A new year brings with it a chance to reflect and see how the river cruise industry has transformed over the last 12 months.

Personalisation and immersion are two of the main draws for future travel, recent trends have shown. With holidaymakers looking to seek out getaways which appeal to their personal tastes.

Deeper and more meaningful river cruises

Following the 2019 Virtuoso Luxe Report, an overarching theme of rising trends predicted for the year leads to ultra-personalised travel. Travellers are looking for one-of-a-kind experiences that can be arranged down to the smallest of details.

The report also showed that river cruising is one of the top travel trends, following multi-generational travel and active/adventure trips. With this in mind, river cruise lines are increasing their appeal with more options in on-board amenities and in-port adventures.

There are countless options for guests to personalise to them, from meals and excursions to itinerary themes and fitness options.

River cruises cater to those looking for a more immersive experience, with a variety of excursions available in each destination alongside on-board experts who can guide and advise guests. Within the excursions available, there is a variety of fitness levels, ensuring guests can choose something tailored to their lifestyle.

Those looking to cruise can even go one step further with the choice of themed river cruises available, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in a particular hobby or interest. These include art workshops, wine-tastings, history and culinary themes. Pam Hoffee, Managing Director of Avalon Waterways said:

“This way, you’re talking to their passions, and they know they’ll be traveling with like-minded people who enjoy those experiences.”

Customise your on-board river cruise experience

Alongside the immersive and personalised experiences, river cruises are taking the opportunity to become more innovative, evolving the river cruising industry.

With a host of new river cruise ships joining the world’s waterways in 2019, there comes multiple dining venues with a variety of culinary choices as well as flexible dining and seating.

This is true of healthier options, with CLIA’s 2018 Cruise Industry Outlook showing that there are a growing number of health-conscious travellers. Culinary choices are a great place to start when looking to customise your river cruise, as well as looking into wellness options and fitness classes.

Avalon Waterways is particularly ground-breaking with their Active Discovery cruises. These focus heavily on immersion, traveller passions and new experiences, with a wide range of itineraries which sail shorter distances for more time in port. Hoffee continued:

“You see everything, but you do it in a different way, with something for every interest and activity level. The walking tour with an expert local guide is a Classic offering, while Discovery involves tasting food, learning a new language or art classes. We also have jogging tours, biking and all sorts of Active options.”

Uniworld also offers a number of pre- and post-cruise tours and extensions, meaning that river cruisers can spend longer in destinations and experience something new. These include:

• Amsterdam Cruise Extension: A three-day adventure exploring Amsterdam’s history, art and culture, with two nights at the Hilton Amsterdam Hotel (or similar)

• Basel & Lake Lucerne Cruise Extension: Two nights at the deluxe Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois (or similar) with a walking discovery tour and Lake Lucerne boat ride and the chance to experience Switzerland’s infinite variety

• Hanoi & Ha Long Bay Cruise Extension: Five-day stay with three nights at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake (or similar), a night on a Paradise Elegance Junk and the chance to experience a city tour of Hanoi and visits to Sung Sôt Cave and Titop Island

• Sapa Cruise Extension: Stay two nights at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake (or similar) and two nights at the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa (or similar), paired with the opportunity to view the mountain scenery and rice terraces of northwest Vietnam

There are plenty of options to customise a river cruise to your tastes and fully personalise a sailing to make it one to remember. Take a look at our latest river cruise deals by clicking the link below.

See all river cruise deals

What makes a river cruise personal to you? How would you like to make a river cruise more immersive? Let us know in the comments below!