Last month, Avalon Waterways took the pulse of nearly 10,000 past cruisers and the verdict is in: River cruising is shaping up to be bigger, bolder and more bucket-list-worthy than ever in 2025!

Where in the water? The Rhine, rivers of France & Douro

 According to Avalon Waterways’ recent Wish List Survey, cruisers are setting their sights on Europe’s most legendary rivers next year. Specifically, 51% are eager to sail through Switzerland and Germany on the Rhine while 39% are eager to set sail through France on its famed waterways, including the Seine, Rhône, Saône, Garonne and Dordogne Rivers. Rounding out the top three, 33% say they want to discover the dramatic beauty of the Douro River in Portugal.

With its robust lineup of the most immersive itineraries in river cruising, Avalon Waterways is delivering the destinations cruisers want, including on these top-selling cruises: 

• The Rhine & Moselle: Canals, Vineyards & Castles – 8 days, 3 countries, 2 rivers 
• Active & Discovery on the Rhône – 8 days, 1 country, 1 river 
• Bonjour Bordeaux! Chateaux, Wineries & Charming Villages – 8 days, 1 country, 2 rivers 
• Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro – 8 days, 1 country, 1 river

Who’s onboard? A shift in travel tribes 

While 60% of past Avalon cruisers plan to travel with a partner, there’s a growing wave of interest in cruising with friend groups (27%) and on their own as solo travellers (12%). Avalon is catering to both trends:

• Get away to get together. Avalon brings friends and families closer to ancient history, profound beauty and most importantly – to each other – with special pricing for groups of 8 or more. 
• Solo cruisers? So low pricing! Avalon Waterways waives the single supplement on a select number of staterooms on nearly every departure in Europe and Southeast Asia.

Off-season, on point: Shoulder season cruising soars

Further, according to survey results, Avalon’s cruisers are increasingly interested in ditching peak-season crowds and embracing the magic of the offseason, with 75% saying they want to book fall and winter sailings. Avalon delivers with:

• Festive Season Cruises – Twinkling lights, mulled wine and Europe's most dazzling Christmas markets. With 18 holiday itineraries (and a 118% capacity increase since 2019), Avalon’s cool, festive sailings are hotter than ever. 
• Harvest Season Wine Cruises – Sipping and sailing through France, Germany and Portugal at the height of vineyard harvests, including the Rhône, Seine, Rhine, Danube and Douro.

Bon Voyage! Longer cruises take center stage

Finally, of those 10,000 survey respondents, nearly 50% said the ideal length of a river cruise is 10-12 days. This year, Avalon Waterways unveiled 16 new itineraries that stretch beyond the traditional, weeklong getaway. A few include:

• NEW Reflections on the Rhine – 10 days, from Amsterdam to Basel 
• NEW The Netherlands in Bloom – 10 days, to/from Amsterdam 
• NEW Illuminations of the Danube – 10 days, from Vilshofen to Budapest

And for those cruisers who want a more in-depth itinerary, combining two or more rivers in one, great vacation, Avalon has unveiled a boatload of NEW cruise combinations, including:

• NEW Timeless Rivers of Europe: The Rhine & Seine – 15 days, from Basel to Paris 
• NEW French Masterpiece: Paris, Normandy & Bordeaux – 15 days, from Paris to Bordeaux

For more information about Avalon Waterways visit avalonwaterways.ca.