Ten surprising rivers you can cruise down

Tisza River, Hungary/Serbia

This major Eastern European river originates in Ukraine, forms part of the boundary between Slovakia and Hungary, and traverses the Great Hungarian Plain before merging with the Danube in Serbia.

Cruise journeys commence in Tokaj, renowned for its sweet Tokay wine, and proceed through the Hortobagy grasslands and wetlands.

The highlight is Szeged, a vibrant university town known for its art nouveau architecture, energetic atmosphere, and charming riverside setting.

Red River, Vietnam

The Red River deserves more recognition as it flows through Hanoi and empties into the Gulf of Tonkin just south of Halong Bay.

Pandaw, a boutique cruise operator specializing in Asian rivers, offers remarkable trips starting among Halong Bay’s stunning limestone formations and venturing into lush mountain and rice paddy landscapes via several tributaries.

Notable attractions include Ba Vi National Park, the Hoa Binh hydroelectric dam, and the UNESCO-listed village of Duong Lam.

Gambia River, Gambia

This key river divides Africa’s smallest country and links its historic landmarks, such as the capital Banjul (the starting and ending point for cruises), the former Atlantic slave trade center Kunta Kinteh, and Janjangbureh old town.

Wassu’s stone circles are UNESCO-listed, and the river flows through a wildlife-rich delta and wetlands where you can observe crocodiles, hippos, chimpanzees, and monkeys. The Bao Bolong Reserve is home to 550 bird species.

Intracoastal Waterway, US

This network of interconnected canals, rivers, and occasional protected Atlantic bays stretches from Florida to Rhode Island along the eastern coast of the United States. Cruises offer diverse itineraries, including historic Yorktown in Virginia (linked to the War of Independence) and the charming college town of Annapolis in Maryland.

Southern cities like Charleston in South Carolina and Savannah in Georgia feature elegant historical architecture and relaxed atmospheres.

Elbe River, Germany/Czechia

This relatively narrow and occasionally shallow river winds through northern Czechia and eastern Germany, showcasing picturesque sandstone cliffs in a region known as Saxon Switzerland.

Highlights include the baroque city of Dresden with its impressive Green Vault treasure museum, the porcelain factory and Castle Hill in Meissen, and historic Wittenberg.

Cruises often begin and end in Prague or Berlin, accessible by land transfers.

Ohio River, US

The Ohio River runs diagonally from Pennsylvania to its confluence with the Mississippi River in southern Illinois, separating the Midwest from the American South.

Cruises typically travel between Pittsburgh and either Memphis, known for its music, or Louisville, famous for bourbon and horse racing.

Historical steamboat port Madison and the vibrant city of Cincinnati offer unique experiences, while Marietta in Ohio is a cultural gem.

Chobe River, Botswana

Short cruises on small boats along this river provide an opportunity to witness an array of wildlife in Chobe National Park’s beautiful floodplains.

Expect to see giraffes grazing on acacia trees, kingfishers darting among papyrus, and hippos enjoying the water. A highlight could be observing a herd of elephants at the river’s edge.

Loire River, France

France’s longest river, the Loire, is famed for its royal connections and abundance of chateaus, especially west of Paris. Despite this, it remains relatively underexplored by cruise lines, with only CroisiEurope offering trips there.

Cruises visit some of the most notable chateaus, including Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry, and Chenonceau, and travel downriver to Angers, Nantes, and the shipbuilding town of Saint-Nazaire on the Atlantic coast.

Amazon River, Peru

While some cruises explore the Brazilian Amazon, many depart from Iquitos in Peru, a notable city without road connections but with an airport.

The muddy river and its tributaries are surrounded by vast rainforests home to diverse wildlife such as monkeys, toucans, sloths, and vibrant butterflies. Occasional villages provide additional points of interest.

Brahmaputra River, India

One of the world’s largest rivers, the Brahmaputra changes names from Tibet to the Bay of Bengal.

Cruises range from trips between Jorhat and Guwahati, connecting with the Ganges-Hooghly to end in Kolkata, to round trips from Guwahati.

You’ll encounter the Himalayas, national parks protecting rhinos, elephants, and tigers, as well as Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries, tea plantations, and silk-weaving villages.

Sustainability: River and ocean cruising impact waterways. To lessen your footprint, consider carbon offsetting and choose cruise lines that use cleaner fuels and practice recycling.