River cruising

Rivers have long been the lifeblood of countries and continents; they were the most efficient means of carrying trade goods deep inland. Towns and cities grew up on river banks and they became the seats of commerce and politics, history and culture.

The growth in river cruising is extraordinary with most of that happening in Europe on the main rivers of the Rhine, Main, Moselle, and the Danube, and leisure river cruising is now dominating these rivers.

Kiwis love river cruising. We are becoming more travelled, and river cruising is small ship cruising which we enjoy. Cruise World offers an array of river cruising options with something for every style and budget - regional or multi country, mainstream or expedition, classic itineraries or themed/event itineraries.

In Europe there are a number of locally based European owned river companies. While river cruising is relatively new to New Zealanders, it isn’t to Europe where river cruise companies in varying forms have been operating for over 50 years. The Austrian river company Amadeus by Luftner fully caters to English speaking guests, and offers a genuine European experience at a very competitive price. Cherryl Browne, Cruise World’s General Manager says, “There is also more interest in these local operators because they tend to be less structured than the more mainstream river cruise companies and are attracting a more younger and independent clientele.

With Amadeus, shore excursions are offered additionally in a variety of packages to suit clients individual interests and budgets.

“There is some misconception that river cruising is very expensive. In fact we have access to river cruises in Europe that are of a very high standard and are exceptionally well priced.”

The growth of river cruising in Europe has fuelled interest in this type of cruising in other destinations too. Cruising through Vietnam and Cambodia on the Mekong has become a bucket list staple for many cruisers.

Similarly with Myanmar (formerly Burma) opening up in the last few years, you can join the trickle (soon to be rush) of travellers exploring the country along the Irrawaddy River. Cruise World offers a range of river boats on these rivers with very boutique luxury operators like Sanctuary Retreats, to the more traditional style of Pandaw.

With cheaper and more flights to the America’s, there is growing interest in river cruises on the Snake and Columbia Rivers up in Oregon, the Mississippi and Hudson Rivers, and down in South America the fascinating Amazon River is easily explored by river cruises.