients in the know with this list of the most sought-after ships setting sail on the world’s waterways.
When one of the world’s biggest ocean cruise companies announces that it is entering the river cruise market, you know that demand must be going through the roof.
Celebrity Cruises, part of Royal Caribbean Group, has ordered 10 new river ships, with the first due to set sail in Europe in 2027.
“Our guests and travel partners should expect us to do what we do best – innovate and elevate the river cruise experience as we meet the growing demand for intimate, culturally enriching travel experiences,” says Jason Liberty, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.
Celebrity’s new river ships will join an ever-expanding fleet in the coming years. As the 2025 season gets underway with industry leaders reporting record bookings, we check out the bumper crop of new ships.
Viking
It’s hard to keep up with the number of ships Viking produces every year, let alone the current size of its river fleet – with the addition of nine new ships in 2025, it is estimated to be 85.
This year, the world’s biggest river cruise line is launching four new 190-guest Longships for the Rhine, Main and Danube; the 168-guest Longship Viking Nerthus for the Seine; the 106-guest Viking Gyda for the Douro; two 82-guest ships, Viking Amun and Viking Thoth, for the Nile; and the 80-guest Viking Tonle for the Mekong.
Viking Nerthus is now sailing Viking’s eight-day Paris and the Heart of Normandy, and starts the new eight-day Christmastime in Paris and Normandy itinerary in December.
Viking Amum is due to set sail on 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids itineraries in September; also coming in September are Viking Gyda (sailing the 10-day River of Gold itinerary) and Viking Tonle (sailing the 15-day Magnificent Mekong itinerary).
Abercrombie & Kent
Having revived the much-loved ultra-luxe ocean ships Crystal Serenity and Crystal Serenity in 2022-2023, A&K is launching its first river ship, Pure Amazon, on the Peruvian Amazon in June.
“Our first riverboat in Latin America is an exciting new chapter in A&K’s legacy of luxury expedition cruising,” said Cristina Levis, CEO of Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group.
“With her launch, we invite guests to embark on a transformative journey into the very soul of the Amazon, where unparalleled adventures intertwine with the warm hospitality and exceptional service that define every A&K voyage.”
The boutique ship accommodates a maximum of 22 guests in 10 elegant suites and two solo cabins. She was designed by A&K Travel Group’s architect, Adriana Granato of the Milan-based Studio Ibsen, in collaboration with Peruvian artisans.
Other gorgeous onboard spaces that feature locally sourced materials and furnishings include indoor and outdoor lounges, a wellness room, a gym and a pool on the sundeck. The beautifully appointed dining room will serve a range of dishes that highlight the region’s diverse culinary traditions.
Pure Amazon will have a 1:1 staff to guest ratio and expert guides will lead daily excursions, usually two a day, for wildlife spotting on skiffs, jungle walks in the low-water season (June to November) and visits to local riverside communities. Piranha fishing, kayaking and night excursions to observe nocturnal animals add to A&K’s Amazon adventure.
Three-, four- and seven-night itineraries in the vast, mysterious Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve run year-round, offering different experiences in low- and high-water seasons.
AmaWaterways
Making history in April, AmaWaterways’ AmaMagdalena became the first ship from a major cruise line to set sail on Colombia’s Magdalena River. Just as demand for cruising on Europe and Asia’s best-known rivers is expanding rapidly, there’s enormous interest in sailing to less-travelled destinations – and there are only limited navigable rivers around the world.
AmaMagdalena operates two seven-night cruises between Cartagena and Barranquilla, with pre- and post-cruise extensions available in Medellin, Cartagena and Panama City. The custom-built, 60-guest, 30-crew ship offers five categories of staterooms, including spacious Luxury and Grand suites, all of which have balconies.
Stylish public spaces include the lounge, massage room, gym and sundeck with a whirlpool on Deck 1, and restaurant and reception on Deck 2. Menus in the restaurant and alfresco dining area include regionally inspired Latin American as well as Western dishes.
Sister ship AmaMelodia is scheduled to join AmaMagdalena in June, sailing the same seven-night itineraries that visit Palenque, Calamar, Santa Barbara de Pinto, Mompox, El Banco, Magangue and Nuena Venecia, and include walking, cycling and birdwatching tours.
AmaWaterways also launched AmaSintra, its third ship on Portugal’s Douro River, in April. The 102-guest ship joins AmaDouro and AmaVida and will sail seven-night cruises round-trip from Porto, with an optional three-night land program in Lisbon.
Steve Richards, AmaWaterways’ Managing Director AU/NZ, said, “The growth of our fleet with AmaSintra on the Douro River is important for Aussies and Kiwis. Portugal is a hot destination for our market, and with the whole Douro River valley being UNESCO World Heritage listed, it’s an incredible area to explore on a river cruise.”
APT
APT Solara, the first of APT’s two keenly anticipated, Australian-designed European river ships, was christened in April and is now sailing on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.
Itineraries include the eight-day Highlights of the Rhine and Main (Amsterdam to Munich and vice versa), the ever-popular 15-day Magnificent Europe (Amsterdam to Budapest and vice versa), and a selection of longer cruises. Her identical 154-guest, 60-crew sister APT Ostara will offer similar itineraries from June onwards.
Outstanding features on the sleek new ships include six dining venues (plus in-suite service), most notably The Gruner Bar & Dining restaurant that ascends to the sundeck when the ship is in port to make the most of the surrounding views. The Daystar Deck reinvents the traditionally rather dull sundeck, with a rooftop barbecue, bar, pool and sumptuous Conversation Pit.
Lavishly appointed suites on the upper and main decks all have balconies; guests staying in the Owner’s Suites enjoy complimentary laundry services and a spa treatment. Fares for all guests cover all dining, unlimited soft and alcoholic drinks, Signature shore excursions, airport transfers, all gratuities and e-bikes for independent exploration.
Although APT’s MS Estrela started cruising the Douro in August last year, her christening just before APT Solara’s attracted plenty of attention. MS Estrela is APT’s first custom-built river ship; given the rapturous welcome the Australian company’s foray into building its own Europe-based vessels has received so far, we eagerly await news of more to come.
Meanwhile, back in Australia, 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. She will operate seven-night Retreat to the Murray and four-night Murray River Escape cruises, both Melbourne return – but once again, demand is so intense that all sailings bar two in December are already booked out.
Uniworld
Uniworld welcomed SS (Super Ship) Elisabeth to its collection of individually designed, ultra-luxe river ships in April. She is sailing eight-day cruises between Amsterdam and Basel and is a sister ship to SS Victoria, which began sailing for Uniworld last year. Both are former Crystal river ships – Uniworld is chartering them from Seaside Collection – and both offer the full signature Uniworld experience, from décor and furnishings to wining, dining and service.
Like most ships operating on the Rhine, Main and Danube, SS Elisabeth is 135 metres long and 11.3 metres wide, but the difference is that she accommodates a maximum of 110 guests and 41 crew.
Her suites are positively palatial – the two 47sqm Royal Suites can be booked with adjoining standard suites to form two-bedroom suites connected by a separate living room, accommodating up to four guests. All suites and staterooms feature river-facing beds, and bathrooms are stocked with Asprey bath and body products.
Lavish public spaces include a light-filled lounge, indoor pool, and three dining venues. Fares include most shore excursions, daily fitness classes, all soft and alcoholic drinks, onboard gratuities and more.
For more information, visit Viking; A&K; Amawaterways; APT; Uniworld
