Cool-weather itineraries, more gen X and multi-gen cruisers, increasing demand for France, Portugal and Egypt – cruise line execs outline to Karryon the top trends in river cruise you need to be across.
The inaugural River Cruise Showcase at last year’s sold-out Cruise360 was incredibly well- attended, and advisors should book early for the August 2025 Cruise360 in Brisbane, where river cruising will once again be in the spotlight.
CLIA Australasia’s Managing Director in Australasia, Joel Katz, says that river cruising has been evolving rapidly over recent years, giving travellers a “huge variety of choices” and an increasingly diverse range of experiences to enjoy.
“We are about to see a succession of new ships making their debut, not only on the most popular rivers like the Rhine and Danube, but also in areas of growing interest such as Portugal, Egypt and Colombia,” Katz says.
He notes that the Australian market is responding very positively to the latest developments in river cruising, which are putting an increasing focus on cultural experiences, immersive activities, themed cruises and creative itineraries.
“River cruising has always had natural attributes that give it a strong appeal – exploring whole regions or countries easily, sailing into the heart of villages and cities. But now river cruise lines are offering so much more in terms of the experiences they offer, both onboard and onshore, and I think this is creating enormous potential in the Australian market.”
AmaWaterways: first Colombia sailing, longer itineraries
“France and the Lower Danube are trending very well for us,” says Steve Richards, AmaWaterways Managing Director Australia & New Zealand.
“They are especially popular with those who have done the Amsterdam to Budapest itinerary and are looking for new areas and rivers to explore.”
Operators such as AmaWaterways are seeing an increasing demand from Australians and New Zealanders for longer river cruising itineraries and pre- and post-cruise land packages.
“Our land package options offer additional opportunities to explore a destination pre- or post-cruise, and our current promo for Q1 2025 is Complimentary Land – free pre- or post- land extensions on selected European itineraries. This is proving very popular,” says Richards.
“We are excited that our first Colombian itineraries are launching in March. We’re proud to be pioneering river cruising on the Magdalena River, working closely with local communities to ensure we and our guests can contribute positively to their livelihoods and the environment.
“Another major trend we’re seeing is the average age of our guests coming down. AmaWaterways’ guests now average 59 years old, attributable to our dedicated focus on health and wellness onboard and in our shore excursions.
“We’ve also seen a noticeable increase in multi-generational enquiry and bookings, with groups of families enjoying river cruising. Many of our ships offer interconnecting rooms, and triple and quad share, which make it easier for groups of different sizes and ages to holiday with us.”
Avalon Waterways: younger cruisers, new France and Portugal itineraries
“Avalon Waterways’ 2025 bookings are off the charts!” says Pam Hoffee, President of Avalon Waterways. “On the heels of a record-breaking year in 2024, 2025 is on another record pace.
“Travellers who are looking for a specific cruise, or time of year, should definitely plan and book early to guarantee their space.”
Hoffee believes this increase – particularly in Australia – is driven in part by a younger generation of travellers who are taking to luxury river cruising with “great gusto”. She says that Gen X is leading the charge and currently accounts for 25 per cent of Avalon’s passengers out of Australia.
“In terms of the hottest destinations for 2025, the post-Olympics afterglow continues, with 37 per cent of travellers we recently surveyed globally naming France top of their list. This ongoing demand inspired a 33 per cent increase in Avalon Waterways’ cruises throughout various French regions in 2025.
“We also debuted in Portugal on the Douro River last year, with a new itinerary and our new ship Avalon Alegria, and it’s quickly become a high demand favourite for 2025. Come for the Portuguese tarts, stay for the port.
“Lastly, it seems travellers can’t get enough of off-season cool weather cruising, particularly those who take in the famed European Christmas markets. Demand has driven a whopping 88 per cent increase in our festive cruise offerings since 2023.”
Scenic: Cool-weather European cruises, ‘detour’ destinations
Cool-weather cruising is a trend that many lines are seeing in river cruising. Anthony Laver, Scenic Group General Manager of Sales & Marketing APAC, echoes Hoffee’s comments.
“Luxury river cruising is continually evolving, with recent trends showcasing a growing demand for departures during cooler months, extended seasons, alignment with major local events and ‘detour destinations’,” he says.
He goes on to explain that Scenic’s journeys have been curated to showcase smaller towns and villages, many of them off the “traditional” mainstream routes and itineraries.
“On a Rhine River cruise, Scenic docks in Koblenz, one of Germany’s oldest cities, which is surrounded by historic landmarks and immersive experiences. Also, in Baden-Baden, a spa town on the fringe of the Black Forest that’s famous for its Roman baths, guests can feel like a local as we offer deeper exploration of this lesser-known gem all year-round.
“This is a key benefit of our European waterways and Mekong River all-inclusive ultra-luxury cruises.”
Tauck: multi-gen groups, pre- and post-cruise land stays
Tauck’s Bridges Tours are specifically designed for family groups. The company operates a selection of river cruises in Europe that offer onboard itineraries, activities and shore excursions tailored for families with children from the age of four upwards.
David Clark, Tauck’s Managing Director in Australia, says, “Family cruising through our Bridges program is booming, with 2025 and even 2026 trips already extremely well sold. For this, the average family group size is eight people, often spanning three generations.
“France remains a standout destination for 2025 and 2026, prompting us to add two new ships to that region in 2026. There’s also significant demand for cruises that include pre- and post- land stays, for example, our Paris, Bordeaux and the Seine itinerary.
“Guest feedback consistently highlights the appeal of exclusive access to destinations included as part of the trip, rather than optional extras sold during the journey — an approach that reflects our commitment to offering a truly inclusive product.”
Clark also notes that guests are booking further in advance than ever, with an average lead time of 11 months.
Uniworld: back-to-back cruises, more group travel bookings
“We’re seeing more and more back-to-back cruise bookings,” says Alice Ager, Managing Director, Australia & New Zealand, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.
“We had a great example of this the other day with a client who booked a 14-night cruise in Europe and then added a stopover in Cairo to experience the Nile on the way home.
“Multi-gen and group travel is on the rise with more and more bookings for two or more cabins for friends travelling together. We’re also seeing an increase in extended families choosing a December cruise to celebrate the Christmas holiday together.
“Extensions pre- and post-cruise are in high demand with Aussies and Kiwis looking to travel for longer and have everything taken care of.
“There’s a massive surge in interest in river cruising and land extensions in Egypt. Is it because the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza is now open? Or is it because of a peace treaty in nearby nations? I couldn’t say, but it’s back and bigger than ever, which is fantastic.”
Viking: immersive experiences, upcoming regions
According to Michelle Black, Managing Director ANZ at Viking, Central Europe remains the most popular region for Viking’s river cruisers and the Grand European Tour, which sails between Amsterdam and Budapest, has been a firm favourite for a long time.
However, Black adds, “At the same time we are seeing a significant increase in demand for our eight-day Rhine Getaway itinerary between Basel and Amsterdam; we believe it’s because it represents excellent value as land costs across Europe have risen dramatically in recent years.
“Portugal and Eastern Europe are experiencing a rise in bookings because of the wealth of ports that are rich in cultural tradition, history, regional culinary treasures, museums and architecture. There are also opportunities for immersive experiences such as cycling through vineyards, cooking demonstrations in castles and meeting locals in their homes that that make travel more meaningful.”
Viking’s Egypt cruises are also incredibly popular and by 2026 the line will have 10 ships sailing on the Nile.
Black says, “We have added new ships to try to meet demand and we are practically sold out for 2025. It’s a country that is on many travellers’ wish lists with its story of rich civilisation, great pyramids, museums full of ancient treasures, temples, tombs and magnificent cities to visit.”
