Brinley Hineman

Brinley Hineman

Happy new year! It certainly seems like 2026 is going to be a big year for river cruises. Evidence here, here and here. 

But even though 2025 is now behind us, I would be remiss to not share more about the experiences I had in my first year covering river cruises for Travel Weekly. In total, I sailed with four lines on three rivers, enabling me to immerse myself in the travel style, experience what the buzz is all about and pass on the latest and greatest to Travel Weekly readers.

Sailing the Danube on the Emerald Luna

This was my first river cruise, and it was on the Danube, Europe’s most popular river. This cruise took me to some popular stops on the river, including Vienna, Budapest, Durnstein and Krems.

It was the perfect introduction to the beat. It was in March, just following the ASTA River Cruise Expo in Vienna, so I explored cities along the Danube without the summer crowds and experienced why shoulder season travel is so hot. And since I didn’t bring a guest with me, I learned why a river cruise is the perfect trip for a solo traveler.

A standout experience for me was a daylong excursion to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Though not all Danube itineraries visit the city, those that do, like AmaWaterways, report that it’s a “fan favorite.”

I can confirm. This fairytale town, with its cobblestone streets and medieval buildings, is a gem and was one of the best places I visited all year. One of my favorite meals was here, at the restaurant attached to Travel Hostel. I’m still dreaming about the dumplings and cabbage.

In addition to the fantastic itinerary, the ship itself, the Emerald Luna, was the perfect spot to replenish my mind and body after a long day of exploring Europe. I lucked out with my room, an owner’s suite, that had a walk-in closet, sitting area and enclosed balcony, and I enjoyed the scenes passing by my window without having to venture into the chilly March weather. 

The Rhine with Riverside

The Rhine turned out to be my favorite river to date, which I attribute to the gorgeous scenery. Nothing can beat sitting on the sun deck with a spicy Bloody Mary in hand while passing through the Rhine River gorge, castle after castle after castle slipping by.

I was eager to cruise with Riverside, one of the industry’s newest brands. The river cruise line purchased Crystal Cruises’ former ships and is currently operating three of them. 

The excursions on the Riverside Debussy were good — Strasbourg and Obernai in France were favorites — but the onboard experience was remarkable. The crew went above and beyond and left a lasting impression on myself and other guests. 

Luxury is a key element of my Riverside cruise: champagne, caviar, butler service and a private dining experience in the Vintage Room. Food is available around the clock, which is a departure from other lines, where you are served three meals a day and perhaps a snack. Riverside CEO Jennifer Halboth said the Vintage Room experience, an eight-course meal with wine pairings, rivals that of a Michelin-starred restaurant. 

Riviera Travel’s new ship 

Riviera launched two new ships this year: the Riviera Rose and Riviera Radiance. I sailed on the Riviera Rose on the Douro River in August to experience the new ship design, and it was a beaut.

Immediately upon embarkation, I was impressed: the open-concept layout isn’t something you often see on a river ship, and the skylights allowed the ship to be flooded with Porto’s sunshine.

The line debuted its new split-level design with the Rose, which was implemented to create an airy environment that offers a relaxing atmosphere. North America president Stuart Milan said Riviera drew inspiration from hotel industry trends.

I found myself in the lounge most days for an afternoon coffee or to play Scrabble with my friend. The sunshine streaming in paired with the Portuguese inspired interior made the lounge feel like an extension of Portugal itself.

The Douro is ideal for wine lovers who want to enjoy the country’s wines and port in the famous agricultural region. The itinerary was set at a good pace, which ensured there was a balance of ship downtime and active daily excursions. 

Getting in the holiday spirit on Viking

It seemed important that I spend at least some time with river cruising’s giant, Viking. And I ended the year with a Christmas market cruise on the Viking Gullveig. I was back on the Danube, where I started my river cruising journey, capping off the year with a nice full-circle moment.

Christmas-market cruising is huge, and I finally got to see what the holiday hoopla was all about. Though I don’t really celebrate Christmas that much at home, found myself catching the Christmas spirit thanks to Viking.

We had opportunities to visit Christmas markets across Germany, Austria and Hungary, including the magnificent Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz in Vienna. Here, I stuffed myself with sausages and gluhwein and rode a carousel, marveling in the twinkling Christmas lights that surrounded me.

It became clear to me why these itineraries sell out and have such strong demand.