The new ships cruising Europe’s rivers

1 hour ago 1

Brian Johnston

September 22, 2025 — 10:57am

It seems none of us tire of Europe’s waterways. In fact, to judge from a flotilla of stylish new ships about to set sail, more of us than ever will soon be afloat on the continent’s culture-packed waterways.

Among new ships this year are Riviera Rose and AmaSintra on the Douro in Portugal, Riviera Radiance and SS Elisabeth on the Danube, and Spirit of the Moselle and Amadeus Amara on Rhine-Danube routes.

Scenic recently overhauled its river ship interiors with new layouts, new furnishings and transformations of their deck, lounge and dining areas. Now Avalon Waterways is in the middle of its own two-year refresh.

Emerald Cruises too has been upgrading its entire eight-vessel Europe fleet this year, including redesigns of areas such as its Horizon Lounge and pool/cinema space, and the replacing of textiles and artworks.

Brand-new ships this year include four 190-guest vessels from Viking Cruises on the Rhine, Main and Danube. Also, the company’s 168-guest Viking Nerthus floats out on the Seine in France and Viking Gyda on the Douro. Several more Viking ships are coming next year.

APT Solara and APT Ostara have also arrived down the slipways. The 154-guest ships feature six dining venues – the most on any European river ship – as well as a spa, gym and hair salon. Both will be offering itineraries on the Rhine and Danube such as the ever-popular 15-day Magnificent Europe itinerary between Amsterdam and Budapest.

There are more river ships coming in 2026, too. In the premium category, Emerald Cruises launches the 180-guest Emerald Astra on itineraries along the Rhine, Moselle and Danube, while the 182-guest Travelmarvel Rigel will sail a new eight-day Rhine-Moselle itinerary for Travelmarvel between Amsterdam and Basel in Switzerland.

Jostling for space on the Danube will the 154-passenger SS Emilie from Uniworld, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Uniworld’s ships are known for their striking decor and this time Austrian artist Gustav Klimt is the inspiration, so expect green and yellow hues and a sparkle of gold. The ship is named for Klimt’s partner and muse Emilie Floge.

Meanwhile two 130-guest ships will be joining the Tauck fleet in France: MS Serene on the Seine and MS Lumiere on the Rhone. Both will have a sun deck with swimming pool, wellness area and larger than usual suites. In good news for solo travellers, single supplements will be waived across all Category 1 cabins.

And finally in 2027 – not as far away as you might think – three more as yet unnamed Uniworld ships are coming to the Rhine, Danube and Douro rivers.

And in big news, Celebrity Cruises, until now only an ocean cruise company, will be launching a whole new river-cruise endeavour. Details are slim, but 10 ships are on order that will operate on the world’s rivers, with the first few tipped to sail out in Europe.

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Brian Johnston seemed destined to become a travel writer: he is an Irishman born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland, who has lived in Britain and China and now calls Australia home.