Five of the best mini river cruises

Used up the lion’s share of your annual leave? Still need some convincing that river cruising is the right holiday option for you? A mini-cruise is the way to go.

As the name suggests, a mini-river cruise is a short voyage on one of the world’s waterways that typically lasts a few days. These bite sized voyages often include a couple of ports of call – meaning you can tick off multiple destinations in just one trip – while only having to unpack once.

And, as an added bonus in these grim economic times, the price of a short cruise is invariably much cheaper than a longer sailing.

Ready to set sail? We’ve done the hard work for you and asked our friends at Riviera Travel – the award-winning river cruise and escorted tour specialist that’s currently celebrating its 40th birthday – to select five of the best shorter sailings for this year and next.

Seine, Paris & Monet’s Garden Discovery
Got four days to kill? Then sign yourself up for Riviera Travel’s Seine, Paris & Monet’s Garden Discovery cruise. Departing from Paris onboard the newly refurbished five-star MS Jane Austen, you’ll get to visit the garden that inspired some of Monet's greatest works in Vernon as well as Paris, France's iconic capital city. In between, you can put your feet up and enjoy views of the quintessential French countryside while sailing down the Seine or take advantage of the plethora of onboard facilities.
Departs throughout March 2025. Fares from £799 per person including flights, based on two people sharing.

Rhine Gorge & Cologne Discovery
Alternatively if you’re already au fait with the Seine, try Riviera Travel’s new Rhine Gorge & Cologne Discovery River Cruise. On this four-day cruise, you’ll call at Rüdesheim with its beautiful half-timbered houses and Cologne, home to one of Europe’s most impressive cathedrals. But we're not exaggerating when we say the highlight of this river cruise is your voyage through the jaw-dropping Rhine Gorge – whose scenery is punctuated by the silent ruins of medieval castles and fortresses.
Departs throughout March 2025. Fares from £799 per person including flights, based on two people sharing.

Amsterdam, Kinderdijk & the Dutch Bulbfields
Hands up if you love horticulture, history and old harbour towns? If the answer is yes then this five-day Amsterdam, Kinderdijk and the Dutch Bulbfields River Cruise has your name on it. Expect to see the Netherlands techicolour tulip fields in full bloom in Keukenhof Park, as well as Ijsselmeer – the inland lagoon created by the damming of the Zuider Zee in the 1930s.

Factor in a visit to Amsterdam – one of Europe’s most vibrant and fascinating cities – and Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ edgy second city, and you have a fabulous five days in store.
Departs throughout April 2025. Fares from £1,149 per person including flights, based on two people sharing.

Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets River Cruise
A fan of the festive season? Riviera Travel has Christmas covered. On this five day cruise through the dramatic Rhine Gorge you’ll enjoy visits to no fewer than four Christmas markets: take a bow Bonn, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, and Cologne.

If, like World of Cruising, you want all of the festivity but none of the fuss then a Christmas market cruise – a chance to find unusual gifts in the or to spend the big day itself on the water – is ideal.
Departures throughout December 2024 and December 2025. Fares from £914 per person including flights, based on two people sharing.

Enchanting Danube’s Imperial Cities & Yuletide Markets
If it’s the Danube that’s on your bucket list, then look to Riviera Travel’s Enchanting Danube’s Imperial Cities & Yuletide Markets cruise. You’ll enjoy a guided tour of  Budapest – Hungary’s capital that’s a city of two clear-cut halves with postcard pretty Buda on one side and pancake flat Pest on the other on this six-day sailing.

There’s also the chance to discover Bratislava, with its lovely baroque old town, and the fairytale city of Vienna. The Austrian capital stands out as special at any time of year but especially so at Christmas time.
Departures throughout December 2024 and December 2025. Fares from £1,199 per person including flights, based on two people sharing.