Think river cruising is just a budget way of travelling around the world’s rivers? Think again…

As the world of ocean cruising evolves, so does the world of river cruising and now more than ever, river cruise lines are putting out all the stops to attract guests and one major way that they have done that is by offering some of the smartest suites around. This truly is what dreams are made of…

Uniworld River Cruise
This is a company that stands alone as being unique. Why? Because it’s a boutique river cruise line. And not the kind of boutique that claims to be but isn’t really…this cruise line really, really is. They liken themselves to a five-star boutique hotel and that’s exactly what you can find when you climb aboard any of their river vessels. Their suites are stylish, decorated in quirky designs and plenty of luxuries throughout. Expect to find plush linens upon handcrafted Savoir of England beds, an array of amenities in your marble bathroom and unusual décor with floral patterns, fabulous artwork along the walls, stripes and colourful pillows.

Avalon Waterways
The staterooms on-board the Avalon fleet can definitely be defined as suites. You will be able to find plenty of space, a huge balcony area, a wall-to-wall panoramic window, sleek furnishings, plush beddings, huge bathrooms with all the amenities that you could possibly need, including fluffy bathrobes and slippers, a wide-screen television, plenty of wardrobe space for all of your outfits and a beautiful bouquet of flowers on the writing desk. The best thing about these rooms has to be your bed which overlooks the balcony meaning that you can lie back, relax and watch the ever-changing scenery around you as the ship passes through some of the most sought after destinations on the planet.

Viking River Cruises
If you wanted to select the crème-de-la-crème aboard a Viking ship then make sure you opt for the Veranda Suite. These absolutely ginormous suites are 275 sq. ft. in size and offer everything you could possibly need for the perfect river cruise and maybe a little bit more! Expect to find a full-size veranda – perfect for eating your breakfast as the sun rises, a French Balcony beside your huge double bed, a telephone, mini fridge with bottled water replenished daily, a safe and a hair-dryer. The bathroom offers a shower and premium bath products and you’ll even be able to request slippers and a bathrobe if you wish.  You’ll be able to find plenty of storage space and a collection of comfortable sofas and chairs – perfect for lounging around.

AMA Waterways
Having secured TravelAgeWest’s ‘Best Cabin Features and Amenities’ WAVE Award in 2011, you can be sure that AmaWaterways know what makes the ideal luxury cabin. The company’s exclusive Twin Balcony Staterooms offer a French Balcony and a separate Outside Balcony and are available on some European vessels. The French Balcony is essentially a floor-to-ceiling glass door, which you can open to take in the fresh air and scenery from the comfort of your cabin. Whichever room you choose, you’ll enjoy a host of comforts such as flat screen TV, controlled air conditioning and your own sitting area. You can even enjoy a spa bath in your spacious bathroom.

Tauck River Cruises
With Tauck, it’s all about the custom-designed cruising experience, where each guest is assured of optimum space. That extra space isn’t there just because the ships are bigger though, as Tauck make it their business to cater to no more than 118 guests per ship. All cabins offer a premium hotel-style experience, outside views and most have French balconies, too. For the ultimate experience, Tauck offer a number of ultra-spacious suites, each with 300 sq ft of space, Brocade upholstery, walk-in closets and marble baths. Because they offer smaller but equally well-appointed 183 sq ft junior suites too, Tauck can assure travellers more suite options than most other lines.

By Simon Brotherton
Google