The Independent

7 of the best river cruises around the world for 2024

Source: Getty Images

A cruise holiday isn’t always about setting sail across vast oceans. For an alternative type of break on the water, winding your way inland might sound similar but it’s a vastly different experience.

From crossing deep into the untouched areas of the Amazon rainforest to exploring some of Europe’s finest cities, the river cruise experience is one that allows tourists to get to grips with the history, culture and tradition of a destination in a slow, immersive fashion.

This could be in the form of sampling Creole cuisine in Mississippi or discovering historic sites in Vietnam, but whatever it is, there’s plenty of choice across Europe, Asia, South America and North America. Read on for a selection of the best cruises, from the Mississippi to the Mekong.

The Danube

The Danube rises in the mountains of Germany’s Black Forest (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Europe’s second longest river – and arguably its most famous – river takes you through amazing, , Slovakia and Romania. Cruises along the Danube can vary from a handful of days to almost three weeks, giving you time to explore the elegance of cities like , Budapest, Bratislava or Belgrade.

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