Discover Boats

If you’re looking for a new, thrilling, and fascinating way to see the world, consider taking a river cruise. River cruising is an unforgettable experience suitable for people of all ages, including families traveling with children, seniors enjoying their long-awaited retirement dream trip, students backpacking across Europe, and more.

The global map is teeming with well-known and largely unknown bodies of water, with oceans, lakes, rivers, straits, and canals just waiting to be explored and discovered. Sailing the world’s rivers will literally take you all over the map, including diverse and exotic places such as the Yaroslavl River in Russia, the River Po in Rome, the Murray River in Australia, the Rajang River in Borneo, and more.

There is more than one way to cross the waterways of the world. Cruising in a luxury ship along the French Riviera in the south of France is highly popular, as is sailing the Danube River in what is known as a boutique boat. You can also chart a yacht, rent a hotel barge, paddle in a canoe or kayak, or sail the seas in a paddle streamer, tug boat, or longboat.

Here is a look at some the most famous and most formidable rivers of the world:

Brahmaputra River: Located in Bangladesh, the Brahmaputra River is approximately 1,800 miles long. Stated more accurately, the river ends in Bangladesh, however it originates in Tibet and runs through the Himalayas and Assam Valley. The river is known to overflow and cause major floods in the spring, when the snow on the Himalayas begins to melt. Experts have identified tidal bares, the most powerful type of tidal wave, on the Brahmaputra River.

Congo River: Otherwise known as the Zaire, the Congo River is located in Africa and measures almost 3,000 miles in length. The Congo is the most powerful river in Africa, beginning quietly near Lake Tanganyika and gradually picking up speed until the waters become dangerous rapids.

Yangtze River: The Yangtze River is the third largest river in the world and Asia’s largest river. It measures almost 4,000 miles in length and is its strong tides are known for creating three different types of major floods. The river is mostly used for transport and electricity.

Nile River: Measuring about 4,160 miles in length (6,695 kilometers), the Nile River is the longest river in Africa and in the world. It has been famous since Biblical times and is most closely associated with Egypt, where the river has served as the country’s main water source and waterway for millenniums. If you’re visiting Egypt, be sure to ask your Egypt tour operator about Nile River cruises, which are a great way to visit all the major cities of the country. Most Nile cruises begin and end in Luxor, however you can embark and disembark from any number of ports.

Amazon River: The Amazon River in South America is the second-largest river in the world next to the Nile. It measures approximately 4,000 miles in length (6,400 kilometers) and is known for its powerful water flow. The river is unequaled in depth and at its mouth can release up to eight trillion gallons of water daily.