River Cruises

The CruiseMapper "River Cruise Tracker" offers information on river cruising vacations through two free services. Our cruise tracker provides detailed itinerary and pricing information for each riverboat. Our live AIS ship tracking service offers real-time positions of ships sailing on rivers in Europe, the USA, and Russia.

Our river ship database is continually growing, with new destinations, cruise lines/companies, and boats added regularly. Each riverboat has its own page, showing its current-year itinerary as well as all scheduled itineraries for the upcoming year. These are all departures officially announced by the cruise line (often also the shipowner). Our cruise schedules also display the cheapest prices per person (based on double occupancy rates) for the boat's lowest available cabin grade. This provides a unique opportunity to compare both itineraries and prices on a single webpage, helping you select departure dates, itinerary ports (including visited ports, cities, and towns, often with land tours included), and rates.

River Cruise Travel

River cruises offer a fantastic and relatively affordable way to visit some of the most historic cities in the world. The itineraries feature scenic voyages along major rivers and inland waterways in Europe, Asia, North and South Africa, the Amazon in South America, Australia, the USA, and Canada. In every port, numerous sightseeing activities are scheduled, and often, between ports, land tours and bus excursions take you from major cities to small towns and villages.

The greatest challenge when planning a river cruise vacation is selecting the right itinerary. Most itineraries are one-week journeys, though more exotic voyages can last up to two weeks. Grand Danube cruises in Europe, for example, connect Holland to the Black Sea and last three weeks. River cruise itineraries typically start from a famous "big city" located on the river. These travel packages generally include most scheduled land tours (which are guided) as well as pre- and/or post-cruise hotel stays. In most destinations (especially in Europe), the river cruising season runs from April through October. Depending on the itinerary, some European and US cruises may also feature Christmas Markets-themed voyages in December.

While most organized shore excursions are included in the price, some companies offer optional extra-fee tours, hotel packages, and discounted flights from the UK or the USA. River cruising provides an intimate experience, allowing you to explore every destination along the itinerary.

Riverboats are smaller than sea and ocean ships, enabling them to navigate shallower waters and tighter passages. This means these ships offer fewer entertainment options, enrichment programs (usually consisting of lectures by local experts), and amenities compared to sea-going vessels. River cruise accommodations are generally smaller as well.

Balcony staterooms are relatively rare, and cabin bathrooms are functional rather than luxurious. However, newer river cruise ships offer more luxurious and sophisticated options, including larger cabins and spacious suites. This type of vacation is often advertised as offering great "value for money" deals. From a passenger's perspective, river cruising offers significant value, with higher expectations of service and quality at affordable prices.

Safety Issues

River cruises are often dependent on water levels and the functioning of river locks. Due to unpredictable water levels (both high and low) or delays during lock and bridge passages, ships may need to change their scheduled itineraries and travel procedures. In extreme cases, when the planned river route is impassable, the cruise company will arrange alternative routes or transportation. In such cases, certain ports or destinations along the planned itinerary may be replaced or skipped.

Occasionally, itineraries that involve border crossings may face delays due to regulatory formalities. Smaller rivers, such as the Main and Neckar, cross under very low bridges. During these crossings, the ship’s crew takes appropriate precautions by dismantling most of the Sun Deck structures (including railings and windscreens) and lowering the wheelhouse hydraulically to ensure safe passage. During the bridge crossing, the sundeck area is temporarily closed to both passengers and crew.

Except for larger riverboats with an infirmary (resident doctor), most river cruise ships only carry a small first aid kit for medical emergencies. If medical care is needed, the ship contacts a general practitioner or clinic. It is recommended that passengers purchase foreign health insurance and bring any prescribed medications in adequate quantities for the duration of the cruise.

On most river cruise boats, the Internet is an additional cost and provided via satellite. Connection speeds and availability may vary depending on the destination and the vessel's location. Large files, audio-video streaming, and voice-video chats cannot be transmitted.

Pets are not allowed on river ships.

River Cruising Market

River cruising is the fastest-growing sector in the travel industry. It is constantly evolving, with the market expanding to include new ships, amenities, themed cruises, and popular itineraries. In 2014, approximately 139,500 travelers from the UK booked a river cruise, marking a 6% increase over 2013's bookings.

In 2016, a total of 23 new river ships were scheduled for launch. Most of the new riverboats are equipped with a gym, spa, and even a top-deck swimming pool. Many offer complimentary bikes for shore exploration and guided tours. In recent years, the typical age group has also changed. River cruise companies like Emerald and Scenic report an increased number of bookings from holiday travelers in their 40s.

According to CLIA's official reports, family river cruising vacations are gaining popularity. This means that the new generation of riverboats (and river travel in general) is attracting younger and more active passengers. To meet the new demand, some of the world's largest lines (such as Uniworld) are increasing the number of their multi-generational themed itineraries, offering sailings during the summer and winter school holidays. A-ROSA Flusskreuzfahrten offers free travel for kids under 15. In 2015, Walt Disney began a partnership with AmaWaterways for family-themed Danube cruises aboard the ship AmaViola.

Contributing to the popularity of family river cruising are the boats' new designs, including cabin configurations, connecting staterooms, and larger suite accommodations for families. Many land tour activities are also family-oriented, featuring cycling, history-themed games, cooking lessons, and scavenger hunts.

CLIA's 2016 report stated that the European river cruising market grew by 2.7% over 2015, with over 1.36 million booked passengers. Among these, the majority were North Americans (38.7%), followed by Germans (28.4%).

USA River Cruises

Among the most booked U.S. river cruise deals are the following itineraries:

• Columbia and Snake Rivers (between Portland, Oregon and Clarkston, WA)
• Lower Mississippi River (between New Orleans and Memphis, TN)
• Mississippi River (between New Orleans and St. Louis, Missouri)
• Upper Mississippi River (between St. Louis and Minneapolis-Saint Paul)
• Great Lakes cruises (between Chicago and Toronto)
• French Canada and Great Lakes (between Montreal and Detroit, MI)
• French Canada and St. Lawrence Seaway (between Halifax and Detroit)

U.S. river travel experiences include unspoiled and scenic riverside views, popular outdoor activities (biking, hiking, kayaking), visits to famous wineries, locally sourced cuisine, nightly wine tastings aboard the ship, and winery tours and wine tasting ashore.

Snake and Columbia River Cruises in the USA

Columbia and Snake river cruises are among the best vacation travel options in the Northwest USA. The route includes ports in Oregon and Washington states. Itineraries are tailored to maximize daytime cruising for optimal viewing of iconic highlights, such as Columbia River Gorge, local museums, forts, and wineries. Cruise tour deals from major companies include all shore excursions offered in each port along the route.

Columbia River cruises are operated with either round-trip itineraries from Portland, Oregon, or one-way (eastbound/westbound) voyages between Portland and Clarkston, WA. These voyages cover nearly 1600 km (1000 mi) of river travel. The best companies serving the routes are American Cruise Lines and UnCruise Adventures. Their fleets include new-build riverboat replicas, all-American staff and crew (dressed in period clothing and uniforms), and first-class onboard enrichment programs with expert historians, guest lecturers, and media presentations.

Generally navigated with large ships (including paddlewheel riverboats), the Columbia is the largest river in the USA's Pacific Northwest. It begins in the Rocky Mountains (British Columbia, Canada), flows northwest, then south into Washington (USA), and turns west to form most of the Oregon-Washington border before flowing into the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River is 2000 km (1240 mi) long, and its largest tributary, the Snake River, is 1735 km (1080 mi) long.

The following map shows all Snake and Columbia River cruise ports along the itinerary from Portland to Clarkston.

Mississippi River Cruises in the USA

The Mississippi River runs entirely within the USA. Its source is Lake Itasca (northern Minnesota), and it flows south for approximately 3730 km (2320 mi) to the Mississippi Delta (Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea). The Mississippi is the world's fourth-longest river and the fifteenth-largest by discharge. It borders or passes through the U.S. states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

The river's embayment is one of the USA's most fertile agricultural regions. Before the early 20th century, the Mississippi was also the most important waterway for both passenger travel and cargo trade.

Best deals with several large-capacity boats (paddlewheelers) are offered by American Cruise Lines. Itineraries are grouped into Upper Mississippi (between St. Louis, Missouri, and Saint Paul, Minnesota), Middle Mississippi, and Lower Mississippi (between Memphis, TN, and New Orleans). Music-, history-, food-, and wine-themed voyages are also available for seasonal booking.

In addition to the Mississippi, voyages on its tributaries (the Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland rivers) are also operated.

• The 8-day "Cumberland River Cruise" (Nashville to St. Louis) visits Lake Barkley (Kentucky), Clarksville (Tennessee), Dover (Tennessee), Paducah (Kentucky), Cape Girardeau (Missouri), Chester (Illinois), and ends in St. Louis (Missouri).
• The 11-day "Ohio River Cruise" (St. Louis to Pittsburgh) visits Cape Girardeau (Missouri), Paducah (Kentucky), Henderson (Kentucky), Louisville (Kentucky), Cincinnati (Ohio), Maysville (Kentucky), Marietta (Ohio), and ends in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania).

The following map shows all Mississippi River cruise ports along the itinerary from Minneapolis-St. Paul to New Orleans.

The route also includes several popular plantation houses in the Southern U.S.

CruiseMapper's AIS data source is VesselFinder (ship tracker), which shows the current locations of all our vessels. Exceptions include the newest riverboats currently under construction (which do not yet have their MMSI numbers) and riverboats in Asia and South America (which either lack MMSI numbers or AIS coverage). In both cases, the unidentified vessels make ship tracking impossible.

River Cruise Ship Tracker

Ship tracking relies on AIS (Automated Identification System) technology. Cruise ship tracking is possible because AIS is mandatory equipment for all commercial (and passenger) ships with a gross tonnage of 300GT or more.

The equipment's low cost (ranging from USD 150-500) has allowed many AIS tracking enthusiasts to purchase receiving systems and install them at home. These systems stream the received data to web-based trackers. Live tracking of riverboats is essential for shipowners. It also provides valuable information about a ship's current location and course, which helps both the families of the crew and the friends and relatives of passengers. And frankly speaking, ship tracking is fun!

List of River Cruise Ships (Itineraries, Prices, Current Location Tracking)

Many fleets in the following table include newly built riverboats. The largest fleet in the industry belongs to Viking Cruises, which boasts an impressive number of "longships." In both 2014 and 2015, Viking set and surpassed its own Guinness World Record for christening 12 ships in 2014 and then 16 ships in 2015. The record is for the most ships christened in a single day (a 24-hour period). Introduced in 2012, each of Viking's longships has a maximum capacity of 190 passengers and features a patented design that allows for a greater number of cabins, as well as more balcony accommodations.

The largest river cruise companies (passenger shipping lines and travel brands) that launch new boats nearly every year include Viking, Uniworld, Scylla, Avalon, AMA, and Scenic.

Small companies and chartered riverboats

• Allegra
• Alegria
• Alemannia
• Amatista Amazon
• Amazon Clipper Premium
• Aria Amazon houseboat
• Delfin 2
• Delfin 3
• Mekong Princess
• Der Kleine Prinz
• Elegant Lady
• Murray Princess
• Royal Crown
• RV Charaidew (ABN, Ganges River)
• RV Cruiseco Adventurer (Mekong River)
• RV Cruiseco Explorer (Irrawaddy River)
• RV Rajmahal (Ganges River)
• RV Sukapha (ABN, Ganges River)
• RV Varuna (ABN-G Adventures, Ganges River)
• Carissima (Viking Sky)
• Verdi (Viking Neptune)
• Carmen (Viking Europe)
• RV Lan Diep
• Mecklenburg
• MS My Story
• Rigoletto
• Rossini
• Rousse Prestige
• RV Anawrahta (Irrawaddy River)
• RV Strand 2016
• Sanctuary Ananda (Irrawaddy River)
• Saxonia
• Yangtse Victoria
• Belmond - Orcaella, Road to Mandalay

Nile River cruise ships in Egypt

CruiseMapper's "River Cruise Tracker" was created to cover all riverboats operated by smaller companies and boat-chartering tour operators. Here are listed paddlewheel riverboats and steamboats, as well as luxury hotel barges and river cruise ships operating in Europe, Russia (Volga), USA, Asia (Yangtze, Mekong, Irrawaddy), Australia (Murray), Africa (Nile, Chobe) and South America (Amazon).