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8 exciting things happening in river cruising in 2027 and beyond

Imogen Eveson Imogen Eveson
Growing demand for river cruising is fuelling a new wave of ship launches, along with an ever-expanding range of experiences on and off the water.

Winding your way through the rivers of the world is an increasingly popular way to burn annual leave, as evidenced by the growing number of river ships launching and the ever-widening range of experiences they offer. These are the latest ships, itineraries and trends in global river cruising to look forward to next year and beyond.

Three new ships from Uniworld by 2028

ss clara uniworld
SS Clara will debut on the Rhine in 2028.

An expert in the art of immersion, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will debut three ships in 2028. SS Helen will sail the Danube, drawing inspiration from Helen of Troy and the influence of Greek culture across the region. On the Rhine, SS Clara, launching during tulip season, honours 17th-century Flemish painter Clara Peeters. On the Mekong, Mekong Mystique will feature Indochine-inspired design reflecting the landscapes of Vietnam and Cambodia.

Beloved brands expand European footprints

river cruise the rhine
Explore the bucolic banks of the Rhine with Travelmarvel.

Travelmarvel’s new contemporary river ship Travelmarvel Rigel sails the Rhine, Main and Danube, while Tauck’s newest riverboat, MS Harmonie, will join its fleet in France in 2028.

Sail the Nile in style with AmaWaterways

amanubia river cruise
AmaNubia looks like a five-star hotel.

Now is the time to book that Nile River cruise you’ve been dreaming of. AmaWaterways’ 75-guest AmaNubia debuts in November this year, with interiors inspired by the artistry of Egypt. It will complement the refreshed AmaDahlia and sail the Secrets of Egypt & the Nile itinerary, combining a luxury Nile cruise with hotel stays in Cairo.

On-foot adventures with Viking

cordoba
Córdoba’s stunning Moorish architecture is made easy to explore with Viking. (Credit: Adobe Stock/Ingo Bartussek)

Viking’s new fully guided land extensions similarly offer deeper immersion in Europe, including explorations of Seville and Córdoba’s Moorish and Roman legacies through their World Heritage sites.

European Waterways reveals interest-led itineraries

biking european waterways
European Waterways is tapping into passion travel.

The rise of passion-led travel is also evident in European Waterways’ specialist cruises, spanning food and wine, cycling, European art and culture. The luxury hotel barging company caters to a multitude of interests: be it golf, stately gardens, whisky or opera.

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Riverside Luxury Cruises welcomes young cruisers

Riverside Luxury Cruises
Riverside Luxury Cruises caters to Gen Z and millenial travellers.

River cruising is also capturing a younger demographic according to a survey conducted by Cruise Trade News, in which 84 per cent of the 18 to 34 year olds quizzed expressed interest in this style of travel. Riverside Luxury Cruises is answering the call with shorter itineraries such as Pearls of the Danube from Passau to Vienna and Burgundy Bliss: Lyon to Lyon. Both cater to time-conscious millennial and Gen Z travellers looking to combine river legs into longer European itineraries.

Celebrity launches Before and After Stays

celebrity before and after stays
Extend your European river cruise with Celebrity’s Before and After Stays.

Pre- and post-cruise land experiences are becoming an integral part of river itineraries. Celebrity River Cruises’ new multi-day Before and After Stays extend European river cruises with immersive experiences in Prague, Budapest, Lausanne and Amsterdam. Highlights include an exploration of the Dutch capital’s street-art scene led by a contemporary artist.

Trafalgar debuts new river cruises

Trafalgar Verity
Trafalgar Verity will offer French balcony cabins.

Trusted guided travel brand Trafalgar has entered the world of river cruising with Trafalgar Verity on the Rhine and Trafalgar Reverie on the Danube, with Trafalgar Harmonie set to debut on the Seine in 2027.

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Imogen Eveson
Imogen Eveson is International Traveller’s Print Editor. She was named Editor of the Year at the 2024 Mumbrella Publish Awards and in 2023, was awarded the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) Australia’s Media Award. Before joining Australian Traveller Media as sub-editor in 2017, Imogen wrote for publications including Broadsheet, Russh and SilverKris. She launched her career in London, where she graduated with a BA Hons degree in fashion communication from world-renowned arts and design college Central Saint Martins. She is the author/designer of The Wapping Project on Paper, published by Black Dog Publishing in 2014. Growing up in Glastonbury, home to the largest music and performing arts festival in the world, instilled in Imogen a passion for cultural cross-pollination that finds perfect expression today in shaping Australia’s leading travel titles. Imogen regularly appears as a guest on radio travel segments, including ABC National Nightlife, and is invited to attend global travel expos such as IMM, ILTM, PURE, Further East and We Are Africa.
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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.