- Wine tasting along the Rhine River
- Cruising down the Nile River through the sites of ancient Egypt
- Exploring Normandy’s WWII history on the Seine River
- Experiencing Vietnam’s culture on the Mekong River
- Taking an Amazon River cruise, encountering old ruins and unbelievable wildlife
River Cruises Top Travel Experiences
Icons & Hidden Gem Travel ExperiencesWork with a local expert planner
Play
Play
Top River Cruises Experiences
Unlock Community Benefits
Travel better together
- Save favorite trips and itineraries
- Get insider insights
- Receive personalized recommendations
- ... and much more
Things to do in River Cruises - Expert's guide
1. Danube River
The godfather of European rivers - the legendary Danube River is truly a marvelous way to travel via river cruise. Flowing through 10 countries, there are several routes and itineraries you can choose from - though it is one of the best river cruise destinations for when you have at least two weeks. The countryside changes constantly and you’ll have the opportunity to learn about several different cultures and histories. For first time travelers to Europe, or first time river cruisers, the Danube is highly recommended.
2. Wildlife Viewing
River cruises offer the opportunity to observe wildlife along the banks and in the water, from a unique vantage point. River life, such as pink dolphins in the Amazon, the elusive Irrawaddy River dolphin, and river otters along the Columbia River in the United States are always a joy to spot. In Europe, you may glimpse forest dwellers like deer. If you have a chance to go on a nature hike in Europe keep your eyes peeled for foxes, red squirrels, and some unique birds to add to your life list.
3. Art and History lectures
Take yourself back to school (but without the stress of homework!) aboard a river cruise when you attend on board lectures. These are often available during sailing to the next port, helping you prepare for the next port, as well as providing unique and in depth context to the surrounding lands gliding by. Most common on European river cruises, lectures are a fun perk to enjoy - led by local experts, historians, and scholars.
4. The Adventurous Amazon
Unlike European river cruises, where the focus is on luxury, fine dining, and quaint villages, when you travel on the Amazon, the river cruise experiences is about adventure, wildlife, and nature.
Both on the water and in the rainforest you’ll encounter incredible species, and learn about the Amazon’s unique biodiversity from local guides and wildlife experts.
On some Amazon river cruises you may also have the opportunity to meet local tribes and learn about their way of life - much unchanged over hundreds of years.
5. Wine Tasting on a European River Cruise
River cruises in Europe are known to serve excellent food and wine aboard. There are many wonderful wine regions throughout Europe, and some cruises offer on board tastings or excursions to wineries.
Wine activities should be available year round - with harvest time occuring in the late summer to late fall - a very exciting time to visit! Consider the Rhone or the Douro rivers for close proximity to vineyards. The Danube will also travel through some lesser known wine regions. For wine enthusiasts, this is an opportunity that should not be missed!
6. Sample Port Along the Douro River
As mentioned, the Douro River is a great choice for wine lovers, especially if you’re interested in port tasting! The Douro travels through the Porto region of Portugal, and given it’s namesake, there’s hardly a better place in the world to sample port wine.
7. The Ancient Nile
For history lovers, nothing could beat a trip down the ancient Nile River. Pass by centuries old structures, archaeological sites, temples, and the picturesque dunes of the Valley of the Kings - conjuring up mysterious stories and tales of ancient Egypt.
Nile River cruises are not typically luxurious, but they are comfortable, and will make several stops along the way where you can disembark to explore the sites. They will usually offer optional guided tours for an additional fee. This is well worth doing, as they are often led by Egyptologists eager to share some special insights into Egypts fascinating past!
8. Three Gorges, Yangtze River
Cruising the Yangtze River through China, one of the top highlights you’ll encounter is the Three Gorges. This stunning stretch of the Yangtze River looks as though it has jumped off the pages of an ancient Chinese landscape drawings. You will sail through 120 miles of picturesque scenery, and get an in depth look at the complexities of Three Gorges dam - some cruises offer a tour of this impressive site.
Top River Cruises Tours
4.5/5 Excellent
19 reviewsSmall Group Tour
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsRiver Cruise
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsRiver Cruise
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsRiver Cruise
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsRiver Cruise
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsRiver Cruise
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsRiver Cruise
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviewsRiver Cruise
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
K
Kurenai T.
Jan 2025
This trip was absolutely phenomenal—truly the best 10 days of my life
Thank you for reaching out! This trip was absolutely phenomenal—truly the best 10 days of my life. I’m incredibly grateful for everything you arranged. Cindy, in par...
M
Matthew B.
Dec 2024
It was amazing!
It was amazing! Recommended accommodations, time in Queenstown, Rotorua and Auckland were great. Queenstown was insanely great paired with Milford Sound and Mount Co...
S
Sharon
Jun 2024
Incredible, awesome, amazing experience
Our Real New Zealand Tours travel agent listened to our goals for the trip, how we wanted to travel, and what activities we wanted to do. Based on that, they create...
T
Todd
Jun 2024
Perfect vacation!
Our trip to New Zealand exceeded all of our expectations thanks to Geoff's amazing service as our travel agent. He eagerly provided us with suggestions and tailored ...
L
Linda D
Apr 2024
AMAZING from start to finish!
It was such a pleasure to work with Annie from start to finish. Annie worked patiently with my very particular husband for a good month to plan a 19 day trip. (I thi...
Practicalities & Logistics
About Travelstride
Find your perfect trip
An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.
Save time
Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.
Save money
Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.
Travel confidently
Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!