Jane Archer shares inspiration from the world of river cruising, from itineraries in the USA and Southeast Asia to debut trips down the Seine.
New ships set sail
Viva Cruises is counting down to a double first as it unveils debut voyages on the Seine from Paris on the first river ship in its new Boutique brand. With room for just 112 passengers, Viva Beyond is delightfully intimate yet offers three restaurants and ten spacious suites that come with perks including Champagne and canapés with the captain. Group sizes range from five to 12 cabins: book 12 guests to get a 13th berth for free.
There’s another double as Emerald Cruises and Travelmarvel launch new river ships on the Rhine and Danube. Emerald’s Emerald Astra has a choice of cabins and suites with floor-to-ceiling drop-down panorama windows and an indoor swimming pool that transforms into a cinema in the evenings. Travelmarvel’s Travelmarvel Rigel has four large owner’s suites and McGeary’s, an Irish bar serving casual pub fare. Group offerings include early-booking discounts and a free organiser’s cabin for bookings of ten cabins or more.
Experience Europe
Riviera Travel offers a great choice of destinations on its five-star fleet of European river cruise ships including its newest ships, MS Riviera Radiance, MS Riviera Rose and MS Riviera Resplendence. Expect lounges with panoramic views and state-of-the-art onboard facilities. Groups can choose from the likes of the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Moselle, Douro and more.
Groups can cross the continent when they embark on a Trans-European cruise with CroisiEurope, travelling through some of Europe’s most historic cities and famous waterways. Voyage through Central Europe on three rivers, travelling from Budapest to Strasbourg, or experience Northern Europe from Amsterdam to the Black Sea and see the spectacle of the Danube between the Carpathian Mountains and the Balkan Peninsula.
Itineraries unveiled
Southeast Asia is the latest offering from Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours with the announcement of its 2026/2027 Asia river cruising and land journeys programme. The seven and nine-night cruises take passengers along the Mekong River on board Scenic Spirit, with extensions available in Vietnam and Laos and land tours in Japan. Exclusive, private experiences are included in the programme, including a classical Cambodian Apsara dance performance and a gala dinner at an Angkor temple and a water puppet performance in Hanoi.
New itineraries on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers are available with Viking Cruises for 2027. Sailing on board the Viking Mississippi, guests can choose between the 15-day Bayous, Blues & Bluegrass itinerary, which operates between New Orleans and Louisville and includes Civil War history and the taste of BBQ, and the shorter eight-day Mississippi & Ohio River Explorer itinerary with a journey between Memphis and Louisville to discover the legacy of music icons including B. B. King and Elvis Presley.
These ideas were part of Jane’s round-up of what’s new in the world of cruising for groups which was first published in the March edition of Group Leisure & Travel magazine. You can read the full feature here.
