It’s one of the most idyllic and relaxing ways to see the heartlands of Europe, Asia, Africa or America. And this month, it’s all on sale.

It’s river cruising week in the annual marketing event, Choose Cruise Month. And that means you can get the best prices on river journeys at your local travel agency – many of which will include flights and post-cruise stays.

Avalon Waterways has up to $4,600 off per couple this month while Viking has put its 2020 program on sale at 2018 prices.

And newcomers like Costless Travel are offering 8 days in Portugal for $2,458.

Included flights and pre and post stays are also on the cards.

The world of river cruising has undergone rapid change in the past half-decade, with new ships and destinations – and strong attempts to break the stereotypical view that it’s mainly for the wealthy, aged 55 plus.

Lines like APT, Viking and Avalon have found great new places to visit and fantastic experiences, from cooking schools and shopping for produce with chefs to painting lessons in on-board studios.

Active cruises involving kayaking, hiking, cycle riding and golf – even hang gliding! – are now quite common. And there are now some amazing specialty cruises. Lines like Botanica – an APT company – sail the rivers of the world in search glorious gardens, for instance.

Meanwhile, newcomers like Riviera and Teeming have devised new product styles that have brought down the price, removing some inclusions like all-day drinks packages.

In a particularly bold move to attract millennials, Uniworld recently launched two newly-renovated black-painted vessels which come complete with late night shore excursions, silent discos and black-and-white interiors.

Teeming river cruises
newcomers like Teeming (pictured) have devised new product styles that have brought down the price, removing some inclusions like all-day drinks packages.

Disney River Cruises, which is themed for families, accommodates the youngest passengers.

Around 100,000 Aussies enjoyed river cruising at the last count – it has been more than three years since Cruise Lines International Association gave out figures.

Why would you choose a river cruise?

Firstly, the vessels are smaller, producing a far more intimate way of seeing the world with like-minded fellow passengers. In order to fit under the bridges of Europe’s waterways and go through the locks, they are all one size accommodating just over 100 passengers.

Because you are always close to land, shore excursions can be more immersive – and you don’t have to worry about tender services to get you back to your cabin.

Europe, which is still the most popular destination, offers a variety of different rivers like the Danube, Main, Rhine, Moselle, Elbe, Rhone, Saone, Seine and Volga – all rich in history and with captivating castles and small country towns along their banks.

Elsewhere in the world, Asia is fast becoming a popular destination for river cruising, especially the Mekong River which traverses through Vietnam and Cambodia, the Yangtze River in China as well as the Ganges and Brahmaputra River in India.

For adventure river cruising, APT’s Zambezi Queen sails the Chobe River in Botswana for an African Safari; Aqua Expeditions on the Amazon River visits amazing villages in Peru and Viking River Cruises has just returned to the Nile River in Egypt.

River cruise lines have made amazing strides in creating better offerings aboard their ships, from bigger suites and staterooms – the new ATP ship AmaMagna, for instance, will be 443 feet long and have an owner’s suite of 710 square feet – to balconies, spas and swimming pools that convert into cinemas.

Newer river ships have features like French balconies, larger sundecks and even infinity pools.

All-inclusive service has become a watchword for some lines, with white-gloved butlers and Michelin starred chefs the order of the day.

Five star ships like those of APT, Avalon, Viking, Scenic and Uniworld also offer fine dining and exclusive shore excursions featuring flamboyant nights at the opera or lunches and dinners with minor royals at their country estates.

Scenic offers six onboard options from casual to fine dining, while APT has an exclusive Chef’s Table, offering a glass-enclosed kitchen so guests can watch their chefs prepare a tasting menu. Avalon Waterways has FlexDining options that give guests the freedom to choose when are there they want to eat.

River cruising offers everything its ocean cousins can provide – exception, perhaps, the waterslides.

For its many fans, that’s just another reason they prefer it. In a world increasingly turning to mindfulness, river cruising is the perfect peaceful experience.