Nicole Edenedo
Lately, I've been experiencing my fair share of river cruise envy.
Whether it's daydreaming of exploring my own backyard on a Hudson River sailing in New York or researching what it's like to venture into the heart of the Peruvian Amazon -- what with all of the exciting developments happening in that part of the world -- there's a lot to love about river cruising these days, and apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Demand for river cruising is stronger than ever this summer, according to suppliers. They tell me many of their summer departures sold out or nearly reached capacity earlier in the season, with few spaces left for the last-minute bookings that continue to come in.
Amadeus River Cruises said it has seen close-in bookings roughly a month out before any given departure date this summer. This, coupled with an overall traveler willingness to join waitlists for summer departures and take what's available, is what the company said is a great sign of strong demand.
Here are a few of the most popular rivers travelers are booking this summer and what awaits them when they get there:
Olympic-sized excitement on the Seine
Bookings for cruises on the Seine River have started to rebound this summer after a slow start to the beginning of the year.
The Seine runs right through Paris, which is itself attracting a couple extra million visitors this year because of the Olympic Games.
The Games were reason enough for a number of river lines, including AmaWaterways and Tauck, to stay away from Paris, opting not to offer sailings on the Seine during the event.
But companies like Amadeus River Cruises and Avalon Waterways that had been offering Seine cruises during the Games say most travelers booking the river are reserving departures happening before the start of the Games or after, avoiding dates during the two-week stint (July 26-Aug. 11) that the Games will take place.
While there's likely to be extra crowds, traffic and higher prices in Paris surrounding the Games, I'm hearing from advisors and suppliers alike that those heading over there are looking forward to being in the City of Light and taking part in the festivities before and after the Games.
Country-hopping adventures on the Rhine
The Rhine has been wildly popular this year for a number of river cruise lines, brands say.
It's one of those rivers in Europe that takes travelers through a variety of countries that each have their own personalities, which is why lines like AmaWaterways say bookings on this river have been so in demand lately.
There are fields abloom with tulips and windmills in Amsterdam; the rich Gothic history and architecture of Cologne, and the quaint countryside charm of Rudesheim in Germany; and the storybook city of Strasbourg in France's Alsace region.
The overall boost to the Rhine, AmaWaterways said, is also likely due to the residual impact that the Russia-Ukraine war has had on bookings for the Danube (more on that below).
Destined for the Danube
Danube River sailings have come back strong over the past year following a deep decline in bookings that began in early 2022 when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out.
Bookings started to finally pick up around Q2 last year for some suppliers, and demand has continued throughout this year.
Some river lines still make the distinction that Upper Danube sailings, which might include sailings between Passau, Germany, and Budapest, have done slightly better than sailings on the Lower Danube, which run through Hungary, Croatia Serbia and Romania, down to the Black Sea.
But some suppliers say this discrepancy might have more to do with there being more major European cities travelers can visit on the Upper Danube, such as Budapest, Vienna and Salzburg, Austria, than with the war, and that the Lower Danube is usually an itinerary for returning river cruise guests as opposed to first-timers who some lines say are more attracted to the upper portion of the river.