Pair stops for safaris, shopping, and castle tours with plenty of rejuvenating spa time and delicious food and drink on board. Here, the best luxury river cruises for 2027.
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Ready to chart new territory? There’s never been a better time to do just that on a river cruise. Once a mainstay in Europe and select few other regions, one of the biggest luxury cruise trends of 2027 is “the expansion beyond Europe’s classic waterways,” Q Cruise + Travel luxury cruise advisor Rob Clabbers told VERANDA earlier this year. While sailing through classics like the Rhine and Danube rivers is lovely, a growing number of cruise lines are offering adventures that unfold in other parts of the globe, including Africa, Asia, and North America.
And these aren’t your grandparents’ river cruises. (Although there was a lot to love about those, too!) Today’s river cruise companies not only offer more globe-spanning journeys, but they also promise deeper cultural experiences, more customization options, an opportunity to weave in some wellness, and a fleet of refreshed or brand-new luxury vessels. No wonder the river cruise market—with most ships carrying fewer than 200 passengers—has grown at an annual rate of 10 to 15 percent in the last decade, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) data.
Along with that increased demand, there’s a growing supply of river cruises, which can make it daunting to try to narrow down all of the alternatives. To help streamline, we’ve done extensive research and have rounded up a handful of our favorites, assigning them superlatives so you can find your perfect match.
Best Maiden Voyage: VIVA UNIQUE’s Po River Cruise
If you like the fresh scent of a new car, we bet you’ll really dig hopping aboard the inaugural journey of a ship—especially one like VIVA UNIQUE, which starts in Venice. With a spacious sundeck and pool, three restaurants, a fully equipped fitness room, a spa, and capacity for just 104 guests, it will be tempting to stay on board throughout the May 28 to June 4, 2027 trip. But disembark at one of the Northern Italy stops like Ferrara, Bologna, or Chioggia, and you’ll be treated to everything from peaceful waterways to vibrant piazzas, not to mention so much history and unforgettable food and drink.
Best for Foodies: Windstar Cruises’ Moroccan Markets and Iberian Icons
Snack on local cheese and ham. Sip on velvety port wines. Master homemade paella alongside a world-class chef. All of this deliciousness and more awaits May 5 to 13, 2027. That’s when the 224-passenger Star Explorer sets off on its Moroccan Markets and Iberian Icons journey, which allows you to savor several global food capitals—including Tangier, Morocco, Lisbon, Portugal, and Valencia, Spain—in a single trip. During the stop in Seville, we recommend donning your dancing shoes just in case, as your Spanish dinner comes with a flamenco show that might just inspire you to join in. ¡Olé!
Best for Light Adventure: AmaWaterways Classic Kenya and Southern Africa
Mix land and sea as you explore corners of Africa few get to see. Part of the Classic Kenya and Southern Africa trip takes place on the intimate 28-guest Zambezi Queen. The other portion takes place at five-star safari lodges and luxury tented camps, with daily safari adventures sprinkled in. Along the way, you’ll be able to witness one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls, and might just spot rare wildlife, like black rhinos. (From a safe distance, of course.) This expedition is available March through November, so you can choose an ideal slot for your schedule.
Best for Gardeners: Uniworld’s Holland and Belgium at Tulip Time
Timing is more targeted for this breathtaking excursion, but for good reason. Tulips bloom in Belgium and the Netherlands from mid-March to mid-May, with peak color often arriving in early- to mid-April. So Uniworld’s Holland and Belgium at Tulip Time is aptly timed from April 4 to 11, 2027.
We’ve already marked our calendars so we can score some serious inspiration to boost our curb appeal—and simply marvel at the 70-acre carpet of tulips and daffodils at Keukenhof Gardens. The 110-guest S.S. Victoria will usher you from Amsterdam to historic Brussels, culinary-focused Antwerp (be sure to try a Belgian waffle!), windmill-sprinkled Dordrecht, and more.
Viking’sPtahshipCourtesy of Viking Cruises
Best for History Buffs: Viking’s British Collections of Ancient Egypt Before Pharaohs and Pyramids
Your immersive, educational trip begins with four days in London and Oxford, England. During the British Collections of Ancient Egypt, besides enjoying a peek inside the estate where Downton Abbey was filmed, this pre-trip add-on offers exclusive access to some of the world’s most significant Egyptian relics. This will act as a “101” course for the deep dive into ancient culture on the back half of your trip, which takes place on November 11 to November 22, 2027, on the new 82-guest Viking Ptah. (Its first sailing is scheduled for a mere two months prior.)
During the 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids cruise along the Nile, Egyptologists will be your guides as you tour temples, take in the pyramids by foot or camel, witness the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx in real life, and attempt to decode hieroglyphics on centuries-old stone.
Best to See the Fall Colors: Regent Seven Seas Canada and New England Celebrate the St. Lawrence
A leaf-peeping road trip is good. But you know what’s even better? A cruise through the St. Lawrence River, conveniently scheduled from October 9 to 20, 2027 to align with the most vibrant shifts from green to gold to auburn. In between sessions of swooning at the scenery, sail through Canada’s only navigable fjord in Saguenay, Québec, stroll through storybook fishing villages in and around Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and refuel with a lobster roll in Eastport, Maine. This breathtaking holiday takes place on the Seven Seas Splendor, which has a capacity (748 passengers) and amenities (a cooking school, four restaurants, a casino, cabaret shows, a spa, and fitness center) more similar to a luxury ocean cruise than a river ship.
Most Festive: Celebrity Cruises’ Danube River Christmas Markets
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and there’s arguably no better place to do just that than on one of the first-ever Celebrity river cruises. New for 2027, this ocean brand is diving into river routes, including a festive December 23 to 30, 2027 tour of Danube River Christmas Markets. With a butler for every suite, each of the 172 guests has clearly earned a spot on Santa’s good list. All of those individuals (perhaps you included!) can shop in style in cozy market towns, and explore energetic capitals like Nuremberg, Germany, and Vienna, Austria. And how about spending Christmas Eve in Bratislava, sipping hot chocolate with carols echoing off the walls of nearby castles?
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