River runs
Get up close and personal with stunning riverbank cities and towns on these relaxed river cruises.
The river ship docks on a bank of the Danube, so close to the Serbian village that you can hear the roosters crow and take in the fragrance of the grassy bank. It’s only a dozen or so steps onto shore, and you’re walking into the village for lunch or cycling along the towpath in search of a sunny cafe for a pleasant Campari. Luxury ocean cruising, with its swimming pools, chef-helmed restaurants and butler service, may be the glamorous big sister of river cruising, but slow and serene river journeys are becoming increasingly popular. There’s a lot to love about an elegant glide along a great river. The slender river ships, built to pass through locks and under bridges, pull right up to riverbanks, without the fuss of ports and immigration. Whether it’s the meandering European rivers, such as the Danube or Rhine, or the chaotic rivers of South-East Asia, such as the Irrawaddy or Mekong, these busy waterways are always teeming with life. Children wave from shore, barges drift past, and watery arteries take guests to local markets, vineyards and sacred sites. From a cosy deckchair, there are long, slow sunsets to savour and scenery glimpsed from a more intimate viewpoint than when you’re at sea. River ships are part floating hotel, part taxi — bringing guests right into city centres. Millennials, who have taken to river travel for its active itineraries (and Instagram appeal), also love the easy access to nightlife and festivals in cities such as Budapest, Belgrade and Paris. Reflecting this trend, U by Uniworld has launched two new ships, The A and The B, targeting under-45s and the young at heart. Passenger numbers are small, as most ships accommodate about 100 guests; a ship can feel like your own luxury home away from home, especially those with large suites and butler service, such as Crystal River Cruises. Cruise lines can tailor excursions to the individual, or you can do your own thing and return to the ship for tea. As for comfort, river cruise ships are becoming more sumptuous and design-focused. Expect antique furniture and expensive artworks on Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, chic Scandinavian design on Viking River Cruises and wall-to-wall windows on Avalon Waterways. New itineraries are opening up, too, from Russia and the Baltic to exotic Mandalay in Myanmar. Avalon Waterways, known for its European cruises along the Rhine, operates all-suite ships and is venturing into India for the 2019–2020 season with a 13-day cruise along the Ganges River from Delhi to Kolkata. Scenic Tsar cruises the Volga River from Moscow to St Petersburg in a 15-day Imperial Jewels of Russia tour — the best way to have an introduction to this complex country. Viking River Cruises eight-day Egypt Cruise on the new deluxe Viking Ra is so popular they’ve added extra sailings in 2019–20.