BY TIM HEDGLEY, GROUP TRAVEL EDITOR
The approach of the festive season is the perfect excuse to treat yourself – so why not book a luxury cruise for next year along some of Europe’s most beautiful waterways with Riverside Cruises
As Google searches are up +60% for Danube River Cruises and up 50% for Rhine River Cruises in the past seven days, it seems that European river cruises are still a rising trend in travel.
Riverside Luxury Cruises offers the crème de la crème of river cruises and has created several exciting routes for travellers wanting to see Europe by river in 2025.
Cruising fans and newcomers should look to the deluxe river cruise collection for a varied, destination-hopping holiday, offering the same hospitality standards as top 5* hotels.
Most excitingly, for the upcoming year, Riverside Luxury Cruises is taking travellers on the Unabridged Danube route, a 22-day itinerary from the Black Sea to the North Sea, passing through nine countries and 28 cities and towns.
But that’s not all; guests can also book unforgettable journeys through the Wachau Valley, the Lavender Fields of Avignon or the festive towns of Eastern Europe in Winter. Read below to discover the top 5 routes by Riverside Luxury Cruises to take in 2025:
Riverside Luxury Cruises’ longest cruise yet – 22 days from the Black Sea to the North Sea.
Riverside Luxury Cruises’ Unabridged Danube cruise showcases history, culture, food and wine from the breadth of the Rhine, Main, and Danube. This longer route allows travellers to experience more popular destinations, like Vienna and Amsterdam, as well as hidden gems, such as Regensburg and Aschach. The cruise will depart from Ruse, known as ‘Little Vienna’, it is home to the largest port on the Danube. Here, guests can discover stunning Belle-Epoque architecture such as the Opera House, wide boulevards, and the riverside promenade, perfect for an afternoon stroll. Other highlights include visits to Svishtov, a charming town at the southernmost point of the Danube, Vidin, home to Bulgaria’s second-largest cathedral, and Kalocsa, one of Hungary’s oldest cities where traditional buildings and contemporary architecture exist side by side.
Prices start from £16,198 for The Unabridged Danube route departing Giurgiu, Romania on 7th October 2025 for a 23-day stay in the Seahorse Suite on a full board basis – visit https://riverside-cruises.com/en/routen/UG4GB4BPA14
Celebrate 200 years of Johann Strauss with The Blue Danube.
Join Riverside Luxury Cruises on the Blue Danube cruise to Vienna, just in time for Johann Strauss’ 200th birthday on 10thAugust. The journey starts in Budapest, where guests can marvel at neo-Gothic architecture such as the Grand Parliament Building.
On the next stops, travellers can enjoy historic Bratislava and Tulln, which have much to offer history buffs. A particular highlight is the sail through the beautiful Wachau Valley, a UNESCO heritage site.
After the scenic day on the ship, guests can visit Johann Strauss Wohnung in Vienna, the apartment where he composed the route’s namesake piece, ‘On the Beautiful Blue Danube’.
The cruise also stops in the lesser-known towns of Melk, Grein, and Dürnstein before returning to Vienna on the 10th of August. Here there are three events being held by the City of Vienna to celebrate 200 years of Strauss’ birth, such as musical theatre performance of Viennese Blood or the Time Waltz of the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel.
Prices start from £2,674 for The Blue Danube Cruise route departing Budapest, Hungary on several dates from July to October on the Riverside Mozart for a seven-night stay in a Harmony Suite on a full board basis full board – visit for more information: https://riverside-cruises.com/en/routen/BV4VMV3
RIVERSIDE CRUISES Soiree in South of France
A trip to the south of France during lavender season is sure to please all the senses. The Soiree in South of France cruise begins in Avignon and meanders to Arles, home to natural parks and Roman remains.
The latter was also Van Gogh’s favourite town, here he created 184 paintings, including the famous Starry Night painting series. Guests will also travel through historical Tarascon before returning through Avignon for an overnight stop in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, an area famous for its red wines.
You will also pass through Viviers, home to possibly the smallest cathedral in France, where guests are invited to take a half-day excursion to France’s Drôme Provençale to indulge in lavender fields and nougat.
Next on the itinerary is Tain L’Hermitage, home to Cotes du Rhone wine and artisanal chocolate. Finally, Lyon, beloved for its fine food, history, and art, here travellers can enjoy quenelles, explore the historic Vieux Lyon, and discover silk paintings found in the La Croix-Rousse district.
Prices start from £4,000 for the South of France Soirée route departing Avignon on the 22nd of June on the Riverside Ravel for a seven-night stay in the Harmony Suite on a full board basis– visit for more information: https://riverside-cruises.com/en/routen/GRG3GVL4-L
Make the most out of your weekend with a five-city, four-day excursion.
Get the best of a weekend break with a four-day cruise from Frankfurt to Dusseldorf, taking guests through the cosmopolitan hub along the Main through to the Middle Rhine, filled with history and fantasy. The mini river cruise finishes in the peaceful Moselle, which is home to Koblenz, a city that has been the site of many battles and conflicts, showcasing Middle Ages fortifications that survive to this day. Finish the voyage in Dusseldorf, a city known for art and culture, as well as nightlife and architecture.
Here, travellers can discover an impressive number of museums and galleries that house a significant collection of modern and contemporary art. Home to high end designer and luxury stores, it is a perfect place for guests to fulfil their shopping fix, too.
Prices start from £1,350 for Main, Rhine & Moselle River Ramble route departing Frankfurt on the 16th of July on the Riverside Debussy for a three-night stay in a Melody Suite on a full board basis– visit for more information: https://riverside-cruises.com/en/routen/FD3
Celebrate Christmas in style aboard the Riverside Mozart for five days from Budapest, Hungary to Vienna, Austria
Hop on the Riverside Mozart and experience the Christmas markets around Eastern Europe. In Budapest, guests can relax in one of the many hot spring spas after finishing their Christmas shopping and sightseeing. In the second stop, Bratislava, travellers can savour traditional Slovakian food and sip on locally produced mulled wine. Finally, in Vienna, visitors can admire the Christmas lights on the lake outside the Upper Belvedere palace, while enjoying a warm mug of Weihnachtspunsch (Christmas punch).
Prices start from £4,462 for the Danube Holiday Delights route departing Budapest, Hungary on the 16th of December on the Riverside Mozart for a seven-night stay in a Harmony Suite on a full board basis – visit for more information: https://riverside-cruises.com/en/routen/XT-BV4VP6
“We’re thrilled to have our 2025 itineraries live and ready for booking. Riverside Luxury Cruises offers unparalleled luxury on some of Europe’s most breathtaking waters. Our all-suite ships; Riverside Mozart, Riverside Ravel, and newly inaugurated Riverside Debussy offer the most spacious accommodations, highest staff-to-guest ratio, and more onboard amenities than any other river cruise line.” Charlie Hewitt-Davies, Managing Director for Riverside Luxury Cruises, U.K. Managing Director
Riverside offers a variety of routes and itineraries for 2025.
The above is just a selection of what’s on offer.
For a comprehensive list of all their 2025 cruises, please head to https://riverside-cruises.com/en/routen.
