The art of slow travel is found in unexpected places, ports & in new ships. Fresh experiences & free airfare –it's hard not to fall in love on the river...
When slow travel is on the rise, river cruises that offer airfare, transfers, or a massage treatment might just be one of the world's best kept secrets!

There’s something about drifting down a river that feels timeless. You’re moving, yet unhurried — watching the world unfold in real time as the sun glides across the water and the bells of distant cathedrals echo through the valleys. This is river cruising. 

While it may be slow, river cruising is still ever-evolving and keeping up with trends. Celebrity Cruises make their debut on the river in 2027 -  a natural extension of Celebrity’s premium products & promises to bring the elevated design and sophistication of the Edge Series ocean ships to the river. 

Why book with a travel advisor?

Yes travel advisors are still a thing, and they are better than ever! Travel advisors understand the human element behind your long vacation or trip of-a-lifetime. MVT advisors have access to benefits like added spending credit, onboard welcome receptions, and other upgrades.

Below we outline some of the top companies in the luxury river cruise space, and exclusive benefits just for booking with MVT! Here, the river isn’t just the route — it is the destination.

Avalon Waterways, free airfare!

With Avalon Waterways, every bend in the current brings a new story, every sunrise reveals another masterpiece, and every moment invites you to slow down and truly see. This is river cruising for travelers who appreciate the finer details — those who value space, perspective, and the quiet luxury of waking up to the world right outside their window.

Step aboard an Avalon Suite Ship and the first thing you notice is the light. Sun pours through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting reflections across the water. The world outside feels close enough to touch. These are not ordinary cruise cabins; they are Panorama Suites, designed to bring the outside in.

For travelers planning ahead, Avalon’s World of Wonder Sales Event adds a delightful bonus. Guests can enjoy free airfare or $1,500 in savings per person on select 2026 Europe river cruises. It’s a wonderful opportunity to begin dreaming about the rivers you’ll explore next.

The Amazon & Mekong

Who says luxury can't be found deep within the Amazon jungle, far from civilization as you know it?

Cheers to an incredible adventure on some of the world's most famed rivers. Aqua Expeditions takes you into the hear of the river & luxury. Watch what a day-end looks like at Aqua Expeditions on an Aria Amazon luxury cruise in Peru's Amazon jungle. Learn a new champagne toast from your friendly and talented Amazon naturalist guides as you join other guests in a "sundowner" drink at sunset.

No explorer’s bucket list is complete without a trip to the world’s largest rainforest. From its wealth of biodiversity to its sheer size, the Amazon Rainforest is immense on all accounts. Even today, researchers continue to find new species of flora and fauna across this mighty expanse, and there are thousands of such discoveries still to be made. Spanning nine countries in South America, the Amazon Rainforest is best explored via a river expedition in Peru

Honeymoon on the Aqua Mekong

Enjoy social spaces typical to larger cruise ships such as a movie room, a plunge pool, a gym, and a spa, all while keeping the peace and personalized service of a small, luxury river vessel. Guests on board the Aqua Mekong discover the region’s cuisine beyond the plate. Aside from on-board cooking demonstrations, guests can follow the chefs to bustling local markets as they procure the finest produce, from freshly-caught Mekong river catfish to newly-harvested Asian greens, for the day’s meals. Coconut, lemongrass, coriander and turmeric are just a few of the most recognizable flavors Aqua Mekong guests can expect on the inventive yet authentic seasonal menus.

As part of a fleet which was named the World’s Best River Cruise Line by Travel + Leisure in 2023 and 2024, the Mekong river cruise ship’s 20 spacious, air-conditioned suites feature full-length windows that offer spectacular panoramas of the ever-changing scenery.

Victory Cruise Line Great Lakes Cruising

A Floating Sanctuary

These river cruise lines bring its own artistry to slow travel:

• Riverside Luxury Cruises redefines modern river travel with open-air elegance and a boutique-hotel aesthetic — intimate, lavish, and impeccably curated for travelers who crave space and sophistication.

• Avalon Waterways offers the perfect blend of freedom and flow. With its signature Panorama Suites, the world glides by at eye level, and flexible excursions let you set your own pace — from guided hikes to lazy afternoons in local cafés.

• Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is the embodiment of artistry and indulgence. Each ship feels like a floating jewel box, designed with handpicked antiques, bold color palettes, and the kind of service that anticipates what you need before you do.
  Get a 150 euro spending credit to be used on fun things like a spa treatment, bottle of wine, excursions and more – available only when you book with MVT!

• AmaWaterways celebrates connection — to nature, to culture, and to the moment. Known for its wellness focus and locally inspired cuisine, Ama captures the feeling of belonging to the journey.

• Viking distills the essence of Scandinavian design and quiet luxury — understated, intelligent, and deeply cultural. Each sailing feels like a conversation with history, guided by thoughtful lectures, tastings, and time ashore that never feels rushed. 

  Book a 2026 Viking river, ocean or expedition voyage and receive a $200 shipboard credit per stateroom on selected sailings, only when you go with MVT! 

  • 15-Days Grand European Tour | Amsterdam to Budapest | April to October 2026
  • 8-Days Rhine Getaway | Amsterdam to Basel | March to November 2026

• AMADEUS Smile Project: At AMADEUS,  journeys are about more than traversing rivers and enjoying stunning landscapes; they’re about forging meaningful connections with the environments we explore and the communities they encounter. Through the AMADEUS Smiles Projects, they aim to create a tangible, positive impact by supporting vital conservation and cultural preservation efforts.
• And now, Celebrity Cruises is set to make waves in this space with an entry in 2027 on the Rhine and Danube. They’ve announced their first two vessels, named Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, bringing the elevated design and hospitality of their Edge-Series ocean ships to the rivers

Why river cruise?

Unlike the frenetic pace of big cities and overcrowded landmarks, a river voyage invites you to breathe. To linger. To experience the soul of a place rather than just its surface. From fairytale castles perched on misty hillsides to sleepy vineyard towns where life follows the rhythm of the current, each bend of the river brings a new kind of beauty — quieter, more intimate, and more authentic.

While ocean cruises connect continents, river cruises connect hearts to history. You dock at the very doorstep of centuries-old towns — no tender boats, no sprawling ports. One moment, you’re sipping your morning coffee on the sun deck; the next, you’re wandering through cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered houses or cycling beside rolling vineyards.

Each river tells a story. The Rhine, with its legends and fortresses. The Danube, flowing through the cultural crossroads of Europe — from Vienna’s imperial charm to Budapest’s golden glow. The Seine, whispering through Parisian light. The Douro, carving through Portugal’s wild, terraced wine country. And the Rhône, where Provence unfolds in color and scent.

The Art of Slow Travel

In a world that often celebrates speed — bucket lists, checklists, nonstop flights — travellers are rediscovering the beauty of slow travel. It’s not about how many cities you can tick off but how deeply you can experience each one.

River cruising embodies this philosophy perfectly. Days unfold at the pace of the water, not the clock. You can sip a local wine as the ship glides past vineyards that produced it. You can linger in a market square long after the crowds have gone. Every moment feels intentional, meaningful, and rooted in place.

The river becomes both your path and your pause — a reminder that travel is not a race, but a rhythm.

Why Book Through Montecito Village Travel

Booking with Montecito Village Travel or Your Travel Center ensures every detail is curated for you, from the perfect suite selection to exclusive added-value offers and personalized travel arrangements.

Our advisors are experts in luxury cruising and understand how to match travelers with experiences that align with their passions: gastronomy, or pure exploration.